Manifest Destiny

It has been less than a year since I expressed the desire to travel to India. It started out as just that, an expression, a thought, a distant dream. I thought that maybe, someday, I might travel to that side of the globe, explore the culture, the people, the geography of this mystifying faraway land. In the past 12 months, desire gave way to some interesting 'coincidences' and things have gone from dream to reality. On February 1, 2011, I will start a journey towards the colorful subcontinent. It is hard to believe in just over a month, I will be moving to India. I will be living Bangalore, the capital of the state of Karnataka, and the third most populous city in India. There are millions upon millions of orphans, street children, and child laborers in India. Many do not have a roof over their head, food to eat, or family to turn to. I will be working in New Hope Children's Home through Helping Hands India, helping to care for and teach english to some of these children. I am so blessed to have had such a privileged life and have felt for a long time that I want to give back. Through a series of unpredictable events, this opportunity has fallen into my lap and I really feel I am being called to do this. I am so lucky to have so many people encouraging and supporting me as I decide to make this life changing move. I know when I return I will be a different person. Bring it on!

Last Minute

It may be too late for custom orders, but there's still time to purchase last minute items from HannahRuth Designs before Christmas! (and just in time, there's plenty of new etched cuffs and money clips for your accessorizing pleasure)

Around the World

Holiday Shopping Extravaganza!

My sister Jane and I will have a booth at the Holiday Shopping Extravaganza selling our one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry and clothing from vintage textiles. Please come check it out!

Here's a sneak peak of some of my wares..

eclectic sterling earrings

a variety of handmade designer etched cuffs

handmade sterling necklaces and bracelets

money clips and cuffs etched with local maps

one-of-a-kind mixed metal pieces

I Hope This Gets To You

Ever a romantic, I am passing this on in hopes that it eventually gets discovered by its rightful owner.

So Perfectly à Propos

Word of the Day

Sunday, November 28, 2010

namaste

\ NUHM-uh-stey \ , noun;

1.

A conventional Hindu expression on meeting or parting, used by the speaker usually while holding thepalms together vertically in front of the bosom.

Giving Thanks

In the words of a great woman, "where it all begins"

Lending artistry to more domestic endeavors....

Handmade turkey themed pumpkin pie made by HRS

Turkey place markers made by my wonderfully creative niece Violet

The Alf pumpkin by Hannah Scott

(freehand)

Check Out Those Chops

Mutton or meat, no matter.

What's Up?

As I headed off to work this morning, I was pleasantly surprised by an old favorite tune that came across the airwaves: "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes. As I belted out the verses, I began to realize that the song that always reminded me of my childhood was now speaking to the right here right now me. I am now the age that Lisa Perry was signing about, that in between, reaching for more, somehow feeling like you haven't made it where you're going. I'm at the age where I am starting to feel old, yet I know I'm young, caught in between, questioning myself, feeling a little peculiar, searching for that destination. But what is the destination? Is it success? And if it is, how do we measure it? Is it how many people know our names or recognize our work? Is it the size of our house, the cushion in our wallet, or the car in the garage? I once met a man named Ned while pumping gas at 3:00 am. He told me that truth, uprightness, and purity are the secrets to life's success. I think he was onto something.

Reaching for a Dream

Following the call

Inspiration Grows on Trees

Grateful Appreciation..

Gotta catch them before they fall..

One Day

Blessed is this Life

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Life is Good Festival, where 100% of the festival's proceeds benefitted the Life is Good Children's Foundation. It was packed with amazing artists and tons of love and positivity. I was able to see an intimate Brett Dennen show in a private tent and share a custom piece of my artwork with him. (I think he liked it.) He is quite a righteous guy!

a polaroid photo op with Brett and my niece Clementine

The money clip I made etched with a San Francisco map with a silver pic that says 'only love'

It's All About Change

I don't want to be a robot.

Without it life would be all too predictable. No matter how much you may want to fight it sometimes, it's there and it needs to happen. Your retrospective self with thank you. Change. It's all around us. It's fast. It's furious. It's exhilarating. And it's happening right now.

About the Music

This morning as I walked across town to the studio, a warm feeling washed over me, and it wasn't the 95°/feels like 110° Savannah weather, it was the music. Sometimes I'll go into a period of meditation, not always the good kind, where I'm stuck in my head, playing and replaying all the decisions I have to make, things I have to do, roughing myself up for various things, hardly able to listen to the people around me, let alone let the music in. This morning I rediscovered my headphones while cruising the 30 or so minute foot commute to Fahm st, and the perfect song came blaring through them, creating his aura, this happy place that surrounds me and seems to come alive, making me feel like 'how did I ever survive without this song?'

There is something about traveling music. It puts a different rhythm in my step and my head starts bopping as a grin forms in the corners of my mouth. It feels magical, as if nothing could be more perfect at this moment. I forget for a second that the music isn't filling the space around me, and feel like everyone nearby is enjoying it with me. Suddenly there is nothing I'd rather be doing than walking in this oppressive humidity and blazing sunlight....everything is more fun when you're dancing.

