March’s Metalsmithing Challenge
Top Left: Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden) by Julie Walser (@paolimerchantile). Sterling silver and black spinel. Contact Julie to inquire.
Bottom Left: Anybody Listening? (Queensryche) by Andrea Ring (@amuckdesign). Wood, glass dome, old 45 records, paint, license plate, sterling silver, and ribbon.
Top Right: Blackbird (Beatles) by Julie Mahoney (@juliemahoneyjewelry). Hand sculpted sterling silver, brass, bronze, ceramic cabochon. Sold
Bottom Right: Heaven or Las Vegas Brooch (Cocteau Twins) by Christine Mighion (@christinemighion) Oxidized sterling and fine silver with antique crystals, digital painting, faux gold leaf, vintage starburst and removable faux diamond chains. Sold
March’s Metalsmithing Challenge took a different turn — this time, we started with sound.
The prompt was to create a piece of jewelry or object inspired by a song. Simple in theory… a little trickier once you’re sitting at the bench trying to translate something you hear into something you can hold.
And yet, that’s where it got interesting.
Some pieces took shape through lyrics or titles that offered a clear visual starting point, while others explored the more intangible feeling a song leaves behind. There wasn’t one way to approach it, which made the results feel especially personal — like little snapshots of what each maker hears, notices, and connects to.
This one pushed us in a different way. Less about looking outward, more about tuning in.
That’s the magic of these challenges. They invite us to explore new entry points into our work, to trust our instincts, and to follow an idea even when it’s a little unclear at first.
Harder than it seemed… and definitely one we’ll be thinking about long after the bench is cleared.