a truly delightful and stunning honor!

it was truly an honor to be a finalist in metal clay artist magazine's annual juried contest.  i just found out that i placed first: talk about crazy amazing!


this inspirational publication gets a huge thank you from me! when i made this piece, i had no idea that others would be interested in what i thought was a beautiful but very odd box. i was just excited to have an excuse to push myself to use whatever materials my heart desired to tell a story. thank you for that push Metal Clay Artist Magazine, thank you Celie, Lora and Joy for your impossible challenge in judging and thank you pmc connection for your 
sponsorship!!!!

this promises to be a spectacular issue, starting with its cover, graced by metal clay genius wanaree tanner's intricate bronze portal bangle. all several hundred entrants in the "metal clay plus" juried contest will be there to inspire and delight, and much more! only a few more weeks to wait...

lost point of origin
fine and sterling silver, bronze, copper, vitreous glass enamel, found object, pearl, mica, thread, paper
2012

lost point of origin
2012

lost point of origin, side
2012

lost point of origin, back
2012




would you like to see a video of the movement in this mechanical box? click here

 

lost point of origin, side open

automaton #1

did I request thee Maker from my clay to mould me?
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, quartz, paper, wood
kimberly nogueira 2011

did I request thee Maker from my clay to mould me?
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, quartz, paper, wood
kimberly nogueira 2011

did I request thee Maker from my clay to mould me?
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, quartz, paper, wood
kimberly nogueira 2011

i am so grateful to metal clay today, the online magazine for metal clay education, inspiration and resources, for hosting their quarterly challenge competitions. because of the most recent one, metal clay in motion, i changed my artistic direction entirely. my family might not say for the better, since i become mia from the household duties when i am in the final stages of construction of one of these pieces! i've always been exquisitely delighted by anything tiny that is mechanical, and much of my past work has revolved around themes of childhood wonder--its vulnerability and its resiliency.  in doing research for this challenge, i scoured my collection of moveable vintage gum ball charms for ideas, and researched old folk toys, which i thought of doing in miniature. the final piece encompassed much of the emotion of the past several months from my son's father passing away. i am sure you can see this quite clearly in the piece! but as i was making it, i was unaware of this; it was only after i finished it that i could see the aura of profound sadness, tenderness, and wonder that surrounded this work. my thoughts at the time centered more on the idea of how did we get here? who gave us this gift of motion, of life? what responsibility do we have to the life that we create and to others? i wanted the wearer to be able to interact with the piece, but to have to do it gently, so that they would realize that their movements and actions have consequences. the quote is from john milton's paradise lost.

honeybee necklace

honeybee necklace, banded dryhead agate, fine and sterling silver, pearl; kimberly nogueira 2011

i just completed this honeybee piece, with a sweet little banded dryhead agate cabochon, fine silver bee, and tiny pearl nested within a fine silver flower.  see more photos of this by clicking on etsy

as bees gather honey, so we collect what is sweetest out of all things and build...
                          rainer maria rilke

some stones and vintage toy fragments

agate, chrysocolla, included quartz, amethyst

pmc forms, enamelled disc, pink sapphires, vintage compass, frozen charlotte, cobalto calcite, agate

the collage on my work bench changes on a weekly basis, i would say. here is what is there now, and yesterday. the included quartzes are from brazil, recently arrived after about 6 months in the postal system. there are some vintage fragments, a bit of enamel, a bezel for polymer clay image transfer, some pretty cabochons, bits of silver and unfired pmc