As I beebop around town, I start to notice things I didn't before. I wonder, how many little light bulbs does it take to illuminate the WALK sign? Did James Oglethorpe rest against this very tree a few hundred years ago? Why can't I go through the bank drive through on my bicycle? Dang, I am thrown off when I'm reminded that my bike has been stolen. But then the chorus kicks in and I quickly recover. The bag of metal I'm carrying is heavy, and I can feel the beads of sweat dripping down my back, but it matters not, because the most perfect song is playing and I'm walking and I'm smiling and my mind is creating and all is right with the world. I'm lost in the music.

Real Love

My main man B.D. and his new funk band Apples and Lemons dropping some funky soulful beats

Ode to Bluey

With a beater wagon constantly on the fritz and temperatures and humidity blazing, I am really missing Bluey, my hotrod Jamis Citizen bicycle. I am feeling some animosity toward the dirty rotten bike theif, so I turn to Freddy Mercury and these awkward teens for solace.

Celebration of a Mother

My beloved Dovey celebrated her 55 (graciously aged) year last week, shortly followed by my wonderful parents whopping 38th wedding anniversary. If that doesn't deserve some commemoration I don't know what does. Here is the handcrafted gem I made for my lovely Mama for her birthday. A self-authored poem about her, typed on my old-school Rutgers typewriter, nailed to some ancient boards recycled from our old barn using some equally aged nails that I re-purposed after extracting them from some old palettes I found in the woods. Enjoy.

San Francisco, Mon Amour..

One of my etched money clips was recently featured in this San Francisco themed treasury!

I love this city..

New Swag

I've listed some new items on my shop, including money clips and cuffs etched with city maps. Enjoy!

One Day at a Time..

'The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.'

Abraham Lincoln

Associated Content

I was recently approached by Rachel Krech, a green contributor for associatedcontent.com, for an interview about my work and my new online shop. You can find the interview here.

Cutting the Red Tape

I have just opened an Etsy shop to peddle my wares! Check out my handcrafted limited production and one-of-a-kind wearable jewelry at HannahRuth Designs. Please take a look and share with your friends! Thanks for helping me spread the word, I love you all.

Here's a sneak peak of some of my shop items....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HannahRuthDesigns

(A special thanks to the beautiful and talented Lexielove, my fabulous model )

Babies Need Jewelry Too

Hello hello, just dropping a line to let y'all know you can now purchase some of my work (including hand-forged jewelry, earrings, and sweet stamped baby cuffs) at shopSCAD, located at 340 Bull St. here in Savannah. Feel free to drop by or check out their website!

Candyman!

My First Sledding Movie.

By Tessa and Hannah

Please take a moment to view this exciting video taken Christmas Eve, 2009 on snowy Kelsey Hill in Deep River, CT. Make sure to note yeti-like sound effects and bone breaking stunts. We are extremely excited to share this with the world. Enjoy!

Starring Tessa Malcarne and Hannah Scott

Edited by Tessa Malcarne

Music by Aqua

Movin' on up

I can't believe it's the last day of classes. In mere days I will be a college grad. I have to admit even as the day approached, I never really pictured it happening. When I first set foot on a college campus, I hadn't a clue as to what I was getting into. And I had no intention on graduating. (Don't tell my parents.) I was doing what I felt like was the next step, relying on the one talent I knew I could (gymnastics) to transition me into the next phase. I remember my mom and sister crying as they left me in my dingy half underground dorm room in Rhode Island, my feet hanging several feet off the floor from my dormatory bed stacked on cinder blocks, not knowing a soul. They would later remark on how little and lost I looked, my legs swinging aimlessly as I waited for my new life to unfold.

Now, ahem, seven (I know traditionally it's 4..) years later, things have drastically changed. I couldn't have predicted I'd be living the life I am today back when I was sitting on that bed in Suite B of Willard Hall. The move far away from home to be on my own helped me grow into the independent young woman I never knew I wanted to be. This weekend as I don my cap and gown and walk across the stage to receive my degree, I will cross an imaginary line that will bring me into the next chapter of my life.

To risk sounding like I am giving an acceptance speech, or just sickly nostalgic, I want to extend some special thanks to all the people who have helped me along the way.

First and foremost, my wonderful family: Dovey and Beard, my loving parents for their unwavering support, my beautiful and talented sisters Jane and Emma, my saving graces Violet, Otto, and Clementine, my laid back and always cool brother-in-law Scott who always rolls with the punches, and of course my sanity and strength, my best friend Shish.

....to my friends....my roommates, the W.O.W, for always knowing when to tell me what I want to hear and when to give it to me straight. and when to sit at the kitchen table until the wee hours of the morning discussing the manifestation of our dreams and desires. All of my friends who are too numerous to name, you have been my inspiration and strength and I love you more than I can say!

