New Directions:New Forms {sneak peek03}

It feels like it has been a reeeally long time since I allowed myself time to design - as in, design a new collection. Last summer and fall I realized that I just didn't have enough energy to pull together a new line. Instead I thought I would "buy myself some time" by simply offering my existing line in a new set of oxidized+sandblasted finishes. That decision, in the end, took nearly as much energy as designing something new, but it was equally as pivotal in determining the direction in which my entire jewelry collection would move forward. {Today I'm sending out my second largest order to date -to a new account: a store on Martha's Vineyard- and it consisted entirely of the new finishes.} So, I was bound and determined to have some truly brand new work for this Spring and for the Walker Jewelry Artist Mart this weekend. Refining details always takes longer than it should, but I will have some of this new collection on Saturday.

A lot of my brainstorming tends to stay in my brain, but lately the thoughts that make their way into my sketchbook have made their way into actual physical pieces. After working so intently with flat wool to create voluminous (CLOUD) earrings and (COIL) bracelets I found myself anxiously waiting for the next big idea that I hoped would come to me, but like so many things, it was the small ideas and small moves that brought me to these new pieces.

I had read somewhere that polka dots were a new trend (not really sure that it's true) and it got me to thinking about trends and timelessness. I started thinking simply about the earrings I used to make for myself 15 years ago - stringing beads on stems that would hang straight down. Then generally about beads and how pearls are the truly timeless "bead" and how beautifully imperfect pearls are. Then when flipping through my supply catalog, I learned that the thread that one of my favorite necklaces (by Emily Johnson) hangs from is historically and traditionally used to string pearls. (The silk thread is less expensive than chain, making it possible to have a more affordable version of each necklace. Always nice.) The details started to come together. My sketches ultimately brought me to the opposite of what I was trying to accomplish with the wool. Instead I found myself thinking about the visual flattening of voluminous shapes - of beads and pearls .. and then chains (which has only partially been refined, so stay tuned for more about the development of that line. )

sneak peek_02

Sandblasted YELLOW with oxidized sterling silver - shown in the small JUMBO earring (also available in medium and the original large size.)

sneak peeks

Saturday, May 7th is the 2011 Walker Art Center Shop's Local Jewelry Artist Mart. More than ever, this year's event has served as an impetus for me to produce some new work after my several month hiatus. I plan to share some of the new items on my blog this week ... as a means of enticing you (all) to make your way down to the Walker on Saturday between 11-5. :) That said, here is the new sandblasted orange acrylic paired with oxidized sterling - shown in the small DRAPE earring.

W7 Collective ... 3 days only!

I will have a well-rounded selection of my jewelry (including some new keychains pictured below) at the W7 Collective this week: Thursday (11-5), Friday(11-9) and Saturday(11-5) ... and will be attending their Friday night party from 6-9pm where they'll have live music and tasty treats in addition to the work of many local designers and artists. I'd love to see you there!

Walker Jewelry Mart

Saturday was like a marathon day for me. I knew I'd be on my feet and talking to people from 10am til 10pm with 2 events going on. Usually before a marathon, I try to go to bed early to make sure I am well rested and ready to perform. That same line of logic can be applied to doing shows (perhaps it's required even more?) ... but I didn't follow my own advice this time. I was up until the wee hours (3am) packing everything up on Friday night. The multiple projects & products (tree, ornaments, artwork, jewelry) required more of me this time around.

The extra time and energy paid off. Despite some brain malfunctions with names, my lack of sleep did not stand in the way of me having a fantastic day at the Walker. I tweaked a couple things with my display this time and overall just felt good about the way things looked. Amy Torello and Alice Roche were both in town from Mexico and San Fransicso respectively - again this year for the Mart and it was really fun to catch-up with them. It was fun to see how their work had evolved over the year ... likewise to reflect on the evolution of my own.

