Dressing the body

Looking over images for postcards and promotional materials, I begin to see a pattern and I realize how much I love the photos by my photographer and friend Aileen Devlin.  She's just so damn talented!

I recently sent out this collage to my email list.  This moment of holding jewelry and the way the ring lays down the finger is just so seductive! It's what I love about jewelry and dressing the body.

thx for visiting!
xo-Lisette
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The Afterlife Exhibition and the ECU Metals Symposium

Ya'll know the routine here (in January) - I get super excited and tell you all about how amazing the ECU metals/jewelry symposium is and what's in store.  One of the big reasons I love it so much is I get to reconnect with my old friends and geek out over jewelry and metal objects. 

As you know I'm co-curating an exhibition with Barbara McFadyen to be held during the symposium at Art Avenue.  The Afterlife Exhibition showcases objects and artwork that display imagery of bones or using bones in a new and dynamic way.  The submissions were all beautiful and amazing and we curated pieces that work so well with each other. 

I'm really looking forward to meeting some of the artists at the reception/symposium.  So here's a bit of a sneak peak at some of the exquisite pieces in the show.  AND if you are in town, here is the FB event for you to RSVP.

The poster I designed last night, I love the simplicity of it.

Royal Mourning by Luci Jockel

Garrett Allen's super cool bracelet.

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Precious Mettle

Just so, so proud of my good friend Tara Locklear for her recent interview with the American Craft Council. 

As you know I've posted several times about Tara and for good reason.  You can watch this short interview with Tara and read the article here.


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Father's day is coming up

And if you're still looking for gifts I've got some great pieces that work for the men in your life just as well.  As you know I've addressed previously whether my jewelry is for men or women and really it comes down to personal preference.

I like to think my jewelry is unisex and that even women can pull of wearing cuff links, like these that have gotten some great attention from men.  The Hunted double owl talon cufflinks are perfect for any man that is stylish and wants a bit of attention drawn to his wrists. 

The Hunted cufflinks in bronze.  Image by Aileen Devlin

There is still time left to make an order through Eilisain Jewelry and get them to all the Dad's in your life!
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Undercurrent Exhibition in London

It really is a wonderful thing to have friendships with other artists and makers abroad, I love hearing what they are doing and sharing it with you.

My friend Sophie Main is part of the Moving On Collective, contemporary jewellers working together in exhibitions and pieces that go beyond the general idea of adornment and wearable objects.

And psst, you may recall me writing about Moving On Collective back in February and the project they did then.  So inventive!

I apologize this is somewhat late in posting but the show will be up until October 11th.  If you're in London definitely see the show, I wish I could!

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ECU Symposium Material Matters review; Part 1: Reliqury Redux Exhibition

Per usual I will do a review of the symposium; they will be short and sweet.  First I'm going to begin with one of my favorite exhibitions from the weekend, the Reliquary Redux which was curated by my good friend Danielle James, Kate Speranza and Zach Lechtenberg.  

I've always held a fascination with life and death and the morbid things in life, so it's no surprise this was my favorite exhibition.  What I loved most about this exhibition was the range in pieces; some where objects, jewelry, sculpture and prints.  And they all touched upon death and the memento of death and life in such diverse means.

Here are images (from my iphone..) that were my favorite.  Please excuse the photo quality, I'll never be a good one!  

For some reason i couldn't get the entire show title, but I really loved it.  Looked so great
next to the hanging piece

Lin Stanionis piece...AMAZING to see in person.  

If this were life size, I'd crawl into it!

My favorite of all the exhibition pieces.  So haunting.

My roomie from last year, Emma Olivia's exquisite pieces.

Luana Coonen's amazing pieces, I've long admired her work.

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New addition to Vespa Collection

When I first began on the Vespa collection, I imagined making more pieces; but when it came to crunch time...well, I ran out of time! Plus I was getting it all ready for the fashion show.

So here is a continuation of the collection.  The companion piece to the Vespa necklace, the Vespa cuff.  After I completed the cuff, I realized that is has a super woman aesthetic, like arm shields!

I am quite happy, this cuff will be sent off to Kathleen Sommers for her annual bracelet show, along with two other bracelets I have to get working on this weekend.   As I've said in previous posts, I really enjoy the chance to work on one of a kind pieces and play.  

