Michelle Ward Crusade-Make It Your Own

Michelle Ward has posted her 31st Crusade over on the Green Pepper Press Street Team blog.  That's right...31st!  It's hard to believe she's been doing challenges on the street team blog for about two and a half years now.  I haven't participated in nearly enough of them but I thought this one was interesting.   It's called "Make it Your Own--be authentic, be unique, be  yourself."  There's always a lot of discussion on this subject but I really like Michelle's take on it:  "claim the elements you're using" and "interpret inspiration so it has your own personal spin."  She's not saying "don't use a product unless you've designed it and made it from scratch (for instance, scrapbooking papers), and she's not saying "don't be inspired by what you see others doing."  What she IS saying is "Trust (your intuition), Study(what grabbed your attention), Imagine (the possibilities), Personalize (make it your own)."

The first thing I thought to submit for this challenge was my wire nest charms.  I designed this little nest charm years ago and thought it would be fun to share.  It's been published, taught and shared in my my Etsy shop as a tutorial.  While I really enjoyed sharing the technique, I eventually wanted to change it up a bit...re-make it back into my own creation.  Inspired by the wonderfully creative artist Susan Lenart Kazmer's resin-on-paper technique, I added wire and paper leaves and vines.  I didn't use Susan's exact technique...but, I was certainly inspired by it.  I put my own spin on it and re-spun my original design in the process.  Exactly what Michelle's Crusade called for...MIYO!

Comments

[mac]

HI! Really, really beautiful piece of jewelry art! I love how you have made it your own by adding such unexpected yet really beautiful touches to the design. Thanks SO much for sharing with us!

[Cath]

What stunning pieces and, yes, I sure can see how you MIYO! Great stuff, thanks for sharing.

[Pam Carriker]

Love this piece and how you went back and reclaimed it after sharing your technique. It makes me realize that when we share our techniques through publication or workshop, we are letting go of it, but it does not mean we can't go back to it, maybe even with fresh eyes, adding to it and making it ours again.

[Jane]

Yes! I agree with everyone here, your piece is beautiful! A lovely 'interpretation' of your own design. Thanks for sharing it with us.

--Jane

[Stephanie]

I am in a bird phase right now for sure and love your birds and nests....great way to make it your own!

[Melisa]

I always love these little nests of yours, and especially like the special touches you've given this one.

[Pattie]

Oh Deryn,

You and your creations are the source of inspiration for a great many of us!! Besides that you often very quietly and humblely become a mentor for a number of artist. It's never preconceived or even a conscious action it just happens :)And I for one am very greatful!! It truly has been your nurturing, encouragement and support that has given me the courage to express myself through my creation of jewelry!! :)

Thank you my dearest Bloglandian Sister!!
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

[barbe saint john]

Michelle's challenges are always so great. I always think about participating but then something else comes up and I put it on the back burner and you know what happens then. But, in the end I find that I enjoy looking at everyone's projects just as much as if I had created something myself.

[michelle ward]

hey girl! good to see you back playing with us :) it looks different here - new banner and colors? gorgeous! thanks for sharing your spin on MIYO, the nests are co clever and so handsome. AND I'M DIGGING HEAVY METAL CHARLOTTE in the post below. *swooon* i always enjoy seeing the many details in your work - your artistry and composition are superb, as is your photography.

[Dale]

i'm working on my own submission for this challenge. I have always been fascinated by the idea of 'inspiration' and where it comes from. I have been learning alot of personalizing objects and materials as well through Kazmer's book. Lovely stuff here, great work!

[Christine Damm]

I love the piece and how you described your process and BIG thanks for the link to Michelle-- maybe it's the 100th monkey thing but after all the buzz about copying here we are with a groundswell of folks talking about how to "make it your own"-- I just love it! Talk about making something positive from something negative. The world CAN work if we all try to do that everyday.

[Kathi Pecor]

hi-I've been following your blog for a while now-I love your work-we must be kindred spirits without knowing it-I've been making jewelry for many years and find that we have very similar tastes. Like others have said, I don't believe in copying others-but when I saw your latest design for the challenge I really could not believe my eyes--I was sitting at work today (a totally non-artistic related job) and had a brainstorm of of an idea for a pendant=I even drew it on the back of a grocery list I had sitting on my desk. Its so similar to yours it eerie. Now-I'm not sure about making it. But I think I will and if its okay I'll send you a picture of it. Thank you for your wonderful blog and I would someday like to get in on a challenge

[kim mailhot]

That is one of the wonderful things about the on-line artist community of bloggers - they are so generous with their techniques and their time and their love of art. It is up to each artist then to take bits of what they learn, mix it up with their own vision and imagination and make their own thing ! So much inspiration !
Lovely to have you as part of the Crusade fun this month !
Cheers !

[jenn desjardins]

I love it when I can use my own mind for a design! Inspiration from others is great, but there is nothing like something that just comes from what your thought process creates. Beautiful work!

[Marie-Aimée]

the first is fantastic !!!!

[Renate]

Love your take on this challenge!!

[sharon]

Very pretty Deryn, I love anthing with the bird theme....love the softness of this!

[Linda]

Thanks for the link to Michelle. I used to have her on my favorites a while back but lost it and then lost track of her. You have been a big inspiration to me with my jewelry. I love your work but also struggle with "copying". I don't want to copy things exactly but make it my own. When I see you, Kelly Snelling, Amy Hanna and so many others who are fabulous artists and create in such a style that has grabbed me from the beginning, it can be easy for me to want it to look "exactly" like so and so's. But it is not and it won't because everyone has a different style. It isn't going to look exact. That is the wonderful part. And I think Michelle just said it in her post that craft is following directions and making a duplicate but art is putting your own twist on something. Thanks again for being such a big inspiration to me. I always look forward to seeing anything new you create!