i love this quote...

“I think perfection is ugly. Somewhere in the things humans make, I want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion.” Yohji Yamamoto, clothing designer

rings from my casting class with alan burton thompson

i made this ring for me!

lichen ring, sterling silver, kimberly nogueira  2011

dead branch ring, bronze, kimberly nogueira  2011

bud ring with tendril, sterling silver, kimberly nogueira 2011

here is much happiness!  i love using wax to make molds for casting, the kind of wax that you can form with your fingers, leaving your fingerprints almost imperceptibly in the mold...

casting class with alan burton thompson

heat your metal to the melting point and pour it into the mold

put your just-filled-with-molten-metal flask into a big bucket to break apart the investment

peak inside the flask to see if your casting came out  

it came out so big smile

i had the pleasure of taking a casting class with alan burton thompson at the new england school of craft this past june.  wow! i learned much more than i was expecting to in just 3 days and actually made myself several rings (that i love love love), which is very unusual because due to my lifestyle and the heat here, i generally don't adorn myself in anything but a spare way. i've included some action shots from the casting studio...

work by my son and apprentice

mixed metals box, copper and brass, xavier trahan 2011

domed and hinged ring, brass, copper, sterling silver, xavier trahan 2011

my teenage son xavier just returned from two weeks of studio work in metalsmithing and glassworking at the new england school of craft.  the glass work is on its way in the mail--i'm so excited to see it!--but i have the two pieces that he made in the metals class here.  both of these pieces are more sophisticated than anything i've made!

my apprentice's work in copper

hammered copper cuff, copper, xavier trahan 2011

it's such a delight to pass on valuable metalworking skills to the next generation.  here is a gorgeous piece of copper work by my apprentice, also my son, who picks up studio techniques so quickly! he will be studying metalwork and flame working at the New England School of Crafts this summer. please click on etsy for more photos and sale information.

more about my bird ring

bird without a nest ring,sterling and fine silver and turquoise, kimberly nogueira 2011

i've fabricated several bird pieces for my "woodland creatures" series.  here is a  ring that is for sale on etsy.  this one is especially meaningful because the original toy that i used to make the mold for this work is from my grandmother's childhood era.  she was never able to explore the world the way that she truly wanted due to societal constraints that she could not fight.  however, i was, and this ring symbolizes the joy experienced when you find the courage to fly out of the nest to follow your heart, however messy the journey, despite strong pressure to conform.

finished jelly bean ring

jelly bean ring, chrysoprase, chalcedony, sterling and fine silver, kimberly nogueira 2011

jelly bean ring, chrysoprase, chalcedony, sterling and fine silver, kimberly nogueira 2011

here is the finished chrysoprase and chalcedony jelly bean ring--happiness for the finger!