This is my blog where I write about music, jewelry, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, songs about baltimore, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Subscribe via any of the methods in the right-hand column. Please do not link directly to the mp3 files.

Man, stupid Blogger/Google is discontinuing service via ftp so now I need to migrate my shit. I'm ditching google and going with wordpress probably. Because I'm sick of Google and all their world takeover shit. I like my blog being a free agent.
Even if no one reads it.
I changed my etsy shop name and logo and stuff.
I just wanted a "brand" that suited my personality, and the jewelry, better.
Too bad I slapped "Pansie Designs" all over EVERYTHING. Whatever, I'm still a beginner, now's a better time than any.
Hopefully soon I can take some real photos of my jewelry to go along with it.
Here's the new banner:


I'm struggling with photography, and yearn to orchestrate some elaborate photoshoots featuring actual people. The biggest obstacle for that I think is wardrobe. .. and my social anxiety, I guess.
I used to do all kinds of stuff, reaching out for favors from photographers and models and stuff. I guess I felt like I had more to offer back then.

Anyway, here's a few things I finished recently:



apparently I need to learn about some thing called "white balance" or something like that.

Next post I'll share some unrelated flickr photos that I aspire to emulate.

Labels: jewelry, life

Posted by: Kara Mae 3/12/2010  (1) comments

Skinner Studio has all these different approaches to resin in her shop.. casting, coating, layered, domed over images.. combines with polymer clay, natural materials, found images... and more. BUT they all comprise a really cohesive collection. When I first paged through the shop I could get a sense of a motivated crafter with tried methods and a subtle yet distinct style. What more can I say? Lots of pictures here.

Tell me about the origins of your interest in resin.. early experiments, ideas, etc.
My interest actually started with an interest in PMC, or precious metal clay. I was reading a book about PMC and it had a section on using resin like an enamel. It was the first time I'd really even noticed that resin existed, and it looked so exciting! When we were dating, my husband had given me a necklace that was a tiny rose bud encased in clear resin. It was and still is my absolute favorite piece of jewelry, and my first attraction to resin was to see if I could make something similar. The hardest part was finding blooms timy enough, but I was really pleased with how they turned out.

Some pictures of my first floral pieces:




My next experiment was painting within layers of resin, and using multiple colors of resin and swirling them together:



As a successful etsy seller, what have been some of your favorite comments/compliments on your pieces people have bought?
The atlas jewelry pieces carry special meaning for many people, and I have been told multiple times that a gift recipient literaly cried when they received their special present. Another sweet, sweet customer bought some of my real rose resin pendants in memory of her brother, who used to give yellow roses to her and her mom. I made them simply becuase I thought they were pretty, and I was so touched that they could be so important and special to someone else.
how do you stay motivated? Do you have a specific time of day or days of the week that you work?
Usually, I'm motivated by my custom orders - so I HAVE to work on them, no procrastinating! When I have to make a batch of resin for a custom order, I always make extra and use it to try out some new ideas, or just make more of the same items. It keeps me moving forward!

I probably work at least a little every day - I am on the computer every morning (spending way too much time I must admit), and usually pour resin in the late afternoon or early evening. That way, they can lie undisturbed through the night while they cure and are ready to take to the next step when I wake up in the morning.

Have you had any big challenges or disasters?
I can't think of any real disasters - I've had plenty of spills, but I work on an old table and try to wear my less-than-favorite clothes so that there are no tragedies.

My biggest challange is being balanced. I have 2 little boys at home, so I need to make sure everyone (and the housework - ugh) get the attention they deserve. It's so easy to get involved in a project and before I know it, half the day is gone! I really try to limit my working time and try to go somewhere fun and interesting everyday.

Any particular future ideas or other skills you want to learn?
My latest obsession invloves combining resin with clay. I have lots of ideas that seem fantastic in my mind, but when it comes to implementing them it's much harder than I imagined. I really love the contrast of bold bright resin against the crisp white clay:

These are my first experiments (pretty rough, as you can see) but it's given me a better idea of what is required and I'm thinking of ways to refine my ideas.

I would really love to learn some metal working skills - using shears, hammers, and dangerously hot soldering tools...
But that's still going to be in the future - one thing at a time for now.


Some of my favorite pieces:







Also check out her resin supplies shop and blog for even more awesome photos of ideas and works in progress.

Thanks for sharing all the photos, skinnerstudio!

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 3/07/2010  (0) comments

This weekend is the big ole American Craft Council show at the Baltimore Convention Center
I checked out the site for some resin & plastic jewelry to be seen and I can recognize a few of these artists from books.