My new work for the show consisted of the wool HIVE cuff bracelets, thicker WOOD_STRIPE bracelets (11&12 layers wide), a larger selection of BUNCH necklaces ... and some pieces in PURPLE acrylic! I had to do some searching to find the material, but I was happy with the color and people responded well to it, too. This BUNCH_POD necklace in purple with navy blue leather was a popular piece. A lot of people tried it on and one lucky woman (Robyn) went home with it. (It looked fantastic with her dark brown hair!) These photos from the show are the only images I have of it.

I want to thank everyone who came out to the Walker, who stopped by my table and who purchased from me. I had such a fun day talking with everyone and your support means so much! Thank you to my sister, Brit, for helping me set-up, for sitting with me for several hours ... and for looking SO good in those BUNCH earrings! Thank you to the Walker for being such gracious and generous hosts. I am so lucky!

Gallery360 window

After a full day at the Walker Art Center, I made my exhausted way to the opening at Gallery 360 where Barbara Gilhooly is in the main gallery and in the front window - opposite me. We customized one of our 7ft. tannenbaums by trimming it down (2 branches worth) to fit in the window of the gallery. (We also trimmed/adjusted the branches in order to accomplish the proper taper.) I think it turned out really well and that it looks fantastic in their window!

Merry did a really nice job dressing the tree. I was so plesantly surprised to see my name on the glass - somehow that makes it feel 100 times more legitimate. The gallery has a selection of red and white "ball"ornaments in 3 designs (stripe, flake in ball, concentric circles), small red solid balls, large and small flakes in white and transparent blue - and I will be adding 1-2 new colors to their stock in the coming week. (I will also be putting some in my shop in the coming week for those of you not in Minneapolis)

I also worked hard to make some new artwork pieces. I've been testing and mulling over several directions that I could go in, but this seemed the most logical first step -- an expansion on the pins/brooches I've been doing - for small wall hangings. They are 4.5 inches in diameter and made from layers of solid wood. I sand the end-grain edges so that the "frame" is a beautiful striped edge that is literally connected to the content of the piece. I think I'm happy with the way they turned out. They are still so fresh that I haven't really had a chance to absorb them ... larger scale that jewelry, but still very small scale when it comes to wall-art.

post-show post

It is hard to believe that the trunk show & catalog release party that I've been preparing for for months is over...not in a longing way, but more in the amazing way that time can pass when there is work to do. I thought I'd share a few snapshots of the way the space was set-up for the show.

The Danish Teak Classics showroom is a huge, gorgeous space in and old factory building. There are columns throughout the space that create order and my little L-shaped space was nestled into 2 of these such-bays. on one end of the L were 2 tables containing my jewelry. It also hung from hooks on the wall. On the other end of the L we set-up a projector showing all the images from the 4 photo shoots that Paige and I completed as a slide show.

when people entered they could also explore our website and look through the physical catalog/book.

Steve, the proprietor of Danish Teak Classics, made a bunch of these gorgeous white wall hooks that housed my jewelry so perfectly. He made a batch of them and I would encourage anyone who is interested in them to contact DTC. --- You can see that I had several BUNCH necklaces for the show - each one of a kind - that sold really well.
I also "unveiled" the WOOD-STRIPE bracelets that I've been working on for a while now. They are yet another refinement upon these original wood-layer bracelets, only they are much thinner which makes them extremely elegant and refined in a way that makes me almost amazed with myself. I started with even stripes (inspired by marimekko t-shirts) and have since been playing around with the composition of the layers & am experimenting with a glossy finish.

an enormous THANK YOU goes out to Danish Teak Classics for hosting me so graciously in their space. Thanks to the lovely family and friends who helped prepare everything. Thank you's also go out to the local press that gave my show a mention: MN Monthly magazine, MSP's SWAG email newsletter, Star Tribune and the Popfizzdaily blog. and of course Paige DeWees, who I've thanked before, but will continue to thank for an amazing collaboration that is hopefully only the start of many more fun projects together.

