Maker.Jeweler Profile: Brittany Nicole Brisson

I haven't done a profile in a long time and it's apt that I do one on my good friend Brittany Nicole Brisson.  Brittany is having her senior exhibition tomorrow night at Art Avenue and I'm just so proud of her, she's one of the hardest working students I know!

Isn't her poster fun? ECU Alumni and illustrator Alice Holleman designed it!

Brittany is not only a BFA candidate in metals but also Art Education, which is a hard juggling act.  Students getting a degree in Art Ed have a much heavier work load as well as get a dual degree in a specialized program, such as metal design.

Brittany and I became friends 2 years ago and she's helped me cast in the studio, assisted for the Aurelian Nights Fashion show and just hang out.  I truly admire and respect Brittany, she juggles work, school load and creating awesome pieces.  She's an innovator and loves to play with all kinds of materials.  Here are several of her pieces that do just that!

GeoJane Necklace

2013

Brass. Powder Coat.
Fabricated.

Bolo Tie for Joe Bova

2014

Sterling Silver. Copper. Enamel. Photo Decal.

"Don't Hug Me" Brooch

2014

Brass, Enamel, Beta Sand, Sterling Silver.
Die-pressed, Formed and Fabricated.

Sugar Skull for Theresa Holtz's Clothing Line for 2014 AIMO Fashion Show

2013

Necklace.
Steel. Enamel. Photo Decal. Powder Coat.

You can view more of her work here.  Thanks for reading!
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Blue evening

It's so fun to me when I see how my customers and stylists style my jewelry.  Everyone has their own personal take and aesthetic and that is what makes it so appealing.

The Vivenne Files by Janice Riggs is a fantastic style blog that featured the Stars in your eyes earrings from the Asteria Collection F/W14.    And I have to be honest this outfit is definitely one I'd wear.  I love the combination of deep blue with black. 

The Vivenne Files outfit inspiration board with the Asteria earrings.

And another great outfit combo.  Ironically enough I sold these earrings the same day she featured them on her blog. 

Thank you for reading!
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One small change

can have such a huge impact on our world.

I shared this on my personal FB page but I'd like to share it with you.  Once you watch this video it will give you many reasons to not buy bottled water.

Here are the simplistic ones:
1.  You save money
2.  You protect the planet
3.  You are ensuring these companies don't get more money to trash the earth.

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How my business has changed me

Many years ago when I was just beginning to learn jewelry making and taking my enameling classes at the Art League in Old Town Alexandria, I used to think to myself, 'I could never handle the business aspects of owning my own business'.  That somehow someone else would do it, what a joke I know!  I think back then I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that some day I would own a business. 

So here it is almost 10 years later and I am running a very small business.  Granted I only started 2 years ago but even before then I was planning and working towards the start.  Being the boss (and only employee) has taught me discipline, integrity, hard work and patience.  Traits that I honestly didn't expect from myself when I worked for my previous jobs, which I'm not proud to say but it's the truth.  

I'm going to take this moment to give props to several people that encouraged me to follow my dreams and gave me some great advice along the way. 

This is me last year in the main gallery at Art Avenue, I look happy and somewhat successful.

This was me in 2009 at my last enameling class with Abby Goldblatt, mentor and friend.

And my last visit with the guys at Lawrence Miller & Co. (Lawrence Miller on my right and Tim Shaheen on my right)

Above are photos from part of my beginning in learning business and creativity.  There are many people that contributed to my understanding best business practices and fueling my love for making.  It takes confidence to even take the first steps to beginning a business, I didn't have as much confidence when I got started but now I know that I can do it. 

I'm so grateful for the knowledge passed on from Abby, Lawrence and Tim.  I left Northern Virginia with experience and understanding of the jewelry business and it really prepared me for the great adventure of being a jeweler and business owner. 

I hope that if you are a beginning jeweler or even business owner that you have the same mentorship and support, if not - seek it out!

Thanks for reading as always!
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Nature as the backdrop

I received more shots back from my photographer, Aileen Devlin of our shoot back in March and they're just so perfect.  Aileen arranged some of the pieces on mossy grave stones and in a lil bath and it was so fitting. 

Several necklaces on a tombstone

This shot works so well with the herkimer diamonds, clear reflection matched with the clarity of the stones.

And the moss is beautiful against the silver.

You can view the full photoshoot on my website.
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Indie Craft Experience (ICE) Atlanta

Summer show season is getting closer and I'm pretty excited about the new cities I'll be traveling to, such as Philadelphia (Art Star Show) and Atlanta.  I got news Sunday night that I was accepted, along with the Lucky Owl Shop to the Indie Craft Experience (ICE) in Atlanta on June 6-7th!

