In the Zone
May 22
Since I've had my baby, I haven't had much time to design new pieces. I've been able to fill orders and reproduce existing product, but as far as carving out large chunks of time to really get into the creative zone to make new pieces, I've been lacking. It always takes me a while to kind of "warm up" creatively and really get into that space where the ideas are flowing and piling on top of one another... and once I'm there I don't want to leave it! I've almost forgotten how much I love that creative zone, as I've prioritized tending to the needs of my adorable new baby. However, I've been able to get into my studio a few times lately, and I just wanted to dedicate a blog to how much I love this creative space and share with you some of my new designs. My studio right now literally looks like a tornado ran through it, as one project will spark an idea for another, and then so on and so on, until I have several half-finished products laid out all over the room that I jump back and forth between. Below are a few quick amateur shots of some new pieces that were all inspired by one another. Professional photos to hit the product pages soon, but in the meantime, email me to inquire further about any of these.
I did this one first. I just
got in these Swarovski crystals in various sizes and colors that I've
been dying to use but wanted to tone them down a bit to make a piece
that was more everyday. I decided to contrast
them with wood and brass chain to achieve this effect as well as create
an interesting juxtaposition. I also wanted to add a pop of color,
highlighting the trend of neutral with a neon hit that is so big right
now. I love how the orange and lime beads look so playful and even a
bit childlike, and then you have them right up against glam oversized
Swarovski crystal. Throw in some earthy wooden links and you have a
totally unique piece comprised of a bunch of different elements that I
think play together very well.

This piece sparked the below necklace, which I think is my favorite
of the group. I wanted to make a bold and unique necklace that was
neutral in color. The focal piece is a gorgeous cameo that I pulled
from a vintage belt of my grandmother's (you might recognize this cameo
from my "Time Marches On" necklace too!) The beautiful wooden links are
bookended by stunning vintage lucite beads and punctuated by edgy
little brass bullets. I've had these vintage lucite beads forever and
have been waiting for the perfect project on which to use them. This is
definitely it! This necklace is one-of-a-kind due to the cameo pendant
(the belt only had one in this particular shape), but I love it so much
I think I am going to make more without the pendant and without the
bullets so it's totally accessible and wearable, but still of course
bold and unique!

This brings us to the final necklace of this design session. This
one to me is a beautiful sunset. The central circle is a coral colored
disc covered in cracked abalone shell. It glistens like the sun just as
it's making its descent over the Pacific. This pendant is so powerful, I
didn't want to add any other adornments other than the natural deep
brown wooden chain. I wanted to keep this nature-inspired necklace
clean.

I also worked up a pair of earrings the other night... The
rectangular Swarovski crystal that inspired the first necklace also
informed these earrings, just in a different size and color. I
initially paired it with the orange square beads I used in the first
necklace, but it just wasn't working. I liked the contrast of the glam
crystal with the funky hot orange color, but something about the
combination was bugging me. I think the shapes weren't coming together
as well as I had hoped. Anyway, I figured my handy brass bullets would
make a fun juxtaposition against the crystals, and sure enough I tried
it out and loved it! These earrings turned out to be so fun and edgy.
They are something especially new for me, as they are super funky and
pack a powerful punch, yet are relatively small. I feel like most of my
funky earrings achieve their boldness through their large size. Not
these babies!

Speaking of babies..... this brings us to my greatest creation yet!
I had to put a picture of me and my baby in here. Here were are just a
few weeks ago hanging out in Santa Monica. This one is, of course, a
constant work in progress!

























