A chronicle of the meanderings, false starts (which in retrospect, while sort of embarrassing turned out to be highly instructive), epiphanies, selective apathy (still evolving), wild mood swings, opinions (subject to frequent change), and life lessons of an inveterate dabbler (and her latest dabblings).

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Recent Work, and a New Friend

In case you were wondering, I am still here, and still making jewelry! Very very slowly. I have a new overseas customer I am collaborating with to produce some fun pieces, and we have many great projects lined up. For now, while I still juggle a full-time "day job" with my jewelry, this is the only custom work I am going to do--for my new European friend and patron! The materials my customer has chosen are so enticing to work with, I find myself much more drawn to working on her commissions than adding things to the shop. We seem to be very "simpatico" on many levels, so this is very satisfying work to do. My shop inventory has been dwindling while I work on these commissions...But I will try to add pieces here and there in the coming months.

This is a recent piece we did, based around etched lampwork from Radiant Mind on Etsy.

I wanted to keep with the color scheme in the lampwork--turquoise, amber and black--so I added Tibetan butterscotch amber (acquired in a trade with Lori Anderson--thank you Lori! the remainder will be for a matching bracelet. These were PERFECT for this piece), green turquoise heishi, matte amber and black seed beads, black leather and waxed linen, and a carved donut of golden horn I've had FOREVER. Silver seemed to be the way to go, so I added an Orca totem from Happy Mango Beads, and assorted sterling silver and pewter accents.

The first pieces I did for her were variations on older work I had done. This is based on a piece I had done a few years ago with aqua agate and silver. Here I used copper, obviously, and added one of my copper hearts:

This was also a variation on an earlier piece, just slightly reconfigured:

We did coordinating bracelets for these, and for one other piece:



I did some other pieces that were largely copies of older work, so I won't share those here. But I think from here forward everything we do will be new, original pieces. Our aesthetics are very similar, and she gives me great latitude with our designs, so it's very enjoyable! We have some fabulous fluorite and ametrine stones to work with, as well as lampwork glass from Naos Glass, an assortment of feathers and hearts (my customer is partial to hearts) by Kristi Bowman, and a couple of resin and coin pendants by Lorinda3LJewelry on Etsy. I am itching to get busy!

10 comments:

  1. What a marvelous thing to have a European patron! That sounds positively scandalous but marvelously so! I love every single thing you create. In fact, I think I will plan my wardrobe around my disk necklace from you for one day real soon. Your choice in materials and eye for color are fantastic. I hope one day you can quit said 'day job' and move fully and freely into the design world. I am hoping the same for myself ;-)
    Enjoy the day, Miss Keirsten!
    Erin

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  2. Wow, how wonderfult that you have a patron, especially one that give some latitude as far as designs.

    Your work is gorgeous and I can't wait to see more.

    Congratulations!

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  3. As always, amazing work, Keirsten! Your newest necklace is breathtaking!!

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  4. All the pieces are fabulous. It is wonderful that you have a patron who is a collaborator- sounds like a well balanced partnership.

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  5. Glad you haven't disappeared, after all.... Love those bracelets!

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  6. I always admire your designs, and todays pics are no exception! Each piece is stunning! Congrats!

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  7. What a great and exciting opportunity to be collaborating, and with someone beyond the oceans, no less. A great story or book....
    The pieces are lovely. You have such a good eye for creating harmony while mixing up the elements. Look forward to seeing more. Have fun1

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  8. That necklace is absolutely divine! Love all the other work as well. :)

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  9. Beautiful work, congrats on your patron.

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  10. What incredible work! I am in awe. Your sense of style and balance is perfect in my eyes.

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