Weekend Photos

Swinging on Swings!

Project Runway Season 9: Episode 4 Design a piece for Nina Garcia

Each week the Etsymetal team plays along with the Project Runway show. A challenge is given that coordinates with the previous weeks show. The piece is due by Thursday when the next episode airs. 

The Project Runway Challenge:

The designers were asked to design a day to night outfit for Nina Garcia

For our EtsyMetal Translation: Make a piece of jewelry for Nina. 

There was a scene where she was going through jewelry at Marie Claire. Also she notes that she likes streamlined, modern looks. Whatever you do, don't bore Nina!

For my piece I wanted to create a simple modern piece with this beautiful Labradorite stone that could be worn day to night also. I wanted it to be an elegant piece that could be worn with different outfits and worn two different ways.  

I think my labradorite necklace could be worn during the day with a pretty white shirt or dressed up at night with a simple black dress. 

I created the simple and modern floral design on the back of the necklace to show the beautiful Labradorite colors.

The necklace has faceted Labradorite, Fresh Water Pearls and Kyanite to compliment the colors of the Labradorite. The pendent is entirely handmade and one of a kind using sterling silver and fine silver.

I hope Nina would like my necklace. I will list it this weekend in my shop. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

~Kathryn

Beach Day Photos

Yesterday we went to the beach. That is usually our Sunday ritual. 

We have a late breakfast and then spend some time walking around at the beach. It's still very hot here so we had to go swimming also. 

The beach was beautiful. The water was calm and clear where you could see your feet and fish swimming by.

And there were thousands of tiny shells for us to sift through.

We floated and relaxed in the ocean. 

The water was perfectly warm. 

It was very nice to just spend some time at the beach listening to the water roll in and look up at the fluffy clouds as we floated. And it was wonderful to look through the shells. I brought home a tiny bucket full of my finds. 

We also shared an shaved ice...it was pink and orange and very yummy!

I took pictures of my shells when we got home to share with you.

And that was our day. Very relaxing. What did you do?

In the Garden

"I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty." 
~Georgia O'Keefe

I have been wanting to create a large flower ring for a long time now. 

The idea was inspired by my LOVE of flowers and by all the beautiful flowers I have seen in Florida over the summer. Flowers inspire and amaze me.

This week I decided to go for it and create it for the weekly Etsymetal team Project Runway challenge. 

It is a piece I have been thinking about since last year. I created larger rings for my Ring a Day challenge and wanted to make one that I could spend more time on. I finally made the time this week to make it. And I loved creating it. 

My flower ring was handmade in sterling silver. The beautiful citrine is set in the middle of the ring with a handmade bezel. It is entirely hand by me and one of a kind. It is quite large and will definitely gather some attention when it is worn. It measures approximately 3" x 1/4". It is a size 7...so I guess I can't keep it.  It has my maker's mark, kc, on the bottom of the band. 

Dali Museum

Tonight is the Dali Museum Getting Social Event. I really wanted to go, but can't. My "Little bit" (daughter) is sick so I can't go. I thought I'd post some pictures of the Museum for those of you who don't live in St Pete. The Museum is awesome! It's a must-see.

All photos by Photomatt on Flickr

Have a great night! ~Kathryn

QR code

Good Morning! My friend Jennifer of Eve-n-Odd Gallery encouraged me to make a QR code and stickers to hand out for a Social Media event tonight at the Dali Museum! 

I finally did it. When you scan it, it takes you to my Kathryn Cole Jewelry facebook page. Making the code was simple, but formating it for my stickers took a little while to figure out. I did it and now I have little round stickers to put on packages and business cards, ect and to give out tonight at the event. I'll take lots of pictures tonight of the event.

Have you made a QR code yet? I would love ideas on how to use these more.

Have a wonderful day! 

XOXO, Kathryn

In Memory of my Grandmother

 For several seasons now, EtsyMetal has played along with the Project Runway challenges and invites others to participate as well. I am very excited that the challenges have started again!!! 

The day after the show a translation of the challenge here will be posted on the Etsymetal blog. Participants have one week to make a piece and must submit it by midnight of the next Thursday, when the show airs.

The Project Runway Challenge:

The designers had to use the clothes they slept in the night before plus one of their bedsheets to create a new look. They also had access to dye and trimmings.

For our EtsyMetal Translation:

Since this challenge was all about using what you have in an unexpected way, and since most of us don’t sleep in jewelry, the challenge this week is to make something only from material that is sitting on your bench! If you don’t have a bench or access to your studio, then choose another area like your desk. Since the designers got a sheet, we get some sheet metal. You are welcome to use enhancements like stones from your supplies. But the final piece should be made of a majority of your found pieces if possible. Ok now, make it work!

For my piece I looked at my bench. I actually had a lot of things on it. It was quite messy! At first I wasn't inspired by anything. I wanted to use something that was a scrap since that was  the challenge. I had plenty of stones and other things cut out on my bench to chose from, but I wanted to try to be true to the challenge and use scraps. 

I finally found this setting that I had made in sterling silver. I had made it probably 6 months ago. It didn't work for what I was doing back then and remade one. The butterflies are cut out from scrap also.

I was inspired to make this butterfly necklace that was a tribute to my Grandmother who passed away recently. There are four butterflies on the necklace representing four generations of my family. My daughter and I spent a little time with her before she passed. 

My Mom was there too. She spent the last month of my grandmother's life with her. My Uncles and Cousins were there also and many other family members.

Four generations together.

I am very sad to have lost her. She was a beautiful woman full of grace and kindness. She kept the family together. She will be greatly missed.

I will keep this necklace for myself and give it to my daughter one day. 

Here are a couple of pictures of my Grandmother.