Introducing Lauren Gray

Every once a while an artist takes you by surprise. Not so much because of what they do, but how they do it. Lauren Gray's work is ethereal, soft spoken, gentle and timeless. I cannot take my eyes from it. Everytime I enter her Etsy shop, GrayArt, I am enthralled by the beauty of her images.


There is a vintage feel to her work, as if it has existed for ages. When I first saw her work, I thought she was a charcoal artist using various shades of brown. I love the soft, slightly fuzzy look of charcoal sketches, so I was immediately charmed by her work. Especially as the brown colors she used was reminiscent of sepia toned prints, which I adore. You cannot imagine my surprise when I discovered that she does all of her drawing on wood with a wood burning tool. I have never seen such delicate work done with this technique.


Lauren describes her work as follows:

"I am a small format figurative artist (all pieces 5" x 7" or smaller). All of my original artwork is pyrography (woodburning) and oils mixed media. All of my artwork is original and hand drawn onto wood (italian poplar, or baltic birch) using a burning unit and burning pens. I like subtle color and the texture of the paint, so in most pieces I apply oil paint as well.

Aside from my visual art pieces, I also like to create one of a kind jewelry pieces, bookmarks and other items, all of which feature original art and make for great gifts.

All of my prints are from a top of the line archival epson. It prints what it see's. The originals were created on wood, wood has natural variances in its surface (darker spots, divets. etc.) all of which lend to the beauty of the artwork. These natural blemishes DO show up in the prints. They are not defects in the print themselves, but are a natural part of the original artwork"


I asked Lauren for a little information about herself as an artist and she provided me with a brief bio from the Create, Collect, Trade 2008 book that she is featured in:

"My name is Lauren Gray and I am a 28 year old self-taught artist living in Pennsylvania. Like many artists, I discovered a love for the arts at a very young age. I grew like many artists who have had no formal art training, through trial and error. I have experimented with all mediums and styles and slowly evolved to where I am now...continually changing, learning and most importantly, practicing every day. The main constant in my work, one that will never change, is my love for the figurative arts. I love energy, expression and attempting to bring the figure to life.

In 2005 I discovered Pyrography. Pyrography is the art of drawing an image onto wood using a hot tool. It is more commonly referred to as woodburning, or “writing with fire” as it was described in the past. It is one of the more challenging and time consuming mediums I have worked in, but I feel the end result offers a classic beauty that truly is unique to the medium.

I have been selling my art privately and online since 2002. You can learn more about me and my art at LGrayArt.com."


I think you will agree that she has succeeded in bringing the figure to life in her artwork. Lauren offers originals as well as ACEOs and limited editions of her work in her Etsy store. She also has bookmarks (which sell out fast, so if you see one in her shop, grab it!) and Tagua Nut pendants and is soon to offer wooden bangle bracelets.



Lauren has written quite an informative explanation of the process involved in doing Pyrography on Tagua Nut here in the description of her pendant. I highly recommend visiting her Etsy store and discovering for yourself the incredible talent this young lady has.

Conquering 10 Gauge Stainless Steel Wire

I love copper, as I've stated before. The color intrigues me as it ages from bright shiny penny to rich nut brown to that heavily weathered green and blue patina. It is a soft wire and a great deal of fun to play with. You can curl it, bend it, hammer it flat to get whatever shape you want. I made a hefty keychain out of 8 gauge copper wire and my husband liked it so much, that I made one for every guy in my family for Father's Day last year. I received so many compliments that I decided to list it in my Etsy store.

Many people looked at it, a few commented and left hearts to let me know they liked it. One brave soul contacted me and asked if I could make it in stainless steel. Well, having never worked with stainless steel before, I told him I had to research it a bit. It took me quite a while to find a source for stainless steel wire in a heavy enough gauge to get the same look, but I finally did at The Ring Lord, located in Canada. The heaviest I could find was 10 gauge, but according to the measurement charts, it was only a bare fraction of an inch smaller than the copper, so I went ahead and ordered it. I eagerly awaited it's arrival, looking everyday for a little box on my front porch. You can't imagine my surprise when I discovered a white tyvek bag holding what appeared to be an 18" frisbee. I knew right away I was in trouble! This wire had traveled from Canada to Georgia in a plastic bag and was so stiff, it was left loosely coiled and was not even the slightest bit warped! I wish I had thought to take a picture, because it really was intimating looking.

So, off I started on the journey to tame 10 gauge stainless steel wire. The first thing I learned was that i could not cut it with any of the shears I have on hand (even the ones used to cut 4 gauge copper wire) nor could i cut it with a cold chisel...got a nice big nick in my hubby's blacksmithing chisel...good thing he has a grind wheel. I finally dug out the hacksaw and that did the trick.

