Token Ring Collection

Token Rings on Etsy

I just added these brand new rings to my Etsy Shop. Choose from Curved Prize in a bright or oxidized finish, Remembering, or Rose in whole and half sizes starting with size 5. Sold individually, they are lovely on their own but can be worn in different pairings. To introduce them to you today, they are an additional 10% off the sale price from now until Friday. Just $45.90 each.

Curved Prize Bright Ring

Curved Prize Oxidized Ring

Remembering Ring

Rose Ring

Thanks for reading.

Little Tower

Line Drawings Rings, sold separately and on sale for $37.50 each

Something low-key to ease into the week: super-simple Line Drawings rings. Sold separately but very-stackable… the sale is on for four more days!

Thanks for reading.

gold rings

recently i revamped my mom's engagement ring shank. she gave it to me in december to melt down (my father had the diamond reset in a new ring for christmas) but i couldn't bear to do so to such a sentimental piece of jewelry. i considered setting a new stone in the prongs or removing the setting/pushing the shoulders together, but ended up melting the tip of each prong just a bit which created a lovely little starburst. then i revamped two gold bands (also out of my mom's old jewelry) that i made a few years ago. before they were just hammered and then i flattened them in the rolling mill and resurfaced the edges for a more sleek look. i love how all three looked stacked together.

thanks for reading. (and thanks, mom!)

500 plastic jewelry designs

i just got my complimentary copy of 500 plastic jewelry designs, juried by susan kasson sloan. this is my first time in the lark books 500 series and i have two pieces published. i am psyched! i flipped through the book last night and it looks fantastic - the 500 books are always so inspiring. it will be my treat to sit with it over the weekend and really look.

thanks for reading.

crete, part 2

while on crete, we also spent a few days in the city of hania with its picturesque venetian-style port and old town. much like the islands we had visited already, hania was a maze of narrow streets, shops, and restaurants. just outside our hotel located in this maze was a beautiful shop called carmela which is owned by a woman of the same name, carmela iatropoulou.

carmela does a beautiful job selecting and displaying handmade jewelry and raku ceramics. the displays themselves were worth a visit! one of the first things i spotted was this curious gourd ring unlike anything i had seen before. it had to leave with me.


tomorrow...athens.

thanks for reading.

visiting artist report

a week ago i was a visiting artist in the metals class at the penland school of crafts, located in the mountains of western north carolina. the class, taught by robert dancik, is about experimental techniques and alternative materials and how these can be applied to jewelry and other art forms. i demonstrated stone setting but not in a traditional sense. i showed the students how to make bezel and prong settings for unusually shaped objects, instead of cabochons or faceted stones. i also discussed different styles of rings and how the students might consider designing bands that are not round. later in the day i discussed some business aspects, like how to get a craft business started, and also shared some of my own personal experiences and struggles. it was a wonderful day!


thanks for reading!

pop-out again!

here you go, another fine example of pop-out jewelry... this time in the form of a wooden postcard with parts that you can pop out and assemble to form a wearable ring. and, you can actually mail the postcard. the design is by nutre arayavanish. nutre also designed this envelope necklace. again, it can be mailed and, later, cut out and worn.

thanks for reading.

guest star friday #3...joanna gollberg.

joanna gollberg makes great jewelry. she is also my good friend and studiomate. we met at the penland school of crafts years ago when we were both students in lori talcott's class, ancient techniques for modern metalsmiths. i have always been impressed with how prolific joanna is and that her work is constantly evolving and ever dynamic. it seems like she has tons of ideas all the time and she actually makes each and every one. she uses lots of ovals and other simple shapes and incorporates repetition of form, movement, and interesting mechanisms. her work is very thoughtful and well made. lately, she has been making these cool triangular forms with her ovals. i love the contrast between the rigid triangle and the softer oval. please see above image.

joanna also has a lot of fun in the studio. she made this mossy ball necklace a few weeks ago. so fun!






just last week she started making these rings, my new favorite...the bands and settings are delicate wire. then, trapped in the top, are rough-cut stones, bits and pieces, and other odd little objects. they look amazing stacked!

in addition to all the jewelry, joanna also write books and teaches.
she is incredibly giving of her knowledge and talent. right now, joanna is showing and selling her work at the philadelphia buyer's market of american craft show and then next week at the american craft council baltimore show.





here's where you can find her online:

her website
on flickr
her blog the stirling news
on etsy

thanks for reading.

new images from the past

i had a few older things photographed recently including these sterling, felt, and resin rings. the felt-dipped-in-resin "chips" were one of my experiments from the class i took with maria phillips a few winters ago...i would like to keep going with this idea, someday. i made the rings at the penland school of crafts when i assisted joanna gollberg, my good friend & studiomate.i also made this sterling and carpet ring during that penland class. this will be part of an interesting and fun series, someday, too. you should see my collection of flooring samples!and finally, an oxidized sterling bracelet with gold rivets. i consider it to be the start of my line drawing series. it is based on some danish-made vases.
all images by hank drew.

thanks for reading.

sneak peaks!

here you go...a few images of my new stuff. these designs, along with about 30 more, will be available for viewing and buying on march 21 at my website. i'll offer free shipping for a month then, too! you will also be able to find most of the new work at my shops. you can find a list of them here. please email me (amy@amytavern.com) if you have any questions about these pieces.

images from top: preface brooch, layered necklace D, very thin steel stacking rings, cuff links (new men's collection!), tiny ratio earrings in sterling and (new) 14K, (all images by hank drew)

thanks for reading.