I kick off the new YOJ with some bookmarks for pet lovers!

Page Puppy and Kitty Klip are loyal companions to help you find your place!  They’ll slide onto your page, then curl up for a nap until you’re ready to come back.

Years ago when I was still working on Bay St., I got a package one day with a wonderfully forged spiral paperclip.  I can’t remember anymore what it came attached to, but I thought it was such a subtle and wonderfully creative touch.   Ever since, I’ve wanted to create something similar.  My intention is to use them as promo gifts for my jewellery clients.

These were actually inspired by a game on Facebook called SPP Pets.  It’s like a 21st century tamagachi – you “adopt” a pet, and then feed, tickle, clean and play with it, and decorate its “habitat”.  My kids think it’s fun and are always keen to see what my pet is doing.  The game is a mindless time-waster – perfect for when I need a couple of minutes break – and the communities of “pet owners” are very friendly.  So, the bookmarks are a little tip of the pliers to the Kitty Cat Lovers Club : )

Still trying to play catch up on the YOJ, but I’m feeling decidedly uninspired.  So, I decided I’d break out my bench block and do some hammering on copper.  Just playing, nothing serious.

I like pieces that resulted, but realized that some of them resemble the work of Ann Wylie-Toal, a fellow Canadian whose pieces often look like gesture drawing.

To add a bit of visual interest to these, I hauled out my frying pan again and cooked the copper.  It’s so much fun watching the metal turn from orange to brown to red to purple to blue to silvery!  Unfortunately the blue is an oxide layer that wipes off very easily.  Immediately spraying with Krylon would be the only way to preserve it.  Still, I love the possibilities!