Vespa Cuff, 2013.  Photo by Lisette Fee, all rights reserved. 

Vespa Cuff, 2013.  Photo by Lisette Fee, all rights reserved. 

Vespa Cuff, 2013.  Photo by Lisette Fee, all rights reserved. 

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how to display your jewelry

Nikki Lee's bronze owl talon ring, displayed on a deer antler.
LOVE IT!

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Penland post part III

Now that it's September, almost fall, my time at Penland feels like it was ages ago! I've been a bit delayed with my posts for my time at Penland, especially because SO much happened during that time and I took quite a few photos.

So here his a bit of a bump in the timeline of the posts (I have more studio visits but have to prepare the names etc.).

this post concerns the last days at Penland with the auction and special gift our class gave to our instructor Amir Friedman.  Amir is a really good teacher, he pushes you mentally and physically to give more than 110 percent!   With that being said, so did the students, pushing each other to work harder!  Barbara McFayden (a very skilled and veteran metalsmith) brought up an idea to make Amir a badge of honor, we all loved the idea immediately.  This would be a collaborative piece, each of us working on a component of the badge.

I don't think we knew what we were getting into, but in the end the piece was SO special and fun to make.  When we presented Amir's badge, he was speechless - which is very, very rare! 

Amir's badge of honor (copper, silver, brass and tin) 2013.  

Amir being his goofy self wearing his new badge proudly.  

Collaborative necklace components.

And yes, we even did a collaborative necklace.  An idea that came about discussing the classes and similarities with Rebecca Frank, the instructor for the steel/wearable sculpture course.  

Final collaborative necklace completed.  Each student made about 3 inches of the necklace. 

A donation item for the Penland auction.

Samples of steel work from Rebecca Frank's class. 

Samples of work from Amir's class.  

Laurel Fulton's rabbit neckpiece. LOVE

Rachel Mauser's cicada and paper brooch.  She worked so hard on these.  

Very cool chair. 

Glass neckpieces. 

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I'm at Penland!

So here it is another beautiful and glorious summer at Penland.  We're only four days in and I'm just loving it!  I'm learning alot and having fun at the same time.  I'm assisting my good friend Amir Friedman.  He is teaching a kinetics adornment class which covers so much yet it's essential to learn in jewelry and metalsmithing.

this will be brief as I'm also working on several projects and commissions all at once! Below are 'sketches' in wire of springs and forming them in endless ways.

I'll continue to post more over the several days and weeks so stay tuned and thanks for visiting!

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Kinetic Adornment course at Penland

I'm so thrilled to announce that I will be returning once again to the land of Penland this summer, not as a student, but as a teaching assistant for my very talented friend, Amir Friedman! 

You will recognize Amir's name from the post I did last year on the course we took with Jana Brevick.  Amir and I really bonded over our love of casting and just being plain silly and having fun in the amazing metals studio at Penland. 

Casting with Amir. 

Amir will be teaching Kinetic Adornments, which really delves into movement in jewelry and how it responds to the body.  Although kinetics aren't my specialty, I'm really looking forward to learning from Amir and the students.  Returning to Penland is always wonderful; it truly is an escape from society and into a world of craft, making, jewelry and sharing the love of art.
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How jewelry can help you

Several weeks ago I was watching one of my favorite fantasy movies, Neverending Story, and it hit me that really, the story and main character would not have achieved his goal if it weren't for the Orin (means "light; pale; pine tree; fair, pale").  In essence a piece of jewelry, adornment was the main ingredient for his success.  The Orin guides him and leads him in the right direction.  How powerful is that?

Most of the time, the average person does not think about how their jewelry will aid them throughout the day - but if it's gone - then for some reason we are at lost and upset.

I like to think of my jewelry in that way, as a talisman and an aid in guiding you in your daily life.  Such as the Resurrection Beetle ring; beetles have long been associated with rebirth and awakening your soul.  Beetles also teach us how to communicate effectively and solve problems by thinking creatively. 

18kt gold plated bronze beetle ring with crystal quartz.

Next time you put on your jewelry or deciding what to wear, think about what guidance you need in the day.  Perhaps it's strength, confidence, creativity or peace of mind.  Whatever it is, be more aware and you will begin to notice how your perspective changes with your jewelry!

Thanks for reading.

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