Beth Lauren: Fabulous Fibers!

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 jewelry. Traditionally jewelry is only hard metals, so I’m drawn towards shifting that perception to something a little more organic.

I hope to achieve a style of jewelry that can be worn casually or with higher end pieces. Something that translates and conforms with what a person is wearing. I would say my style is certainly eclectic and a fusion of different genres just as you said. And that way the jewelry itself can translate and work on different personal styles including bohemian, high fashion, hipster, preppy, or whatever it may be.

-what appeals to you about combining fibers with antique pieces?

It’s just the fusion of styles and materials. I think the rich vintage pieces juxtapose nicely with the use of soft fibers which then also contrasts with the use of 14K gold filled metals.


-your use of stones in your diamond shaped pendants and earrings almost appears to be woven. Does that come from your focus on fibers?

That came from an attempt to frame the vibrant colors in gold, which I think elevated the colors, giving them a richer quality. But it does also transition back to the woven and soft fiber pieces.


-when did you first begin designing jewelry and when did you know it would be your career path?

I first started designing over my summers off from college. I knew I wanted to do something artistic, and there weren’t too many of those opportunities in Washington DC that also involved making money. I did that for two summers, selling to local boutiques in the area, and then after graduation I simply grew tired of searching for jobs and started it back up again. It was pretty soon after that I was accepted to have a trunk show at a high end New York department store, and I then realized that this could possibly work as a career path.

-what was the most important thing you learned from your studies in Italy?

In Italy, I worked with hard metals in jewelry design class which is probably what pushed me to begin working with softer elements. I was actually pretty frightened of working with all of the sharp tools, and machines, so now I tend to do everything by hand without soldering, sawing, etc!

-you have been extraordinarily successful getting your product in magazines and retail outlets. What has been your path to get to the level of success you experience now?

I would just say taking risks, and investing back into the business.

-how important is it, do you think, to showcase in magazines? Cost versus reward?

It really depends on the magazine itself. But it certainly all helps to brand your company, and get its name out there, so that you can become more recognized and established. However, I certainly feel that I’m still a long way off from becoming a more recognized brand.

-how has the economy affected your business?

It has influenced me to create lesser expensive jewelry that isn’t in precious metals, since people don’t want to spend as much on jewelry these days.

-what advice do you have for fledgling jewelry designers?

Just to follow your own creativity, and what you’re attracted to. And to research the market and competitors, and know who you’re up against!

Beth makes the most extraordinary pieces and has the marketing savvy to put herself out there ahead of the pack. My hat is off to her!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sally

Natasha Jade: Beautiful Buttoned and Beaded!

Natasha Jade

As I travel the internet highway and visit craft shows and boutiques in pursuit of jewelry designers doing unique and masterful work, I am constantly impressed with the quality of what is available and the creativity in the use of chosen materials. This is certainly true of Natasha Jade's amazing pieces using recycled buttons and fibers. These "adornments" as she calls them, are major showstoppers, with some of her best work conveying a sense of moist forest moss beds and salt water seas. From Melbourne, Australia, I asked Natasha how she first thought of the idea to use buttons:


I started with basic jewellery, but tried giving it more of an edge- using the buttons as features and the clusters of buttons as a base form to bead over. I really love buttons- the colors, the shapes, the overlapping forms / landscapes I would create out of clustering them together, and the way they would not appear as buttons at 1st glance until you looked a little closer, and it's really nice to take something that has essentially been discarded and turn it into something beautiful. I'm so tactile- I love to touch the fuzzy softness of yarns and felt against the glint of beads and the textures of buttons. I love the buttons to represent mushrooms in the textile pieces, plate-like fungi.


I like to make it up as I go, let the materials nestle around each other as they want to, let the little features "grow" out of the spaces in the forms as though the pieces were scooped up off the forest floor.


From beads to buttons to textiles to glass...I love that my vision for things has the chance to keep expanding with the introduction of new materials. I guess the subject matter/ inspiration for the pieces is much the same, it just becomes more refined as I incorporate more elements.


Your work is an interesting combination of the very modern with ancient sensibilities...tell us about this.

The Enchanted Earth series are particularly a homage to our ancient Mother Earth. She desperately needs our love and healing and in a small way I hope my pieces remind us of how precious our earth is, and by wearing them, we are re-connecting ourselves to her. Adornment is an ancient practice too- worshiping our bodies by the simple act of adorning ourselves.


Tell us a bit about your background...

Creative childhood- not a lot of cash so we would make things to play with, make art for the walls, make more of a mess than much else!!! I loved the arts subjects in school, I went on to a diploma of Fine Art after high school, and after that made films wrote/directed/edited/music).


I belonged to a medieval re-enactment society and discovered tablet weaving braids but more importantly belly dance- so from there it was creating my own costumes and jewellery galore and performing and teaching dance. I learned to crochet which probably solidified my love of yarns. Discovered glass most recently and have begun to incorporate that into my work.


A friend of mine was looking to start a business making accessories- mostly handbags and a bit of jewellery, and being that we loved creating things together, I decided to jump on board... as it turns out she decided not to go ahead with it, but I continued and "Jade Adornments" was born.

What advice do you have for fledgling jewelry designers?

Be brave enough to be original and love what you do! Fashion dictates what is popular at the time and I always found that really frustrating when my heart/soul/inspiration was leading me in a totally different direction. Do what the heart wants- you will be more fulfilled for it and those that love your work honestly will find you if you persist.


What a pleasure it was to "meet" Natasha! I am a fan!

Thanks for stopping by.
Sally