30/52 Bird a week - Jump for Joy

Last week a customer asked me to make one of my "jump for joy" necklaces as a birthday gift for a friend.

She said her friend was such a happy soul that this piece would just be perfect for her.  I haven't made a "joy" necklace this year, so this cute happy little birdie is my 30th bird this year, for my weekly bird a week challenge.

This design for the necklace actually came about from my cartooning class that I did last year. I was trying to get expressions with a beak and as beaks are hard, not soft like lips, they don't express as much emotion as mouths. Therefore I tried incorporating emotions into the wings and feet as well!   I haven't tried my cartooning in a while...maybe I should do some more....  

Check out the other birds made in this challenge by following the links below:

Jump for Joy

Here's another commission for an aluminum bangle, requested by a wonderful customer, Gail.  It's so nice to be getting commissions for the aluminum as well as the silver.

Gail had asked about a fish bangle as she is a Pisces so wanted the little waves, a silver fish and also some printed fish swimming around too.

I think these fish came out looking so happy! Jumping out of the water made me think of "Jump for Joy".  I remember the first time I saw flying fish too.....they look so cool and like they are having such a good time!

So I hope Gail has a good time as she wears this, and finds occasions to "jump for joy".

Jump for Joy!

Here's a new silver birdie that I've just finished which was inspired from my cartooning class.  He's called "Jump for Joy!"

In my class we were looking at expressions and all my drawings of birds had open beaks as it's difficult to show expression on a shut beak.  But I'd never done an open beak in metal clay before - so why not give it a try?

Add to that that my cartooning teacher is always trying to get me to create wings that look more feathery or at least fingerly and thus we got an open beak and open wings to show off his finger feathers.

Yes - there also seems to be an element of surprise in the little guy - so I think someone or somebird has just told him some wonderful news. What do you think?  I'm off to my cartooning class this afternoon so I'll take him along and see what my teacher thinks!

And for all you Joy's out there - how great that people will jump for you!