Art Star

Tag: jewelry

  • Meet the Maker: Nicolette Absil

    portraitHi, my name is Nicolette. I’m a full time studio jeweler and enamelist whose studio is based in the Old Kensington area of Philadelphia, PA. I create jewelry that features hand drawn, nature inspired imagery on enamel. I show my work across the US at craft shows, galleries, and retailers, including Art Star!

    flower pendants

    From botanical gardens, to state parks, to the plant life peaking through the cracks in the cement in the city – I’m influenced by nature. Currently, I adore drawing flowers. I’m drawn to their gestural forms, their textures, and serene feelings flowers invoke. Most of my work starts with a drawing from life or photo I’ve taken.

    sketch
    pendants3

    Each piece is hand drawn or painted on enamel. Enameling is a technique where I fuse powdered glass to copper in a kiln at temperatures close to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. After I draw the imagery, the enamel piece is fused again in the kiln. Each piece I work on usually goes through 5 or more firings from start to finish before becoming a finished piece! I then fabricate settings for the enamel work out of sterling silver, or sometimes gold, creating wearable artwork.

    EAR_elongated-teardropdanglesanemone4 copy

    I love that I am able to combine my illustrations with such a traditional, historical technique like enameling to create future heirloom quality jewelry. I like the idea that my work might someday be handed down through generations and live longer than I will. I’m excited to be showing at the Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar this month and I hope you’ll come check out my work in Booth 5!

    http://nicoletteabsil.com/home.html
    https://www.instagram.com/nicoletteabsil/
    https://squareup.com/store/nicolette-absil-studios

  • Meet The Maker: Amanda Hagerman

    Image1

    2016 has been a big year for me. In January I resigned from my high school art teaching position of almost 8 years to pursue my passion of designing and making jewelry, full-time. It was a leap into the unknown. Although running a business is grueling at times, I love every minute of it and have no regrets. I am living my dream.

    I’ve always loved creating. I have fond memories of playing in the woods as a young girl growing up in rural Pennsylvania. Whether it was rearranging rocks in the stream by my house to build a man-made swimming hole (if you found a crayfish that was a major score), or leaning large branches against a tree to form a make shift teepee fort, I’ve always had the urge to make things. This urge carried over into loving art class all throughout school and being inspired by talented artists in all mediums. I was introduced to the concept of metalworking in high school and pursued this interest further in college by earning a B.F.A in Fine Metals in addition to my art education degree.

    Image2

    In 2014 (after about 6 years of having no feasible space to work as a metalsmith) I obtained my studio. I taught all week and worked in my studio during the off hours. Eventually, Amanda Hagerman Jewelry was established. It took several months of creative exploring to find my voice as an artist. I knew I wanted to create fashion forward designs that had a rustic, almost ancient appeal and I kept coming back to the notion of wanting my work to somehow reflect nature. Over time, I developed a lost wax casting technique combining geometric shapes with a rocky, ridge like surface. The result of this reflected the mountainous scenery I grew up around as a child. It embodied the parts of the landscape that make me feel whole and center me spiritually. It also achieved the rugged ancient look I desired with a fun and edgy twist. Each day I work to hone this technique and what has now become my signature style. It continues to grow and evolve and I’m excited to see where it will lead…

    Image3 Image4

    Each piece begins as a drawing on paper. I start with geometric shapes based on the elements in the landscape, specifically rocks, ridges, and ravines that influence the aesthetic of my work. After rendering the shapes, I make several paper copies of those shapes. From there I cut them out and rearrange them into various compositions. This is how I develop all of my designs. This process alone often takes hours, but is very satisfying and exciting. Once I have developed a series of sound designs, I set off to work in my studio.

    multi

    To create my work, I often combine lost wax casting and fabrication processes. Items with my signature textured ridge surface are first hand sculpted using a combination of modeling and sheet waxes. The wax is malleable and allows me to manipulate the surface in order to achieve the desired surface textures. These pieces are then cast centrifugally using the lost wax casting process. This is an ancient technique that dates back to over 5700 years ago, which today involves investing pieces into a plaster cylinder, melting all of the wax out in a kiln, and pouring molten metal into the void where wax once was. Casting is an art in itself, one that brings me great satisfaction and control over what I create. Once shapes are perfected (after casting and finishing) I make molds of those pieces, unless they are for a one-of-a-kind design. Mold making saves me time in reproducing the wax pieces for my production line. In the images above, you see several pink wax pieces that have been made from molds of an original copy. Other details of my work are hand fabricated directly in metal by cutting sheet, forging wire, soldering prongs & jump rings, etc.