Debra Adelson


Velina Glass


Sarah Hassler


Karen McCreary

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 2/25/2010  (0) comments

Pulp & Paisley's etsy shop has been one of my favorites for awhile now. I like the big necklaces loaded with beads and loops accentuating patterned discs. The color combinations are appealing to me..


You mention you've been making jewelry for 10 years.. how long have you been selling? What inspired you to start?
In 1997 I got a job at a bead store in Ottawa and I worked there for four years until I went back to school. I learned a lot while I was there and needless to say, accumulated quite a collection of beads! I finished school, got married and while on my maternity leave in 2005, I began to make jewelry again. My son was a good sleeper, so while he napped, I made jewelry, which is more fun than cleaning! I got an enthusiastic response (on my jewelry, not my messy house), so I started selling in a local shop and then craft shows and then a few more shops and then more craft shows and now I'm on etsy!

You have a very distinct style, do you remember any jewelers or particular pieces of jewelry that have "influenced you"?
There are so many incredible jewellers but I can't think of anyone off-hand or any pieces. I will see pieces where I think "Damn! I wish I'd thought of that!", but then I'll move my work in a completely different direction.



What (if anything in particular) has provided inspirations for jewelry items you've made or in your shop?
I've always been inspired by interesting colour combinations and now that I'm using paper in my jewelry, I feel like my head is going to pop off with the endless selection of paper patterns and colours. It's always changing and never boring for me.

Any other types of crafts or hobbies you like to do on the side?
I love sprucing up thrift finds when I can, but mostly my jewelry and my family (I have two little kids) consume every waking moment!



Any other new ideas/plans/things you want to learn?
My to-do list is enormous! I can't seem to make things fast enough, so that I can get onto the next idea, but my husband and I are planning to start blogging this spring, which will be an interesting endeavour and I think I might jump on the moustache (jewelry, not grow one!) bandwagon for the summer....and my hot air balloons are coming soon.

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/31/2010  (0) comments

I love the simplicity and colors of the bangles created by Bronwen, aka whizzbangle on etsy. I admire the simplicity, restraint, and lack of candy sprinkles. Amateur that I am, it's hard for me to resist the urge to throw in one too many ideas in an effort to be super-original.
However, as you can see from the whizzbangle shop, it is possible to make an impression without a ton of rhinestones, glitter, and candy.

What led you to take an interest in resin? What other materials have you enjoyed working with?
Resin was just something I saw on a TV segment while I was in hospital recovering from a hernia operation. They made bangles, I like wearing bangles. It was a natural progression.

Other materials I have used with resin include glitter and Pearl-ex powders as well as normal resin pigments. I have experimented with spice powders after making a batch of kasoundi (spicy tomato chutney) and seeing the colours of the turmeric and paprika and chilli as you measured them out. Coffee beans, beads, an old shirt, my falling apart Birkenstocks... I am really enjoying the creative challenge of making these inclusions work with resin and work as a bangle.


Why do you prefer to make bangles over other jewelery?
I have never liked to wear a watch, but I really like to wear bangles on my left arm. I think I like the way they respond with your activity, dancing wildly with big hand gestures, resting while you work at the computer, the odd 'clank' to remind you they are there.

I've noticed a lot of resin artists/sellers on etsy and the web are in or come from Australia. Is there a particular reason that might be?
I can't think of any particular reason... Resin is an interesting medium that lends itself to many applications - from beads to pendants to bangles - and on a small scale. And maybe they saw the same segment on a lifestyle show that I did and thought "I can do that". Maybe there are others who saw the potential for resin drops and spatters all over their husband's workbench!?

What kind of feedback do you get selling at the market, especially from "non crafty" types?
I get really good feedback from markets. I have set up my stall to be a bit "different", so people are intrigued. I think people like to touch the bangles, see the colours in sunlight (and twilight at one market), feel the clink/clank as they slide down your arm... all these things are missing from online selling, so I think a market stall really complements a site like etsy.


Do you feel that some people look upon resin as just plastic and not understand the value?
I find almost the opposite... polite scanning of my stall at first, but then when they discover they are RESIN bangles, polite looks turn predatory.

Any other jewelers whose work you covet or admire?
I do like Dinosaur Designs. I hadn't heard of them until I got into making bangles myself, but the colours and shapes they use are fabulous.


WHIZZBANGLE on etsy.


---
In other etsy news I joined a "team."

so I may be posting about that now and then.