I coiled it around a 1/2" aluminum rod that was secured in a smooth jawed vise. I discovered that steel gets warm as it bends, copper does not do this. It also has a lot more spring back than copper. I can see this being extremely dangerous if tried with a motorized coiling system. It coils fairly neatly, but you have to really watch your coils as they form, I had at least two that are slightly oval. I was able to get about 18 rings from 36 inches of 10 gauge wire.

I don't have a jeweler's saw, so I used a hacksaw to cut the rings. I discovered that a 24 tooth blade worked much better than the 32 tooth blade. The blade with more teeth left a smoother cut, but it took forever and it dulled very quickly. I actually snapped two 32 tooth blades while cutting the rings. I am figuring it's going to take at least a couple of blades for each keychain.

Once the rings were cut, it was time to clean them up and get ready to assemble the byzantine link. I went through about 3 jeweler's files, before i just gave up in disgust. Automotive emory cloth worked much better for smoothing the burs and wiped away the slight scratches with ease. I didn't want to scratch the rings as I opened and closed the rings, so I had my husband cut the toothed portion off the end of two pairs of heavy duty needle nosed pliers. This gave me two pairs of snub nosed, smooth jawed pliers to use to twist the rings open and closed. Not that it did me any good as I could not budge these rings by hand.

So, back to the smooth jawed vise i went. I clamped each ring in the vise and then used a pair of the modified snub nosed pliers to twist the rings while applying pressure to close them.

It took quite a bit of hand strength and I didn't think to wear gloves until after I had pulled up an inch long blister at the base of my right thumb...ouch! You can bet I dug out those gloves fast to finish assembling the link!

Although I still prefer the look and feel of copper, I am very proud to say that I can hand coil, cut and assemble a byzantine link from 10 gauge stainless steel wire!


You can see more photos of the link of the link assembly on my flickr page.

Introducing Nicole Lee Artistry

I was in the Etsy chatroom the other day goofing off with some other Estians. One of the things I truly love about the Etsy chatrooms is getting to peek at people's shops while talking to them. I popped into a shop and got sucked into browsing her store...quite forgot about the chatroom for a few minutes. She is very new to Etsy, in fact it's been a month today! But she has already established her store's personality through her photography. Her jewelry is beautiful, simple, yet put together with an artistic flair that I could never achieve. It give me great pleasure to introduce Nicole Lee Artistry!


I asked Nicole Lee how she came to be a jewelry artist:

I have been making jewelry for about a year and a half now. It started when my company downsized and I lost my job. With a stroke of bad luck, I went through two more jobs...one because the company hit a financial buckle and the last one I left by choice. I had reached a point of question - Be successful helping someone else reach their dream or be successful doing what I love and help myself reach MY dreams? It was a tough decision. Mainly it was difficult because I feared the RISK involved if I tried to be a full-time crafter, and some cautioned against it. BUT, NOTHING COMES WITHOUT RISK and some very successful people made it by going "against the wind."


So I took the plunge. I received compliments and started to sell. With some sales under my belt, I decided to get online. I tried some other avenues and then I found Etsy. I fell in love! I love etsy because it's professional, user friendly and affordable for crafters. I'm new to Etsy, so right now, I'm doing everything I can to get exposure and SALES. For any crafter, even though the enjoyment and self-satisfaction is valuable, if you want to turn a profit, you have to sell. You spend a little, make a little, and hope other people spend a little of their time, interest and money so you can make a little more in return.


I create because I cannot NOT create. For me, making jewelry and crafts is a life force! I'm truly inspired by everything and everyone! When I'm making a piece, I don't stop until I have that inner sense of completion and personal satisfaction. I would wear any of my pieces and if I don't feel that way, I won't sell them. I also regard my customers' opinions HIGHLY - if they EVER feel that they are not satisfied...even if it is for the littlest reason, I would not hesitate to do what I can, within reason, to keep them happy. They keep me in business and allow me to do what I love. I do my best to show how grateful I am for that and want to show it.


With such strong, beautiful pieces coming out of her workshop, I think that Nicole Lee has a very bright future ahead of her! Please take a few moments to peek in her shop and see what else she has to offer.

What's New for the Wedding Season

With the wedding season fast approaching, I’d like to share a wonderful new gift idea for the bride-to-be, a keepsake folder custom made to the bride's specifications.

All brides are faced with the necessity of picking out and sending invitations. When I got married, I would use any spare moment to address a handful of invitations. Here is a great keepsake folder to make the task a bit easier.


With two flexible pockets inside to hold cards and envelopes, and two sleek pockets on the outside to hold address lists and RSVPs, this is an indispensible gift. Once the invitations are sent, it can be used on the wedding day to store cards or congratulations received at the wedding. It is also a great place to keep checks, cash, or giftcards that are so easily misplaced. After the wedding it can be used to help organize the Thank You cards. And finally, it makes a wonderful decorative folder to store the keepsake wedding invitation that all brides cherish.



