The Beauty in Baroque

What do you think of when you read or hear the word, "baroque"?  Some of us will think of classical music, concertos and old-fashioned operas.  Others will think of art history classes long forgotten, or even silly puns such as, "If it ain't 'baroque', don't fix it."
The actual word comes from the Portuguese word barroco, which means an irregular or misshapen pearl.  This term was used negatively by intellectuals in the Classical period who felt that the ornate, intricate music and art of the prior generations was overdone to the point of ugliness.  This term gradually lost its negative connotation and became just another historical term.
But what does this have to do with jewelry?  Jewelry meant to evoke Baroque aesthetics (which often come into vogue during autumn) will use rich jewel-tone colors and antique gold and brass.  There will be multiple pieces to it, and sometimes very heavy framing or shapes done in real or imitation precious metals.  Everything is just a little darker, more detailed, and more decorative.  I have a necklace coming out this fall which is inspired by the Baroque style-be sure not to miss it by checking out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/NightingaleRoseJ .

Have a beautiful, rich rest of your summer!

Steampunk Autumn 2013

The scent of warm spices and baked goods, the slight nip of the air as it gradually chills down, the wild breezes and the smoky scent of the last barbecues of the season...I have caught autumn fever.  Autumn is my favorite season, partly for nostalgia, partly because of the sensory wonders I already listed, and partly for the joint anticipation of a new year of school and the wonderful holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving.  This is the time for rich jewelry designs in copper, gold and rose gold.  They pair so well with deep, warm fall colors such as garnet, royal purple, burnt oranges and all shades of brown.

Gothic fashion can be a little neglectful of warm colors, but steampunk embraces them wholeheartedly in a wonderful alternative aesthetic.  Cogs, clocks, aged leather, cozy knits and earthy woven fabrics are all perfect for this.  Corsets and other historical styles such as breeches contribute to the steampunk effect when paired with more modern pieces like well-cut blazers and patterned tights.  Steampunk accessories are what first started drawing me toward alternative fashion and culture, and steampunk continues to influence my work.
Here are some pieces I have made along this vein:
This tassel necklace made from bits and bobs.
A necklace that also includes some pirate themes.
And this copper ring that works perfectly with either autumn colors or steampunk outfits.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sculpting-the Beginning

I have started working in a new medium-air drying clay.  It is excellent fun.  So far I have tried silicon molds and sculpting by hand, and the prospects are incredibly exciting.  All that is left is for me to figure out what sort of paint will best work for the effects I want-then I can supplement my other designs with completely original pieces that cannot be duplicated except by me, and eve then they won't be exact.  My molds are of cameos and roses...they will make such romantic designs when they are finished!

A Crystal Summer

Something about the reawakening of the plants and scenery during warmer months is conducive to creativity. I find myself drawn to organic shapes and rough-cut stones that evoke the earth rather than highly fabricated and polished pieces.  It took me forever to figure out how to make wire-wrapped pendants out of unpierced stones.  I must have thrown away three yards of wire before finding a method that didn't require super glue to attach the wire to the stone.  Speaking of stone, while I was in Texas on vacation I purchased a little velour bag of quartz and pyrite stones, plus a couple of really nice amethyst chunks.  These are the pieces I'm using for the wire wraps. Now that I know how to make the pendants, I just have to find the right cord and practice my Chinese adjustable knots. I can't wait to show off these new pieces...they were definitely outside my comfort zone as far as technique goes, but it was worth it.

Fun Haul and Inspiration

Recently, we found a slew of fun and interesting beads and charms from a local boutique.  It really helped to boost the diversity of our products.  some of the pieces, like big ceramic roses or brightly painted coffins, really stretched my boundaries and resulted in pieces which I really love.

Products that resulted from this megahaul and subsequent mega-creative session include Boneyard, Muertos, Dracula's Garden and Skulldiggery.  They were very satisfying to make...I just hope others can enjoy them too.

Here's a peek at one of them: 

Browse the rest of the collection for yourself here.

Behind the Scenes...

Tonight is "tedious work we haven't gotten around to yet" night-I'm helping Hubby with the inventory list for the jewelry business.  He's doing most of it, since I have no business sense whatsoever.  Well, at least, that's what it feels like most of the time.  We've been trying super hard to get our work out to the people, trying different marketing strategies and online shop providers...we have business cards we've been handing out wherever we can, and a Facebook page as well.  I know we can make it, we just have to find the right formula for success.  I never thought that making new pieces would be the easiest part about having a jewelry business, but I suppose I should have known.  We've been scouring online forums, especially Etsy help forums, and we're bound to find the way to break out and sell soon.  We have to.

Inspiration

Let's face it, it can be used as a method for producing beauty, or an excuse for not producing at all.  I know how easy it is to let stress and drama and everyday life dull or entirely erase your feeling of  inspiration.  So much of modern society is based around consuming the products of someone else's creativity, rather than cultivating your own.  You have to find your own personal way of making the system work for you.  For instance, I love to window-shop, whether it's online, or via the occasional women's magazine, or actual trips to a craft or fashion store.  Whenever I find myself browsing (which can turn into such a mindless, numbing activity), I try to keep my brain switched on.  Whenever I find a piece that I like, I try to figure out what aspect of that jewelry or outfit excites me so that I can use it in the things I make.  I'm not talking about copying or stealing the ideas of others; I'm talking about boiling down basic concepts, shapes, colors and themes that can be turned around and integrated into my own personal style and skill set.  Keep in mind that I don't always feel dry and devoid of creativity. This is just something I use to either kickstart the process, or keep me going between the fits of, "Must create!"  If this helps you at all, or at least entertained you for a few minutes, I am grateful.

Fortune and blessings. xoxox

What It's Like

Jewelry-making is a blend of art, craft, fashion sense, and business acumen.  It is a lot of fun, but can be frustrating, especially when working with new techniques or a project that seems to defy your vision and go wherever it wants.  You have to learn how to let things go where they need to go, and when to stop tweaking a piece and let it breathe.  This blog is a record of my journey in the art of jewelry, wherever it takes me.