This trunk show really feels like a launching point - as it marks the start of some BIG things coming my way in the future (will share more soon) and most importantly - an opportunity to really step back and take note of where I am in this jewelry business of mine. I feel that I have gained a new perspective and a fresh and inspired outlook on where I need to go from here. Never before have I felt so hopeful for what the future might bring ... and I know that it is the result of 2 years of continued hard work and persistence, and it will require much more of the same, but I love what I am doing and and that is what makes it so rewarding.

eshelman pottery

paul eshelman of eshelman pottery is one of the artists that i met at the one of a kind show in chicago. i was drawn into his booth by the simple and graceful forms and solid matte glazes. {after speaking to him for a while, i learned he went to RISD.} the black glaze was undoubtedly my favorite and the reveal of the red unglazed stoneware sealed the deal for me - a lovely balance of modern and organic! i purchased one of these espresso cups for my husband. he uses it everyday and says it fits him perfectly. i'm not able to make direct links to different items on his site (look under gallery) but - i also loved the large casserole, the oval cups & tumblers, the boat bowls and the bump bowls......... all in black, of course! he is offering 10% off and free shipping during the months of january and february. oh, that is so tempting!

party & sale

the silvercocoon winter party & sale this past thursday was so much fun! thank you to berry, martha, karin, margaret, bob & susi, and delia for being a part of it! it was exciting to see so many of my favorite things all in one place. thank you to all the familiar faces who showed-up and thank you to the new faces that i hope to meet again.

my only regret of the evening is that i did not take a single photo {i thank berry for providing me with these images} and i entirely missed a shot of the backyard. souliyahn {husband and other half of silvercocoon} decorated the airstream this year, hung lights and built a gorgeous fire in the pit, even shoveling pathways in the snow to reach it. it was a lovely night {in the 20s} perfect weather for sitting around a fire. sorry i'm not able to share the ambiance.

the house was warm and full of goodies ranging from jewelry to scarves to toys to artwork to calendars to buttery-sweets to our modern tannenbaum and ornaments. we had a great turnout and one fine young lady told me, "you've saved me this year. one-stop shopping, i love it!" her bag was full of goodies from virtually everyone selling that evening. if you missed the sale, but wish you hadn't, be sure to email me and i will add you to our mailing list for next year. mailto:%7Binfo@silvercocoon.com}

this THURSDAY ...

for those in the area interested in coming, please email me for location details: info@silvercocoon.com

ONE OF A KIND in chicago

thank you to those of you who have inquired about my time in chicago for the ONE OF A KIND show. it has taken nearly a week to get myself back together enough to blog again... my friend, berry, and i left at 5am wednesday morning and arrived home at 2am monday morning. the show was what i knew it would be all of the good, bad, indifferent .. exciting, promising and most of all exhausting. i didn't sell as much as i dreamed i would, but developed several wholesale contacts with high-quality establishments which really made everything worth while. i was able to interact with customers and to the select group who spent more than 10 minutes chatting with me, i thank you! we also met some great artists who were also in the show - who were very open and honest about the process of doing these things. i'm not convinced i'm cut out for these shows....but that could be the {billable-hour} architect in me shining through... anyway, that can wait for another time. here are some images of my booth {and my attempt to work with a horrendously placed column!}

luckily {thanks to a great deal on hotwire.com} this is the place we called home at the end of each night. and while the nights were short and the days at the show were long, i did capture images of a couple inspiring buildings/spaces. i will share those, along with some of the inspiring people we met in my next post.

last, and most importantly, this post is dedicated to my dear friend berry, without whom i would certainly have lost my mind ... i cannot thank her enough for putting up with me during such a stressful time!

if you're planning to attend...

... please stop by to see me in studio 288 {karin jacobson}

FALL FLAIR_tia keobounpheng jewelry

arwyn birch

amanda christine

emily weich

at the end of the show, we (the 6 designers: emily weich, amanda christine, arwyn birch, adrienne grahn, karin jacobson and i) took a "designer walk" down the runway. i had a lot of anxiety leading up to it, but i must admit, it was kind of fun after being in the basement all night!

all photos by DAVE KAPELL