I haven't been to Atlanta in over 7 years, last time I went was for the True Colors tour for the Human Rights Campaign.  And I didn't really get to experience much of Atlanta because I was there for work - and of course going again for work but still I'll be a bit more flexible with my schedule so I can squeeze in some sight seeing.   I'm also looking forward to sharing a booth with fellow maker Amanda Adkins, of the Lucky Owl Shop.  It'll be less stressful and financially softer to share the experience of working within the same booth with Amanda.  Plus our work compliments each other so well!

 

If you're in the area that time, I hope to see you there! And thank you for reading.
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Jealousy

I've written about this topic before but not so blatantly I guess; I've discussed overcoming creative blocks and meditating but not so much how to deal with that terrible feeling of wanting what someone else has.

I've noticed it more in myself these past several months, I guess that also comes with rejection, which is what I've experienced as well.  I'm trying to grapple with how to move past this feeling and why I'm having it.  First it angers me, because I want to be happy for my friends (and others I don't know personally) but last night I really asked myself why? As why am I feeling this way versus indifference or nodding my head and moving on.  I'm usually pretty good at letting things go and having them roll right over me (it's in my Pisces nature) but not so much lately, I want more than ever before to be completely successful in all areas - creatively, financially and emotionally.

And my best response to the why is that internally, deep down I know that it's because maybe I feel that I've fallen short of my own expectations (creatively).  That I know I'm not pushing the envelope as far as I can.

So I've made a new commitment to myself and declaring it on my blog (that means I'm held accountable) to make some crazy, outlandish and fun work.  I haven't 'played' much since I graduated and I need that, I need to have a bit of fun, in between making my production work.  I'm sure I've made this declaration before but this time I really mean it!  

One of my paper boxes (back in art school) - when I did fun stuff!

Thanks so much for reading and having a place to write out my thoughts and share them with you. 
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Not Just a Label in Dubai for d3

One of the reasons I really love working with Not Just a Label is how much they work to expose small yet emerging designers (fashion and accessories).  So I was not surprised when I learned they were working with new designers and the luxury fashion industry in Dubai, a region of wealth and appreciation for creativity and culture.

NJAL is primarily an online platform however since last year with the Origins fair in Vicenza, Italy they've been working to establish relationships in key locations to bring the online in person.  I was very excited to send several select pieces from the Hunted collection to the Meet at d3 event.  You can learn more about it here.

Below are some images NJAL sent over of the event.  Specifically images with my pieces displayed.  I do feel quite fortunate that my jewelry could participate in this wonderful event.  If I can't go to Dubai at least my jewelry can!

And here is a great video of the behind the scenes look of how it all came together and the fantastic team of NJAL d3 Dubai (Stefan Siegel, Rob Cavell-Clarke and Sara Qaddoura).


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How to find your ring size in three easy steps

I get this question frequently and I found a great resource and chart via the internets and I'm very happy to share it with you! 

I do want to caution that ring sizes can vary depending on the thickness of the band so keep this in mind, the thicker the band the bigger the size will need to be.

I hope this is helpful to you.

via Who What Wear

As always thank you for reading/visiting!
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a lil sale

Last week I marked down some pieces from the Hunted collection that I mainly have in overstock,  and boy did that get some sales! It's been great and much needed.

Here are several of the pieces that have been marked down significantly.  You can visit this link that has all the sale items grouped together.  These pieces have been marked down as much as 50% which is a big markdown.

Enjoy it now because I won't keep them on sale for much longer. 

The Hunted bronze crow claw ring, marked down from $170 to $85.

The Hunted silver bear claw charm, now $45.

The Hunted double badger claw pendant, one of my popular and versatile pendants.

 

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Vexta

Last week my friend Tara Locklear (she's posted on here I'd say every couple of months!) introduced me to the street artist Vexta (Tara will be working on a joint project with her sometime this year) and I really enjoy her pieces and invitationals. 

So I thought I'd share some of her videos of the projects she's done.  Vexta is known in the graffiti community as super talented for cutting her own stencils. Below is a video of a momento mori project.  I just love this idea of the eggs and painting birds on them. 



As always thanks for visiting!
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Happy Eostre!

May this day and this spring bring you love and light!

"Anglo Saxons worshipped Eostre, the goddess of springtime and the return of the sun after the long winter. According to legend, Eostre once saved a bird whose wings had frozen during the winter by turning it into a rabbit. Because the rabbit had once been a bird, it could still lay eggs, and that rabbit became our Easter Bunny. Eggs were a symbol of fertility in part because they used to be so scarce during the winter. There are records of people giving each other decorated eggs at Easter as far back as the 11th century." (source Writers Almanac).

Photo by Aileen Devlin.

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