molliemade design: doing benchwork

It is officially crunch time. My thesis exhibition is installed in less than 80 days. Closing reception to be held April 1, 2010! Below are images of the fence/wall necklace that will surround my dream home piece and of various other projects in progress. My favorite image is a detail of the chasing on my heart box. Enjoy.

Click on the images to see a larger view! The Above Images: Ink and Watercolor sketches for Stackable Starter Home [working titles here people] This weekend I plan to focus on the fence choker pictured on the watercolor board. Several views into my studio showing my tabletop of works in progress, custom pedestals evolving, the closet door full of calendars...counting the emaining days until my exodus from studentdom [new word?]! Six months until commencement/graduation ceremonies: May 16th One month of that is Winter Break: Spring 2010 Semester starts January 14th Three months until Thesis Exhibition Installation begins: March 27th Soon I will know the exact date of the show and will be sending out show cards/invitations! As always, keeping you posted.

Below are a few more photos of the garden cuff bracelet and some studio shots. The bracelet started out to be an iris garden, but the flora finished out in more of a rose form. I have decided not to take my final photos until it gets closer to my thesis exhibition date. Keep checking in! I am looking forward to seeing all of the pieces come together in one cohesive show. The end of this semester draws very near...three to four months until thesis exhibition 2010...six months until graduate school completion. For my last semester I will be teaching my first advanced metalsmithing and jewelry course: Casting!

I have been taking thesis on, one step at a time. Deciding on themes, titles, and display. Once I finalized my overall concept it was time to start making the pieces come together. Here are a few photos of how things are progressing. Right when I was starting to think I would have to learn the art of turning wood, a Saturday afternoon hunt brought success at the Re-Store! These banister railings coupled with my iron garden edging and topped with glass domes is just the beginning of my miniature victorian-esque garden world coming together! Pictures should begin to appear rapidly. With the help of the amazing Cotter the railings will be transformed. If I had not left my camera in the studio you would be able to see his "rough draft" with craved legs and table toppers attached. Sometime this week I will find out the exact date of my thesis show and be able to update with specifics.

A quick post to illustrate my progress on this piece. Some of the parts have been colored, but there is still work to be done before I can call it finished!

The post below contains images of my current piece in progress to show detail of it's hollow construction, etched brick wall and hand cut, silver lace bottom It will become an iris garden cuff bracelet that is one part of my 2nd stackable wearables: Home Is Where The Heart Is This post contains images of Home Is Where The Heart Is still in pieces and in it's natural copper state. I will shoot more professional photos when the piece is completed. 1st in my stackable wearables: Tower Of Joy shown stacked and apart to illustrate bracelet, brooch and ring