....to my professors....
I want to give a special thanks to my professor Nell. Thank you for encouraging me to follow my own path, stay true to myself and my passions, and for consoling my many anxieties as I prepare for real life. You have helped me more than you can imagine!
PJ, master craftsman, mentor, and friend, thanks for pushing me to the breaking point, I will continue to strive to aquire a library of skills like yours. Your humor has been a saving grace.
Kim, for taking me to France, becoming a friend, and starting me off on this voyage.

Thank you all, I love you!

The Midas Touch

I have to say I am a sucker for skills. Nun-chuck skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills....learning new skills is where it's at. Recently I learned how to gold plate, and though I've never been much for gold until a short time ago, this particular process made me feel like a magician. In a nutshell, this is how it works: you stick your silver or base metal piece in a chemical solution, turn on a machine hooked to chord holding an electric charge which is holding on to another metal thing which is also submerged in said chemical, turn on voltage, turn off after 30 seconds or so, rinse, submerge both in another chemical, turn on the voltage, hope you don't get electrocuted (to an outsider I'm sure this sounds less than safe) and BLAM! Your silver jewelry is now gold! (Ok, so its not that simple, and there is much science to chemical mixing and temperature and voltage and such, but I know y'all don't want me to bore you with those details.) To see something turn gold in front of your very eyes makes you feel like King Midas! Even for someone who isn't much for gold, there's just something about that power of transformation.

Just moments ago, this jewelry was silver!

(interested in purchasing? check out my shop!)

Wanderlust

I've been published! (kind of....it's not a hard copy but I'll take what I can get!) Check out Creo Magazine Summer 2010 Issue. Creo Magazine is a quarterly online magazine focusing on visual culture from the student perspective. This season's theme is Wanderlust and displays some great work from student artists. (I'm on pages 56 & 57.) Feel free to let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Las Cucarachas Diablo

R.I.P. Mr. Coffee

Over here on the west end of Waldburg, we're experiencing some major issues of the insect variety. No matter what we do these roaches just wont stay away. Now don't get me wrong, we keep a clean house, and we've accepted that a roach every once in a while is just a part of southern living, but this is a straight-up infestation. It's not even the big fatties that get us riled up. (In fact, I kind of like to collect them....you never know when you'll need a giant cockroach.) Its those little, slimy, creepy, crawly, silverfishy, nervy little buggers that travel in packs and overstay their welcome. We were fine with getting rid of the microwave they decided to live in. We dealt with moving all the silverware out in the open. We stopped using the dishwasher, where we are sure they have created a colony and are making babies at record speeds. But when they invaded my coffee maker, they made it personal.

Roach, a poem I wrote on my old school Rutgers typewriter.
(Pardon the typo, I don't have corrector tape)

and I do my little turn on the catwalk....

One of my pieces traveled down the runway at the fashion show this weekend! My chased and repousse'd cuff Under My Skin headed down the trail of fabulosity to be viewed by the masses! Among those in attendance were amazing designer Diane Von Furstenberg, former Vogue editor André Leon Talley, and runway coach extraordinaire, Miss Jay Alexander.

Look-y Here!

The fashion lookbook has been posted, and some fellow metalsmiths, including the always stellar Alexis Turner (who just happens to be my wonderful roommate,) Nicole Hendry, and myself got our work in the catalog. Please check it out!

Dangerous Fashion

Fashion week (more like month) is a big deal around here. The SCAD fashion show is this weekend, as is our departmental trunk show Bijoux In Bloom, and plenty of other show openings and such.

Please come and support your local artisans! There will be TONS of amazing handmade jewelry and accessories for sale.

Roots to Branches, a collection.

Here are some images of my recent work from my senior collection. Eventually I will get some professional photos taken, but for now my own amateur attempts will do. I have included my artist statement so you can get the gist of my concept and motivation. Please feel free to let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Roots to Branches, neckpiece I

Roots to Branches, neckpiece I detail

Roots to Branches, ring I

Roots to Branches, ring II (rotating ring)

Roots to Branches, neckpiece II

Roots to Branches, neckpiece II detail

Roots to Branches, bracelet I

Roots to Branches, bracelet I (on model)

Coming from a very tight knit family of farmers, I am literally rooted to the land I grew up on. Though this connection is strong, I also have a passion for travel and exploration that lures me places far from my home. This body of work illustrates the struggle for balance between these two intangible, and perhaps irreconcilable situations. Combining several mediums and techniques to characterize my curiosity, I create forms that symbolize unity, balance, and connections among chaos. Some components allude to the solidarity and security of home, while others embody the nomadic freedom of travel. In the same way one may bring a memento from home to carry with them on a journey, or display souvenirs from past travels, these elements contain each other; the notion of existing in one space while desiring another. The connections between components illustrate the attempt to marry the two situations, but ultimately describe the moment of experiencing one while simultaneously longing for the other.