Tammy Kirks: Modern Granulation and Pop Enamels!

October 21, 2008

Tammy Kirks I smiled when I saw Tammy Kirks’ Red Bee website with “pop art” influenced enamels. And I love her concept of “modern granulation”. I think my favorite profiles are with designers who made jewelry design a second career…just like me. Here is what Tammy has to say: I took a granulation workshop with […]

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Alice Sprintzen: Amazing Found Object Art Jewelry!

October 21, 2008

Alice Sprintzen In Her Studio (photo by Robyn Bellospirito) I found Alice Sprintzen through Ganoksin’s Orchid Gallery which by the way, has just been overhauled. Orchid is certainly the most valuable forum site in our industry and now it’s even better with new bells and whistles! But I digress… Alice’s entertaining and provocative work leaps […]

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Keith Lewis: Joyful Jewelry!

October 21, 2008

Keith Lewis I found Keith Lewis on metalcyberspace and was instantly transfixed. I thought his images radiated joy and happiness so I sought him out to find out more about the man behind the work. What I found was a person with a rare sensibility and wonderful sense of humor. Take a few minutes to […]

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Harriete Estel Berman: Our Consumer Culture As Adornment

October 21, 2008

Harriete Estel Berman I came across Harriete Estel Berman’s work through the Ganoskin Orchid Gallery. What fun it was to find her fascinating and unusual pieces using what she refers to as “post-consumer” materials. Enjoy a few minutes with Harriete! My jewelry is constructed from recycled tin containers as symbols of our consumer society. The […]

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Linda Lewis: Artistry In Gold, Silver and Stones

October 21, 2008

Linda Lewis With Her Dog, Napoleon I stumbled upon Linda Lewis Jewelry in cyberspace and was so impressed with her distinctive, unusual lines, symmetry and use of silver and gold with stones. A California girl from San Luis Obispo, Linda has been creating jewelry for 30 years. One of her signature features is the use […]

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Beth Lauren: Fabulous Fibers!

October 21, 2008

Beth Lauren I found Beth Lauren on one of my favorite stand by sites, metalcyberspace. Her work jumps off the page from the others partly because her focus is the use of fiber to create eclectic, fabulous pieces. I asked her about her interest in fibers: I think fibers add a less refined quality to […]

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Joyce Roessler: Glass, Glorious Glass!

October 21, 2008

Joyce Roessler I first saw Roessler Glass through the Smithsonian Craft show website where Joyce Roessler was a new exhibitor with some magnificent entries. All her pieces are created from her own glass work. I asked her about the allure of glass: What I find particularly special about glass is it’s gem-like qualities, such as […]

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Donna Hiebert: Bold Simplicity and Harmony

October 21, 2008
Donna Hiebert


“Homage to Borobodur”
2006 NICHE Awards in Metal: Holloware category

I came across Donna Hiebert’s work through the Orchid Gallery. I found her work absolutely stunning with its architectural qualities of contemporary lines and form. Here’s what she has to say:
I have pondered the meaning of ancient and sacred architecture for a long time. It seems to me that a great deal of knowledge and understanding regarding humankind’s relation to the universe is inherent in these structures. Naturally this influence finds its way into my designs but I try not to approach it in a derivative manner. Saying that, some of my designs are named after specific architectural sites or buildings such as Borobudur, in Java, or an aqueduct in Rome. Seachange: embellishments for humanity, a collection cast in bronze, is more archetypal in nature and focuses on influences derived from sacred geometry – present in nature and many human made forms. This collection in turn led to Flotsam and Jetsam – a much looser, organic collection that is directly inspired by my life by the Atlantic Ocean.

I would describe my style as poetic conceptual minimalism!

Influences are many and after a while some of those influences become a part of me, morphed by my own sensibilities. Sometimes it’s quality of light, movement of water, or music, paintings, sculptures, buildings, or people on the bus. I have been traveling a fair amount in the last few years and I love to hang out in a city and try to catch its heartbeat (preferably while listening to my favorite tunes on my iPod).

I often don’t know what will inspire me – but I am drawn to places/events/things that assist in conjuring connections toward a reality where ideas and concepts materialize that gnaw away at my conscience until I make a sketch or just start working directly with the medium that seems appropriate.

The techniques I find most interesting are the ones that assist in achieving my vision. I will try anything – fabrication, construction, smithing, machining, or rapid prototyping. I have a soft spot for machining – staring at a spinning lathe every day for a month one summer induced an almost transcendental state! I have always felt that technique follows concept. However technique may lead to wonderful discoveries and it has always been very important to me to understand and master as best I can the processes I use to make my work.
For most of my life I made sculpture and exhibited in galleries. I went through a period of disillusionment coupled with a need to make money and I pursued work in sales and marketing for a few years. In late 2001 I had transferred to a sales position for a copy company and within a short time was abruptly fired. It was a wonderful event because it brought me up short and forced me to consider what I was doing with my time. I realized that in order to be satisfied with my day-to-day existence I needed to make things. As well, I really wished for this activity to provide a living. I had taken some undergrad courses in jewelry making and I thought I would explore this area. In 2002 I began in earnest and enrolled as a non-degree student in the jewelry department at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design – my alma mater. I worked intensely for two years absorbing everything I could and launched Donna Hiebert Design in late 2004.
With the economy and price of metal on every one’s mind, how has this affected your business and this industry?
Obviously smaller companies are feeling the impact of high metal prices but I think the value of my work lies more in the design than the material. Labor is always a higher factor in my work – whatever material I use. I think the question all designer/makers who produce their work in North America should be asking is: how do I differentiate my work from the glut of commodities available to consumers? Design and innovation is where I believe we excel – the challenge is how each artist finds their market/audience.
What advice do you have for fledgling jewelry designers?

Take in as much as you can – listen, learn, explore, and consider an apprenticeship. There are many facets to this business, ask yourself what you want to wake up and be doing every morning. Start a blog. Mine is www.thinkermaker.com

How have you found it best to showcase and sell your work?

I am, really, still finding my way. I have formed many good relationships with retailers, and I am still actively pursuing that form of marketing. However, I believe my future lies in a combination of developing contacts via the internet through e commerce and blogging as well as selective trade shows, commercial and non-commercial exhibitions, and print/web based media exposure.

I have tremendous admiration and appreciation for the beauty and quality of Donna’s work. To me, it embodies the best of classic contemporary design.
Thanks for stopping by and as a side note, this blog can now also be viewed through the Orchid Blog Network as well as an A Blog On Etsy Blogs.
Sally
A blog showcasing accomplished jewelry designers.
For artisan jewelry go to: www.naked-jewelry.com
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Donna Hiebert: Bold Simplicity and Harmony

October 21, 2008

Donna Hiebert “Homage to Borobodur”2006 NICHE Awards in Metal: Holloware categoryI came across Donna Hiebert’s work through the Orchid Gallery. I found her work absolutely stunning with its architectural qualities of contemporary lines and form. Here’…

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Lilian Chen: Design Innovator Finding New Success!

October 15, 2008

Lilian ChenIt is such a thrill to watch a friend experience long-sought success…especially someone so deserving.I first met Lilian when I signed up for one of her classes at the Pasadena Bead & Design Show over a year ago. Lilian taught interest…

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