molliemade design: doing benchwork

2020 always seemed futuristic & fun. I grew up during the Jetsons revival, & they were living their best life with flying cars & Rosie the Robot. but now, we ARE NOT having a good time.   our new vocab includes: social distancing quarantine shelter at home flatten the curve #stayhomeKC & best of all, don't go see the doctor just call them. meanwhile everyone is talking about how we are "called to stay home and watch tv" it's not that hard, supposedly. but it's so much more... meanwhile on: tiger king ep.2 ( a NETFLIX original) "i am never going to financially recover from this" -when his employee, had her arm ripped off by a tiger.  only serves to remind me that the whole world  is hurting. what can I do to help?  

I am... a micro generation an American mutt a woman an artist a mother a believer in 2020 the United States Census plans to further categorize my racial identity is this in order to clarify the genealogy? my ancestors hail from all over Continental Europe. on some sides of the family tree, I can't even count what generation American I am. beginning in the 1600's, they emigrated to these fair shores America, the Beautiful. this grand adventure continued on and on beginning in many different countries, but all ending up here in the "New World" but the last time that we did have a 1st generation was my great grandmother. born in 1892 after her Danish parents came over. when I was born, she was 90. so I know that I am one eighth Danish... the rest of the pie chart gets complicated is it so they can decide who makes the cut? how far back must our ancestors had to have immigrated to be considered legitimate? & which proud heritage do I cla...

Each Earring component is hand sawn, hammer textured  & painstakingly tinted. ARTistic medium: fine silver and copper © molliemade 2017 to get these delivered to your doorstep, head on over to my Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/MollieMadeDesign also available on fine silver chains with custom designed magnetic closures, when you get snagged, your chain breaks away without breaking you . *Publishing this before my Etsy is picture perfect, because I just have to press GO.

Gold dust breathe in breathe out Hardworking hand strike strike Honing my craft making her work having the space to create listening to NPR's modulated tones other's stories being told Flame strike shhckt shhckt solder flows a perfect glowing line Into the pickle tszzz the torch pops off SILENCE My craft is typically a solitary one. Just the maker and their bench. Often I don't even turn on music. Work time is my time to soak in silence, problem solve for a new design or "just make something". For almost every instructor I trained under, I remember a good one liner. That one was Jon Havener 's. It is solid advice, don't stop making. It might have taken a while to sink in, but I get it now. Other artists insist that it's okay to make something bad. Sometimes the fear of failure or imperfection holds us back. That's also another typical trait of a metalsmith. We can be perfectionists. Not necessarily in our personal lives, b...

Yes,I am. I am still doing "this" because seeking a sense of Home and Belonging is something humanity relates to. I will continue to explore this concept underlying all other areas of life until, who knows, maybe until The End. Today, my brother met me at the local library's new Makerspace. The maker movement has my full attention now. I am fascinated. The aspects of community and a love of learning have enamored me. Not to mention, the tools (new toys & skills). It was my second time on the machine; I had already been there an hour cranking out the rest of my MOPS nametags. He found me working on wooden, state cut outs that were laser engraved. That is when the question was asked. So,the answer is: yes. This is only the brainstorm stage of several new projects. Pieces that represent your origins, your homelands and your roots. Where are you rooted? This was just a precursor to my personal stack of states to come. We are all from somewhere. I could ta...

In another vein, this is a theme reveal project I worked up before summer break for my MOPS group. I am currently brainstorming table decor and name tag designs for the upcoming year. The colors for our theme of Starry Eyed are right in my wheelhouse. Loving it.

Not me, after thirty three years of life lived, being me. Dedication to consistently journaling has come and go in fits and bursts, always. So, here I am after almost two years of blog silence, back again and finally, not surprised at what just is. I did manage to create something pretty wonderful in the meantime. My daughter. She is a true treasure. In comparison, I got back into the studio much more quickly than I did after my son was born. She was probably two months old. I have been consistently working in increments during late night sessions for the past four months to prep for a group show, a holiday boutique and a solo show. I am finding that making several separate bodies of work at the same time, works for me. I am quickly headed towards my fourth year of Motherhood. This has been a great time of study and service. I have my finger in so many pots right now. I am learning when to say,"no" and when it is so vital that I say, "yes". There has b...

As my saw slid through a thin sheet of copper and then a thick, I thought about the differences between my method of line work and a 2-Dimensional artists'. The elemental aspect of metal sings to my soul. I like to imagine what my work might look like 100 years from now or 1000. The metal will endure, but will the surface treatments (i.e. color or texture)? Perhaps they will erode or fade over time. I have never put a 'makers mark' on my work, but every line and curve are made by my tools in my hands. Tonight, I cut out a flock of birds, two Little Princes, a fox and some craggy mountains butted against a smooth hill. Layering is key. Watching the raw metal morph into something with depth and texture, amazes me time and time again. Here is some of my new raw: These are parts and pieces for a literary inspired triptych. The Little Prince done in three panels. Something new and exciting.

