Etsy's Handmade Blog
The Corno Project: Unlocking the Jeweler's Block
Story by BarbaraTaramasso, Beardiebloke, blindspotjewellery, BongeraFiligrana, Experimetal
Published on October 15, 2008 in This Handmade Life 		Photo by

clockwise from upper left: Beardiebloke, blindspotjewellery, Experimetal, BarbaraTaramasso and BongeraFiligrana

The internet is many things to many people. One of the common threads running through its infinite uses is communication, and it's from this global communication that the "Corno Project" evolved.

Take three jewelers in different parts of the world — the U.S., Italy and Scotland — who don't know each other. Throw in a photo-sharing social-networking site (Flickr) and the fact that they all have their own Etsy shops, and what emerges?

Victoria (Experimetal), Janos (blindspotjewellery) and Dauvit (The Justified Sinner aka Beardiebloke) all "met" on Flickr through a mutual appreciation of each of the other's works. They all make jewelry in very different ways, using different themes and materials. What they have in common is a love of making stuff! They use the internet to exchange ideas and practices, as well as swapping stories and jokes, hopes and fears, like everyone else does. It was from one of these idea sessions that the "Corno Project" was born...

Victoria posted a photograph of a charm necklace on Flickr — subsequently sold on Etsy — on which Dauvit and Janos commented. Dauvit (jokingly) suggested that he was so taken with the necklace that he might copy it, and Janos explored the folklore and cultural history referenced by the piece. Reminded of his native Italy, Janos explained how the traditional "corno" motif wards off evil curses — a sort of superstitious jewelry fob. From this discussion came the decision that they would all take the ideas generated by the discussion, throw in their own research and see what they came up with.

Jewelers BarbaraTaramasso and BongeraFiligrana, two talented metalsmithers from Genova, Italy, joined in on the experiment too.

It is fair to say that each maker produced something spectacular and, interestingly, something atypical of the work that they normally produce. The three makers involved in this project enjoyed it enormously and will be setting themselves more challenges in the future.

Beardiebloke, $360, Experimetal, $666, blindspotjewellery, $160, BongeraFiligrana, $145, BarbaraTaramasso, $210.

cornobeard.jpg

cornoexperimetal.jpg

cornoblindspot.jpg

cornobongeraFil.jpg

cornoBarbara.jpg

The experiment is one for makers everywhere and in every field to try out. Set yourselves challenges in small, supportive groups. Post the results online and invite comments... who knows where it might lead?

 

Post in the comments if you'd like to collaborate or have a story to share!

 

See a Craftivism post featuring Experimetal

Tags Beardiebloke, blindspotjewellery, collaboration, community, Corno Project, Etsy Community Projects, Etsy International, Experimetal, flickr, international, Italy, jewelry, Scotland, UK Edition
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BarbaraTaramasso
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Beardiebloke
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blindspotjewellery
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BongeraFiligrana
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Experimetal
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45 comments     Login to add your own!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. dogties

Amazing Jewelery!
Great Artists

Oct. 15, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. MissCrowland

One of my favourite symbols.

Oct. 15, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. Experimetal

Thanks you guys it was really fun and thought provoking,
AND I have met some wonderfully talented people around the world out of this project :) It's a win-win!
Thank you Vanessa and Etsy !

Oct. 15, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. JeweledAmbrosia

gorgeous pieces and what a neat way this came about

Oct. 15, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. additionsstyle

What a great concept, sounds like a great experience.

Oct. 15, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. NinaGibsonDesigns

What interesting and beautiful pieces. Wonderful artists!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. esdesigns

it was fun following this project on flickr, thanks for posting this article and bringing it to a wider audience!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. BarbaraTaramasso

Ciao, i am very happy to be add with my good friends!! and to have a project with this fantastic people is great!!
Thank you Vanessa!!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. bluedogrose

Such amazing work by talented artists! Thanks for sharing the story.

Oct. 15, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. metalicious

What a great idea and amazing work that came from it!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. FrucciDesign

amazing artists!
I love their work...and being Italian I really appreciate the corn meaning!

Bravi!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. blindspotjewellery

Wowwww! I am so happy for this project and the article! It has been a pleasure to work on it with my dear friends and colleagues from all over the planet!! Thank you all, and thank you for Vanessa!!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. blindspotjewellery

Oh! I was just going to say, that I am not native Italian, I am from Hungary. But Italy is my home land now: full of inspiration, beauty and wonderful people!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. Mimiandlola

Being an Italo-Canadese my parents would pin the corn on my undergarments when I was a baby to ward of the evil eye
(malocchio). Thank you for sharing the beautiful work with us!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. ashhilton

Fantastic work everyone, such a cool, cool idea.

Oct. 15, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. alisamiller

ooooh! fantastic! great story and great pieces!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. tuizui

congrats on the exciting corno results! great article. like the b+w portrait collage too

Oct. 15, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. lizroca

These pieces are just magnificent.

Oct. 15, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. PenGwynneBeads

WOW! Incredible pieces of art here! Love them!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. fetishghost

Very, very cool article. I'm one passing this around. Great job!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. novadesigns

beautiful. That's how you make people inspired!

Oct. 15, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. cinda

Cornos were huge in the 70s, I thought about them the other day, and here they are!! Un beleivable!

Oct. 16, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. sherrytruitt

This is an amazing project.

Oct. 16, 2008 at 12:28 a.m. MadMaggieDesigns

WOW! Fantastic! LOVE the story and history behind this project!

Oct. 16, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. GoodWitchCreations

Wow.I dig this article and Como project. I enjoy reading these blogs. I feel like I get to know my fellow artists. I'm glad to learn about everyone and their stories! Awesome. Tara

Oct. 16, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. Selkiemoonlight

wow, gorgeous work and what an incredible experiment! very inspiring.

Oct. 16, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. BlackStar

Beautiful work! I'm a big fan of Victoria's.

Oct. 17, 2008 at 3:18 a.m. IntentionalStones

Fascinating project!
fantastic

Oct. 18, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. yohopee

I have to say, this is my favourite Storque article so far as well as my favourite jewellery challenge. All artists have created magnificent pieces! Thank you for bringing such eye candy to jewellery lovers like myself. ENCORE!

Oct. 19, 2008 at 3:16 a.m. AntlerQLWear

Nice Job! Need more Antlers!

Oct. 24, 2008 at 2:10 a.m. beeczarcardsandgifts

These are all marvelous. I love seeing all the different designs.
Excellent work by everyone.

Nov. 5, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. lunaticart

These pieces are amazing! Bravo everyone!

Nov. 20, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. sheenajewellery

wow! fantastic article and very well designed and made pieces! congrats to all.

Nov. 25, 2008 at 7 p.m. linguaNigra

Oh, wow! Fantastic stuff! I would love to collabo with someone! This was a great idea.

Dec. 3, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. DBemporium

I have to say this is a fantastic article, and the pieces presented are magnificent. My congrats to all, and hope to see more like this. Bravo!!!!

June 20, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. andescruz

LOve love LOVE the artice you guys!!!!!
I want to play!
lol