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/11/2010  (1) comments

Haven't had time to update because I'm trying to finish a lot of things for Handmade Mart on Saturday.
Here's a pile of stuff half done:


Despite the holiday weekend I'm exhausted of work and have a hard time motivating myself to come home and start working on jewelry.
The feedback this weekend will help me determine how much time I should be dedicating to the resin jewelry this coming spring. I'll be doing another metalsmithing class either way; learning anodizing and other techniques to add color to metal so resin or not, I'll get to keep it colorful.
I'll be back later next week with a song and hopefully another jewelry interview.

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 12/02/2009  (1) comments

I came across the photos of Anne-Miek Bibber's jewelry on Flickr, and thought it'd be a good start to some profiles of people making interesting jewelry out there, particularly with plastics.
Anne-Miek Bibber's Flickr has some nice photos of experimental jewelry made with a wide variety of materials.


How long have you been making jewelry and do you have any particular kind of training?
I have been making jewelry since childhood, always collection broken pieces from old aunts and my mothers friends. I was always creating, drawing and painting. I finished art school, the "Rietveld Akademie for fine Art" in Amsterdam and later I took courses silversmithing and pottery. ( I made lots of ceramic beads too.)

Do you ever sell jewelry or do you just make them as art-objects?
I do sell some of my jewelry, sometimes as "art-objects" but some women are brave enough to wear big bald pieces, like my two meter button necklaces! And the "Rose-garden collection is even quite popular, beacause light and colourfull and easy to wear.

Have you or anyone else ever worn some of your more experimental, large pieces out into public at an event, etc?
I wear a big piece myself on an opening night, often with a hat and a long skirt. So lots of my friends do not recognize me, because I love to be comfortable in jeans and a teeshirt.

How do you feel about jewelry in relation to fashion, for example are the pieces you create more like "sculpture" or could you envision creating jewelry for fashion shows and shoots?
I love "sculptural" but I always make sure, a necklace really fitts a human body!
I feel my process of creating is too slow to keep up with fashion, and worse I do not have the "feel", the "touch", needed to be in the fashion-rat-race.
But than many Dutch fashion desingers make long-lasting-fashion. So I really do not know, it depends on your definition of "fashion"!!

Do you have a particular favorite material?
I love glass & ceramic beads and gems, alas for big bold pieces not very practical, a necklace made from these materials will be very heavy, and cause a bad back and pain in the neck....That is the beauty of cups, deodorant-roll-on-balls and other plastic stuff it is very light and so comfortable to wear.

If your favorite material is not something traditional, are there any traditional materials (eg metal, wire, gemstones, beads, polymer clay, resin) that particularly appeal to you?
I love amber, bone and coral very much too, great colours and structures and above all a very nice warm feeling while wearing, alas those materials are quite expensive when I want to make a real big piece. I know investments pay back, but I am a better artist than a business-woman :-(



more of Anne-Miek Bibber on Flickr

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 11/23/2009  (0) comments

One thing that I like to imagine is fancy photoshoots with my jewelry.
When I take classes, the creative process is driven by an art jewelry aestetic, encouraging creative design. But that doesn't work so well for me.
Personally, I like fashion jewelry. I like a lot of jewelry from J Crew. I love contrived editorials in magazines. I collect inspiring photos in a scrapbook and from that I draw ideas for jewelry. I think about clothing and settings and I try to envision where my jewelry would be fitting. I sometimes think about jewelry, inspired by other ideas for complimentary clothing and styles that I won't make the effort to create. So I focus on the jewelry.
In the course of my fashion magazine perusal, I've been drawn to photos that really showcase the jewelry. My favorite magazine for this is Zink. I don't know what I'd do without Zink. Almost every issue has an editorial that's heavy on the jewelry.


Now this one's on the corny side but I selected it because unlike the other photos I have here, it features a touch of color.


I love necklaces and boobs. Or jewelry on nudes, in general. As you can see, Zink is big on that.


In these ads, the jewelry is well displayed. Too bad it's not that cool.




I really like to see photos where jewelry is well integrated with clothing and yet entirely noticeable. Some of these are actually from Teen Vogue, which is my second-favorite american fashion magazine. Unfortunately I cropped some of them before the "whole picture" was of interest to me.
The Zink photos are great, but too consistently they leave out color. Searching the internet for "jewelry editorial" turns up lots of results from this epic shoot from "Flair" magazine (Italy, I believe):


I love this kind of effort.

Labels: jewelry

Posted by: Kara Mae 11/10/2009  (1) comments