Full of steam

     It is always interesting to see what jewelry trends come and go over the years.  Although I have long ago given up keeping up with all the trends, one that I've paid particular attention to is steampunk-inspired jewelry designs.  Steampunk itself has been around since the eighties and is far more than just a jewelry trend (for those of you who for some reason have never heard the term  I'm not going to explain, just ask the great Sir Google).  It is an entire art, music, literature, and performance genre as well as a fashion trend.   It wasn't long after this trend really gained steam (pun!) before the mass production started (straight out of china, of course).  Big name craft stores began to sell faux vintage gears and watch components so you can make your own steampunk jewelry with a quick swipe of your credit card. A general search on etsy will give you over 150,000 matches, most of it jewelry. I knew the trend was really mainstream the day I saw steampunk jewelry in the mall.
     I do not consider myself to be a full-fledged steamager.  I have read exactly zero works of literature in this genre (admittedly, I never even read Jules Verne or H.G. Wells, I've only seen the movies).  I have only a handful of steampunk songs on my ipod by Seattle band Abney Park.  I've never been to the Steampunk World's Fair, which takes place in May every year in NJ (although I'd love to go sometime).  I'm not entirely sure what an airship pirate is, although whatever it is sounds cool! So why do I make some steampunk-inspired jewelry?  I do it because to me, the whole movement embraces creativity, reinvention (see the website steampunkworkshop.com for some real creativity), and  rebellion against the norms.  That is why the centerpiece of this necklace (made from real watch parts, of course) has the words "creative power".  In this crazy world of consumption and greed, we all need a little more steampunk energy.  Oh, and if you are not necessarily a DIY kind of person but still would like to wear this trend in jewelry form, please don't buy it at the mall!  Support an artist or craftperson. That's the steampunk way.

Metal hoop wrapped in lace and buttons!  The pendant is made with real watch parts and is filled with resin.  Embrace the steampunkery within!

Perfection is overrated

     On a recent visit to Clearwater, Florida, I engaged in beach combing, one of my favorite seaside activities.  Clearwater is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S., and also for being great for shelling.  I'm sure that there are true shellers who comb the beaches at night with a headlamp, in the early hours of the day, or diligently check tidal charts to find the best shells.  Myself, I am not one of those people.  If there are great shells on the beach at 5am, someone else is collecting them because I would be still in bed.  So of course, when looking at the shells that are left on the surf by the time I get there, it's slim picking.  Everyone always looks for those perfect shells.  As I walked along the beach, looking for perfect shells, I started to really pay attention to the imperfect shells and realized that they possess a beauty all their own.  I loved they way some of them looked partially carved out, so that you can see the inner spiral chambers.  What eventually happened is that I stopped looking for perfect shells and started looking for the not-so- perfect ones.  Conveniently enough, many of them had ready holes holes perfect for wire-wrapping!  I began to see the beginning of my own souvenir shell necklace.
 I think we can all use this kind of reminder that sometimes, perfection is not the best thing in the world.  I am not perfect, my house is not perfect, my kids aren't perfect, and I'm OK with that.  Furthermore, nothing I make is perfect, and that's OK too.  It was made by a person, not a machine.  obsession with being perfect can result in severe psychological issues (for more on this, see the movie Black Swan).  So let's stop worrying about it so much.  I don't know about anyone else, but I don't feel totally comfortable going to some one's house when it's too neat.  Nothing is out of place and it looks like a museum.  Creepy!  So just leave that  basket of unfolded laundry where it is. Perfection is overrated.

Marie

Everbody has one of those favorite movies that they can watch over and over again and never tire of.  Some people have more than one (me!), but one of my favorites is Sofia Coppola" movie Marie Antionette. I've always been fascinated by her as an historical figure, and fashion icon.  The movie is a virtual eye candy bonanza of jewelry and costume inspiration, as well as an historically accurate account of Marie's early life upon arriving at Versailles at age fourteen.  She has been very much vilified as being an extravagant, spoiled queen, who gambled away France's money while her people went hungry.  I'd be lying if I said there was not some truth to that, but I still have some sympathy for the poor girl.  Imagine being torn away from your family and homeland when you are fourteen and married off to some stranger in a hostile land.  Hey, I'd become a shopaholic too!  What I do find constantly amusing is that her most famous quote "let them eat cake", was never uttered by her (many historians have concurred with this). So why was it not the blockbuster hit I thought it should be?  Who knows?  Perhaps it was because (Spoiler Alert!), there was no bloody guillotine scene at the end.  Ms. Coppola very tastefully ended the film before all that ugliness.

When I opened my etey shop fairly recently, I was most surprised to find that the piece of jewelry that got the most views and and made it to three treasury lists before it was sold was my Marie Antionette collge necklace.  I guess I'm not alone in my love for all things Marie.  I was happy to see some other liked-minded people out there, and I will continue to make jewelry inspired by the unfortunate French Queen.  Even though some of my supplies are running low, I still have an abundance of fabric, so here it is, my latest Marie-inspired creation.  A beautiful collar fit for a queen!  Oh, and if you haven't seen Ms. Coppola's movie, add it to your netflix list, it's really good!

Budget Woes

I recently decided to make my business official and not "just a hobby", so the plunge, started learning about taxes and licensing and opened a seperate business account with well, next to nothing.  Not exactly nothing, but not enough to replenish my dimishing supply of basic findings (clasps, headpins, wire, crimps, etc...),  or to satisfy my ever growing list new tools I would like to buy (rivets, and mandrels, and mallets, oh my!).  Then there is the advertising, professional photography, graphic logo design, upgraded packaging and all these other things that make my head spin with numbers that are not in my account.  So what to do?  Bury myself in a hole and cry?  Of course not!  In times of budget woes people learn to make do with what they have, like taking three small plastic bangles and wrapping them with scraps of fabric and lace that I had lying around my studio.  I will always have my creativity and with that, will always find new uses for things and ways to make do with what I have.  Oh, and by the way, these bracelets will be on etsy soon, so you know, just sayin', I still would like some new tools!