I really love the fact that the people at Etsy have given so many individuals an outlet for the artistic inspiration they may find and a way to enable active appreciation and interaction. It is awesome that more people are buying and using handmade items in their everyday lives. It is also fantastic to think that we are given the opportunity to instantly view and purchase work from creative makers around the world.

My home page link: mmartiniuk.etsy.com
I welcome you to bookmark my home page in your computer, as it is not always easy to return to a particular page in the Etsy marketplace.

MY PROCESS OF DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MARKETING: I work alone in the making of all of my jewelry products at this time, although I would love to work with other artists on special projects, there never seems to be enough time to initiate them. I do the designs, patterns, planning, assemblage and marketing for all of the glass, ceramic and natural stone products you find here. I work with a high quality print production house for printed fabric, posters and prints. Most of my work is done with a nature inspired theme. Actively living in remote Alaska gives me opportunity to observe the immensity of importance of Mother Nature and her positive influence on our lives.

DICHROIC GLASS:
Multiple ultra-thin layers of different metal oxides (gold, silver, titanium, chromium, aluminum, zirconium, magnesium, silicon) are vaporized by an electron beam in a vacuum chamber. The vapor then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. This is sometimes followed by a protective layer of quartz crystal. The finished glass can have as many as 30 to 50 layers of these materials yet the thickness of the total coating is approximately 30 to 35 millionths of an inch (about 760 to 890 nm). The coating that is created is very similar to a gemstone and, by careful control of thickness, different colors are obtained.

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MY RAKU WORK: There is something very alluring about the feelings evoked by the idea of our Ancients working around a firepit using the basic earth elements in the fire to create functional and beautiful works of art.

When you receive your raku work it will often still carry a mere hint of the heavenly perfume of the origin of its life, mineral, fire and smoke. All of my pieces are scrubbed heavily with a metal scouring pad in hot detergent water and reheated to 180 degrees to clean the work as much as possible after firing. The raku work has been through some amazing transformations of torture in the kiln, flame and some residual smokey scents are often an integral part of the work until it has had a chance to breath in the air environment for a few days or more after its creation. I will list and often sell a piece within weeks or days within its birth, and the lingering scents will remain for a short time until it has a chance to air out for a little longer. If you find it too offensive you can plan to set it aside out of your regular living area until it has had an opportunity to become a more agreeable member of society.

I also have another Etsy venue at DIYDigitalArt.etsy.com featuring DIY Digital Printable art for gifts, home decor, scrapbooking craft and small business.

Be sure to also check out my daughter's shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/JessicaCoxJewelry She does timeless and classic jewelry in precious metals and gemstones. Beautiful work!

Thank you for shopping small business and hand made.