Stu Stu Studio Tunes

As I get closer to the One of a Kind show, I find that I need musical motivation to help with the long work hours. Well, that and lots of caffeine. Anyway, here's a sampling of my studio playlist. Enjoy.

New Riveted Jewelry

My cold-connections jewelry class has really inspired me to use more riveting in my own work. In preparation for the One of a Kind show, I have been creating some new riveted pieces including necklaces, rings and bracelets. I'm so excited with the results.

The necklace below features hand-cut silver geometric shapes. They have been hammered, oxidized and then riveted together. The rivets allow the pieces to be arranged in different positions. The necklace is finished off with a silver hook and eye closure. I really love the finished piece.

Thinking up Some Wall Jewelry Displays

I've got the One of a Kind Show and Sale coming up and the booth sizes there are huge. It's in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and each artist gets a 10 x 10 booth with three walls. I'm used to just having an 8-foot table, so I have absolutely no wall displays. As a result, I've been spending quite a bit of time trying to figure out some simple but attractive wall decor.

I have decided to use round discs covered in fabric to display my necklaces. They create a simple visual element and can be placed in a fun pattern on the wall. Each disc is also perfectly suited to display a necklace. I'm using decorative embroidery tacks to hold the necklace in place.

Along with the discs, I will have some small black floating shelves that will hold bracelets, earrings and rings. I am thinking about placing rocks and moss on the shelves. I can then place a ring or a bracelet atop the organic elements.

These displays will be on my side walls, which are white. The back wall will be painted grey. I will place a vinyl sign in the middle of the back wall and hang some birch bark panels on either side to go with my birch bark jewelry. I think it will look quite nice when its all put together. I hope, at least.

I am also working away on some fun new jewelry designs as well as these new displays. I'm really enjoying this opportunity to make a large variety of items, though I am definitely feeling the pressure of crunch time. I hope that it will all come together in the end and that all the artists will have a great show this year at One of a Kind in Chicago.