I am wondering about personal preferences...before I lay out my work to be consumed/purchased/collected...which pieces are you feeling? This week I have amped up my production, but each piece is still one-of-a-kind. & most of them are dbl. sided, with each side unique to it's flip. My biggest struggle is moving past my personal color palette. Which ones should be part of my line? (scroll down to see more in prev. entries) Multiples must made! Sound off on your favorite colors, please. A few in progress shots for good measure: I would love feedback dear public.

Among the collection I am building for the upcoming Mission Artwalk are these 4 dbl. sided pendents and some odds and ends from a couple of larger pieces. These little beauties are in phase 4 of their process. After texturing the metal, I patina. Then then layers of color and embellishments are added. Truly, I should grab something to blend with, but, eh... my finger works.

My first arts fair is coming up quick. Lately, dusk falls and as my son sleeps deeply above, I retreat downstairs to my studio bunker and begin making these things: Oh, how I adore packages and the postal service. Today, the truck brought me a gross of 2/0 sawblades and the metal I need to start making a commission based on The Little Prince. Now that is a commitment! Current goal is to have finished work on August 8th for the Mission Artwalk. Then, to photograph said work before the show and post it for my new Etsy page launch.

Getting started tonight my studio snapshots: After 2 hrs layering surface and 15 minutes spent back upstairs, comforting my teething and sniffling toddler, this is what I accomplished: Tonight's work time was very freeing. I must admit, my early training emphasized traditional techniques and encouraged us to be metal purists. It has taken years of waffling between the old ways and the new possibilities, for me to build up to layering color and playing with materials. & now to keep on experimenting and layering...more, more, more.

Naptime and Bedtime are my magical studio times. When my little guy's head hits that crib mattress, it is down to the studio I go. Working towards a goal has helped give me that extra boost of motivation to get things done! I plan to enter a local show, The Mission Artwalk this summer. More info as the date draws near.

This guy: Has been my whole world for 16 months, but now I am taking baby steps into creating new work. My family bought our first home and I recently complete my new, basement studio. With the help of a very loving Grandmommy, I will be able to spend more time making again. Today, I set up an Etsy account! A new line of working is being designed and fabricated down in my miniature world, with the goal of applying for and selling at the Mission Art Walk and on the new Etsy page My business is: MollieMade Design Look for item postings soon!

This Christmas, I made gifts for my good friend, Stephanie's parents using a photo from her childhood. A brooch for mom and a bookmark for dad. These are designs that I have been refining in order to begin a marketable line of work. Most of my work thus far has been geared towards my academic career and is very biographical conceptually. Which means that it is all NFS (not for sale) as it is a body of work for exhibition. My days have been filled with the many jobs I hold down and focused on wrapping up some of these obligations in Lawrence. Soon we will be re-locating and a new adventure will begin. Something to dream about! More sister silhouettes below. These were gifts sent to my married friends serving overseas. They have gorgeous girls that missed them very much back home, so this pendent (for mom)and dog tag add-on (for dad) was a physical reminder of their love.

I am pretty positive that I do not have a blog following, but in case there were any concerns regarding my one year (almost exactly) time lapse from Blogging, here is the haps. This past year has been a whirlwind schedule, full of all of my part time jobs. My husband started his stint in grad school as soon as I completed my Masters. As the official, head of household, I took on several new occupations! As my facebook page with tell you, my occupation is:   master metalsmith/jeweler extraordinaire, educator, and caretaker at The School of Life I teach at the Lawrence Arts Center. I apprentice/production & design at Shellie Bender Studios I substitute at Eudora Elementary & Middle Schools I am a caretaker for pair of siblings (3 & 9) All is well, my first year being out of the academic realm has been full of new experiences and people. Teaching without grading or attendance policies is fresh! Participating in the Art and Craft show circuit has been eye open...

started out as my sawing demo for last sessions Beginning Metalsmithing class at the Lawrence Arts Center. That night I brought animal crackers to share, which inspired one of my regular students, Kellie to call out "make the world's tiniest giraffe" when I took requests for what shape I should cut out for the demo. The next class I used the negative relief as my riveting demo (that's the little tree in a square scene). This session I posted on facebook asking people what to cut out for my demo and received a huge list of requests. I have been making about one animal a night since then and have really been enjoying it. I think I might need to make them two by two though. For an Ark, of course! I cut these animals out of copper using my hand saw and my minds image of each animal...it is free hand sawing...no drawing on the outline first or looking at an image while in process. Which, might explain my six legged octopus! I have also run into a scale problem bec...

A Handful Of Growth Home Is Where The Heart Is this tower of my heart w/o its bracelet...2nd in my STACKABLE WEARABLE SERIES Love, Lace and Fences - brooch on Cut Grass - base Heart At Home - ring up close & personal w/ Everything Is Roses - cuff bracelet detail of hand-pierced, silver lace bottom of bracelet