Towson Metals and Jewelry Club Sale

The Towson University Metals and Jewelry Club Holiday Sale in the Center for the Fine Arts this past week was a success as always!

Thanks to everyone that came out and supported us!






























Below are my earrings, I promise to photograph them properly soon.

For all of those that have wondered where I've been...

For everyone that's been wondering where I have been and why I'm not posting here's the explanation.


I went to Canada before school started.








It was fabulous and I think I may need to move there permanently.











And then school started....

I'm currently working on my honors thesis and am very busy,
I've decided to set up a separate blog for honors related business.

If you care to have a look it's
www.sherrishawver.wordpress.com

Dentist.....

So, Is it weird that every time I go to the dentist all I can think about is what kind of tools do they have and what do they do with the old ones?
I wonder if they would miss that one with the shiny pointy end?

Toxic Mushrooms.

I saw these growing in my yard a while back.
Funny but I don't remember having ever seen these before but I may need to incorporate some sort of toxic mushrooms into my work somewhere.

Great quotes from a Good book

I just finished reading Do Good Design by David B. Berman and it was fantastic.
Generally the "green" design reading materials tend to put me to sleep about half way through but this book is not only well written but interesting. I was compelled to stay up until 2am to finish it. I would recommend taking the day or two to give this book a go, it will be worth it.

Here are some of the quotes from the book that stood out:

"But rather than sharing our cycles of style, consumption and chemical addictions, designers can use their professional power, persuasive skills and wisdom to help distribute ideas that the world really needs" David B. Berman

"Imagine again a society's potential where the largest signs, the cleverest ads, the most prominent messages promote healthy behaviors" David B. Berman

"Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future. Design is therefore responsible for the world our children will live in" R. L. Peters

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
A. Einstein

"The next war will determine not what is right but what is left" H. Lubalin

Join the revolution:
www.davidberman.com/dogood

Building a Forge

I am investigating the possibilities of building a forge.
Ellen Durkan was kind enough to let me take a look at her set-up.
This is the forge she built.

I was also amused to find out that the Blacksmithing Guild of Maryland is in my hometown so coal pickup wouldn't require much effort.


As a side note, while my parents are surprisingly accepting of my ambitions to build a forge in the backyard, they do not exactly respect the art form.
This is what my father thinks of my sculpture:
Yes, that is a wooden duck hanging from my ART.
This was after I told him in no uncertain words he COULD NOT put a bird feeder or wind chime on it.

Blackmithing: Week 2 at Peter Valley

The Blacksmithing Studio at Peter's Valley, run by the fabulous Dick Sargent, who is if you didn't know, the man simply for tolerating girls in his studio and encouraging them to smash stuff.






Bill Brown the instructor for Into the Mystery, an introductory class in blacksmithing and sculpture.








Bill Showing us different methods using the power hammer.
Bill also encouraged much smashing.







I really love the power hammer.












My Forge, all lit and ready to go.
I am a master fire starter apparently.







Did I mention how much I loved the power hammer?







Me and my trusty left handed forge. (it's a joke, it's not really left handed)
There is nothing like the smell of burning coal in the morning.
Seriously.







My first sculptures. :)













A bracelet and twisted form of undetermined use.

Moving Metal @ Peters Valley

Moving Metal with Joe Muench at Peters Valley this summer.







These are some of the forms he created. I found the whole experience to be amazing. I loved Peters Valley and I loved hammering the crap out of metal to make these crazy 3D forms!






This is Norman. He and Joe had a "raise off".
Norman raised old school.
Norman is 86? 96? I thought he was going to have a heart attack but thankfully he didn't.




Norman is the man.









This is Joe soldering.
Too bad I missed the shot of the torus falling of the soldering block and almost burning us. Needless to say: good times!






The finished torus.








Key Seams can be appealing when done correctly contrary to my previous opinion on them.







Joe makes a lot, and I mean A LOT, of his own tools including hammers (we made a nylon hammer while there) scrapers and stakes.





I cannot express to you how many times I whacked myself with a hammer this week but it was worth it, and after Joe "re-educated" me on how to hammer I only managed minor bruising.
















He even "re-educated" some of us on proper binding methods.








These are more of his hand made hammers and stakes that are tailored for each individual form they are used to create.
















I would post pictures of my samples but they are no where near as nice as Joes demos that you see in the pictures. I did manage to finish my spiculum which looks damn good if I do say so myself.





I had a fabulous time the first week at Peters Valley with Joe. He was a great teacher and an all around nice guy.

Thanks Joe!

PMA's Armor Exhib.

PMA'S Arms and Armament exhibition.









SWORDS! or eppes. Whatever.








GUNS! or pistols I guess.








This reminded me of the beetle collar's
overlapping plates.







I especially liked these shapes.








This would make a great neck piece!!!








GIANT STUFFED HORSE! Yep, giant stuffed horse.







The etching on the body armor was insanely complex.
Wish I had my actual camera on me but these shots arn't too bad for a camera phone at night.

Teeth Jewelry by Street Anatomy

Street Anatomy
by Jenny Drucker


Ceramic Tooth Fairy Series, Untitled Necklace












Slipcast Porcelain, with silver catch and strung on hair

















Slip cast Porcelain with Silver Ring Shank