The keepsake folder is custom made to order. It is sized to fit the bride's chosen invitation and can be made to match the invitations, wedding party colors or just colors the bride enjoys. The ribbon is a sophisticated option which allows the folder to be tied securely, or leave it off for an elegant look.

The sample folder is made of satin, but can be made from any fabric, including left over fabric from a custom gown or the bridal party's dresses. I also do embellishments: lace, beads, rhinestones, etc. (Please convo for pricing on embellished folders.)

An adorable nursery print would be perfect for birth announcement, baby shower and christening invitations. It would also make a great presentation folder for gift certificates or awards. How about a pretty spring print for Easter cards or a fun winter print for Christmas cards? I love this folder so much I keep thinking up new uses for it! How about a beautiful, safe place to store all those heartwarming cards you've saved from your children, your spouse or other loved ones?



I'd love to know what you think of these!

Husband Missing

Tragedy happens all around us everyday: war, criminal violence, domestic violence, kidnapping, runaways. But there is nothing worse, in my opinion, than the unknown. I read today about a fellow Etsian whose husband disappeared on his way home from work on Wednesday, February 13. How truly terrifying for her and their children. They have a 4 year old daughter, a 2 year old son and she is expecting a baby in early October. It's the unknown factor that makes this so terrifying and tragic.

I live across the country from this family and cannot help in the physical search for him or in providing immediate comfort for his wife and children. I am praying for them and ask that you do the same. The Etsy community has rallied and is trying to help raise funds to offset the financial burden of this family. Please take a few minutes to read the following and help out as you can. Thank you.

This thread is for thoughts, prayers and updates in the disapearance of Nicholas Fransico. Nicholas has been missing since Wednesday, February 13, 2008. His car was found today (2/18)

His wife Christine owns two Etsy shops that are currently closed
http://RinnoviBodySpa.etsy.com
http://BellaStyle.etsy.com

According to Christine's sister (Jannell) financial support is desperately needed. Christine has a 4 and 2 year old and is pregnant with her third child (due in October).

SEATTLE AREA - if you are in the area and can help with search efforts, please convo Gabrielsaunt, she is coordinating Etsy Search Efforts. If you'd like to help by sending things for the kids, please convo fashiongreentbags, kvossdesigns or lovemeknot.

The family has not set up a donation center as of yet but THEY ARE TRULY IN NEED OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT! If you can help in the way of a PayPal donation, Christine's paypal address: info@bellastyleboutique.com

1. login to PayPal
2. Click - Send Money
3. Type - info@bellastyleboutique.com - for the recipient
4. select - Services/other
5. Click - SEND

for the latest news updates:
www.komotv.com
www.king5.com

Church link:
http://voxpopnetwork.com

Thank you for anything you can do!!

PROMO THREAD: PLEASE STOP BY AND EITHER DONATE A SHOP ITEM TO CHRISTINE AND HER FAMILY OR PICK SOMETHING FROM A PARTICIPATING SHOP AND HELP SUPPORT THIS FAMILY DURING THIS TRAGEDY.

If you don't find something that interests you, then please consider making the direct donation to Christine's paypal account.

Xue Originals

One of the unexpected joys of belonging to a creative community like Etsy is getting to meet wonderful artists from around the world. I have long admired the beauty of Asian inspired art and am pleased to be able to introduce a wonderful new jewelry artist, Xue Originals.


Xue's work is an exotic blend of the simple, yet highly detailed elegance of the Asian arts with the opulent and romantic colors and textures of the Western world.



Xue has more than than 20 years experience as an artist working in advertising, graphic designing, theme parties, cartoon illustrations, paper sculpture, mosaic art & jewelry designs. She has traveled quite a bit over the past 17 years, living in Shanghai, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore & now Tokyo.



Xue states that her designs and interests come from the experience of living in and travelling to many places. She is motivated by the daily exposure to Western and Asian cultures since her family is a mix of Chinese and European. Because this is the way she lives, this influences the way she designs. You can learn more about Xue by visiting her website and her Etsy shop



Not only is Xue a wonderful jewelry artist, but she has also become my friend. She lives a world away from me both geographically and culturally, but we have found many common bonds. We are both artists and mothers. We find beauty all around us, are graced by our Faith, and are enraptured by the wonder we see in our children as they grow up. I am proud to showcase Xue Originals' today. I hope you will take a few minutes of your time to view her beautiful work.

OWOH Winner

I want to say thank you to all who participated in the ONE World-ONE Heart world wide blog give away. This has been a delightful experience all the way around.

I had 126 people ask to be included in the drawing for the Zenny Beret and circle copper Shawl Pin. I printed out a list of all the participants and cut each name out, folded them up and popped them into a bowl. My little guy helped me out by drawing the name.....drumroll please? dadadadadadada....and the winner is:

NINNIE!

Again, thank you all for participating. I received so many wonderful compliments on my beret and pin and have met so many interesting new people. I look forward to continuing to get to know you all.