The Stimulus Project at Sienna Gallery

One of my favoritest galleries on the planet, Sienna Gallery in Lenox, Mass., is opening a clever and timely show today that you should know about.

Called The Stimulus Project, it features one-of-a-kind work by 80(!) jewelry artists all priced under $500.

Sienna has posted images of some of the works on the gallery's Facebook page.

The reception is tomorrow evening, June 27, 6-9pm.

The show runs through August 25, so if you're anywhere near the Berkshires this summer be sure to check it out!

Should be a highly simulating show...

IMAGES
Top: Noam Elyashiv
Middle: Erin Gardner
Bottom: Harriete Estel Berman

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.

Fast & Eco-friendly Tarnish Removal

Customers often ask me, "What's the best way to polish silver?"

I recommend this easy, irritant-free, eco-friendlier way to keep SILVER happy and bright, (that's actually FASTER than polishing cloths, dips, or other chemical methods).

BEFORE YOU START: Make sure your jewelry has no glue, paper, or other elements that would be damaged by water. Safe for gemstones, but not pearls and opals.

STEP 1:
Line a bathroom SINK (or large bowl) with ALUMINUM FOIL.
Sprinkle with BAKING SODA.
Fill sink with STEAMING HOT WATER.

STEP 2:
DROP pieces of jewelry one at a time into the sink.
Make sure ALL SIDES touch the foil.
Let soak 10-20 SECONDS.

Step 3:
REMOVE with chopsticks or tongs.
DRY with paper towel or hair dryer.
Tarnish that doesn't dissolve in the water should come off with a little RUB.

CODA:

Tarnish in HARD-TO-REACH places?
Try gently scrubbing with TOOTHPASTE and a TOOTHBRUSH.
RINSE and DRY with towel.

Voila!
Refreshed silver,
without that weird aftertaste.

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.
Jewelry featured:
Pebble Bracelet by Valerie Mitchell, and
Wonky Bangles by Melle Finelli.

Laura Su's Jewelry (Prismera Design) on the Runway!

I received an email today that made me so proud and happy for our friend Laura Su, formerly the manager at Rare Device when our shops were neighbors in Park Slope.

Laura is the woman behind Prismera Design, and her jewelry has recently rocketed right to the New York Fashion Week runway! Check it out on her blog here.

We featured Laura's work in our jewelry show "Summer Succulents" last summer, for which she designed the amazing Titanopsis Necklace (pictured on the runway model here) along with a few other pieces. She credits our show with inspiring her to come up with this collection that's been getting so much attention lately. I can't describe how proud that makes me feel!

(BTW, that's a bamboo jersey gown the model is wearing by Elizabeth Mason Couture -- tres eco chic.)

Laura totally deserves this attention -- she's a lovely person who has been working very hard at her collections. I wish her every success!

Posted by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.
Image sourced here.

An Extra Hand

At one point during the salon at the American Craft Council last week, Bruce Metcalf made a comment about all the useless scraps he has from his jewelry-making. Co-panelist Chanel Kennebrew challenged him to use the scraps to make new work, or even sell them on Etsy. When Chanel asked the audience, perhaps rhetorically, who would love to have some of Bruce's scraps, dozens of us raised our hands enthusiastically, so Bruce offered to send free scraps to anyone who signed up at the end of the discussion. Naturally, I added my address to the list.

Fast-forward to yesterday: in my mailbox I found a small padded envelope postmarked Pennsylvania. I opened it up, and tucked inside was this amazing carved wooden hand and a note from Bruce: "This is for every time you need an extra hand." I was so impressed not only with the carving itself, but with Bruce's quick follow-through. And besides that, I think it's my favorite piece of mail so far this year! It totally made my day. I put the hand amidst a little grouping of wooden things I have in my living room, and I love it. Thank you, Bruce!

And wow, how I sure could use an extra hand these days! (Well, couldn't we all?) I have been swamped by a freelance writing/editing project these past two weeks which has kept me from jumping into a VERY exciting new project for Greenjeans (which I'll tell you about soon). And there are so many other new projects I'm dying to get into... but just can't get enough done in a day to feel like I'm on top of everything.

Maybe this little wooden hand grants wishes. If it does, I wish for infinite energy and focus, and a clone of myself...

One thing I'd have the clone do is put together the next issue of the Greenjeans Gazette, which I'm totally late with. Having completely missed the July issue at this point, I guess I'll do a combined July/August edition and shoot to get it out next week.

In any case, we will be a the Brooklyn Flea on Sunday with toys and ceramics, and hopefully the weather will be nice. Til then!

Posted and photo by Amy Shaw for Greenjeans.