ed to pursue jewellery design as a profession instead of a creative outlet.
Have you always been involved with design? What other jobs have you had/do you have? Yes, I’ve always been a creative one marching to the beat of my own drum and interested in pursuing artistic endeavors. In addition to designing jewelry, I work in merchandising for
Etsy.com, a site for buying and selling all things handmade and vintage. I got involved with Etsy early on first as a jewellery seller; through continuing to maintain my shop after joining the staff, I am able to contribute a unique perspective within the company. At this point in my life, I feel like I have the best of both worlds working as not only a designer, but having the opportunity to help support the business side of the creative movement on a much larger scale.
Did you receive a formal design education at college or university? Do you consider this to have had a large impact upon your artistic development?
Absolutely. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Craft and Materials Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts with a focus in metals and tex- tiles. While I’ve always been an expressive hands on person, it was in school where I developed a deeper appreciation and un- derstanding for both the innovation of basic materials and taking the time to perfect one’s craftsmanship from the inception of an idea through the final design phases. As an aside, anyone who’s been through art school can appreciate the agony it can be to sit through a formal critique of one’s work. While those sessions were slightly unnerving, they really taught me the importance of stepping out- side of myself in order to look at my designs
objectively before making finalizations or swift decisions.
Where do you source all the weird and wonderful materials for your pieces? The hunt for materials is hands down the most exciting part of designing for me. Some- times I will begin with something specific in mind; other times I let the hunt lead me. My main sources for supplies vary but include antique shops, flea markets, estate sales, Etsy, and New York based supply ware- houses filled with aisle upon aisle of vintage deadstock stampings, findings, and outright oddities - basically a candyland of sorts for anyone with a DIY bone in their body. One of my best kept secret weapons for scoring supplies is actually my mother. I’ll come across an amazing rare type of charm or idea for a vintage pendant and after run- ning it by her, not even 24 hours later she will have emailed me with links, email addresses, and even the occaisonal phone number where some random person has a small lot of the exact item I showed her just waiting to unload them. It’s truly a skill she has and I con- sider myself lucky to have her in my corner.
There is a very nostalgic air to your pieces, are there any particular eras you draw inspiration from?
I’m particularly drawn to references of femininity present in the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s eras. Being intensely attracted to the idea of untold stories, secrets, hidden details, and holding onto memories past, I strive to il- lustrate these sentiments through my designs in a way that will carry personal ties to each person wearing them.
What one definitive piece of advice would you give to somebody starting their own design business?
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If I’m to choose one, it would be to invest in professional looking photography. Whether this means hiring out a photographer or pur- chasing a quality camera and taking the time to learn how to get great shots, it will be worth it’s weight in gold. Professional looking photography will help give you a professional edge and allow your photos to do much of your promotional marketing work for you. For those curious, I shoot my product photogra- phy with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi and vintage macro lens.
If you could pack your bags and leave now, where in the world would you most like to go? Tucked away in a rustic villa on the Italian countryside overlooking vineyards, taking in the scenery, and fixating over what we’d prepare for the evening’s dinner with what we picked up from the local market. An escape of this nature seems like the perfect blend of mystery and inspiration.
What was the last thing that really made you laugh?
My sister sent around an email to the fam- ily with a candid photo of my 8 week old nephew unknowingly flipping the bird at the camera. After a serious belly laugh, I picked up the phone to tell her this one was a keeper for the memory books. Just imagine what a great Facebook profile pic that will make once he stumbles across it later in life.
What would you most like to achieve in the next year – both personally or career- wise?
I’d be thrilled to work on a limited run of my designs for a national or international retail brand, being sourced 100% independently. I think it’s important for larger brands to focus attention on smaller scale designers in
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