    Image11 Image12

    My process is truly my identity as an artist. I stand for the slow made item. The piece that was worked by hand from start to finish. I am about celebrating the Maker’s mark and the beauty of artistic exploration all the while finding balance in imperfection and skilled craftsmanship. I’ve been told that each of my pieces have soul. I believe it’s the care and attention to detail given individually to each piece that plays a role in establishing that. Because each piece is individually handcrafted, no two pieces will ever be precisely the same. In today’s world we often see things mass produced by machine. Millions of cookie cutter items that make us lose connection with the concept of artisan made and skilled craftsmanship. My work may not be precision perfect like items made by a machine, but I think there is great beauty in the imperfections. Behind each piece there is intention, consideration, and selfless devotion of time. In fact, a great deal of back pain inducing time, but time incredibly well spent nonetheless.

    three

    My work varies from large statement pieces to small dainty adornments, perfect for everyday wear. It consists of Argentium Silver and 14K gold vermeil. Everything, including the casting, is completed in my studio with the exception of the vermeil finish (for quality and certification purposes). All jewelry is nickel free and made in the most ethical ways possible.

    Image16 Image17 Image18
    I plan to have my entire collection, plus brand new one-of-a-kind pieces with me in Asbury Park! I can’t wait to see you there! Find me at booth #7!

  • Meet The Maker: Kimberly Frey of Happy Land Handmade

    HLH9 copy
    I started Happy Land Handmade in 2010 to put a name to what I do, which is crafting art objects, wearables, home goods and pottery out of ceramics. My husband and I derived the name from the title of a 19th century Scottish hymn as a ode to our faith. It seemed fitting to touch that vein as an identity piece because I find that the identity of an artist illuminates the work that we make. The pretzel happens to be a symbol I use which touches this vein too. The history of this beloved food is that it was conceived by Italian nuns and labeled as the “trinity loaf.” Besides my faith identity, it represents my heritage as the great great grand daughter of an Italian immigrant who ventured to establish himself as an American citizen and pretzel shop owner on 2nd street in Philadelphia.

    HLH14 copy HLH13 copy

    I studied fashion design at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia before transferring to Tyler School of Art for crafts and ceramics. I still pull influence from my time in fashion school into my ceramic work. I am inspired to create wearable porcelain jewelry as well as styling and photographing my own photoshoots of people I meet in my own life. I absolutely love the process of creating my own photos of my work. It enables me to have full control over the marketing aspect. I also take it as an opportunity to make art in another medium; photography. So I’m not just interested in photographing a ceramic pot on a gradient background, but more about creating an interactive environment for my work and then photographing that. Though I’m mostly self taught, I truly am a novice of many art forms and am nearly always, unapologetically seeking out another opportunity to try my hand in something new.

    HLH8 copy HLH7 copy HLH2

    I work at my home studio in Happy Valley Pennsylvania which is completely perfect for me. I am an artist mother and being in the home while I practice my craft is essential for this season of life. I am able to seamlessly float between domestic and motherly duties back to the ebb and flow of the ceramic process; one that is both meditative and ever undulating. I work with various ceramic processes such as hand building, throwing, mold making and slip casting. My recent work is inspired by various fashion trends, food, color and material. Honestly, I am an alchemist at heart so this medium a lot of times, informs itself. I will both interpret color and texture from real life into my work or uncover color and texture in my work and expound on it. I see mastering ceramics as a life time of testing and follow through. Each body of work that I make uncovers new insights on the endless possibilities of material, color and form. It’s really fun; at least when things don’t go disastrously wrong, which, any ceramist knows to always account for waste.

    HLH2 copy HLH1 HLH12 copy HLH5 copy HLH3 copy

    I am learning to be business minded as Happy Land debuts this July for its first real deal craft event. I am excited to bring well made and designed, affordable ceramics to the market place and to meet you and the other makers. And of course, to enjoy the sun and surf, which is where I would live permanently if I could! Till then, take care and see you soon.

    HLH16 copy

    Find Happy Land Handmade Online and at our Upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar in Asbury Park, NJ on July 30th and 31st.

  • Meet The Maker: Maris Hare of Naturalists Cabinet

    Hi! I’m Maris, and I’m the creator of Naturalists Cabinet. I make nature inspired necklaces, earrings, cuff links, and tie tacks from basswood. I use wood burning pens to draw each piece by hand, and paint them with inks and liquid acrylics.

    Maris

    The name Naturalists Cabinet was inspired by what’s known as a cabinet of curiosities, which are showcases for nature specimens. They were very popular in the Victorian era, when people of all backgrounds were fascinated by the natural world, and would build collections to display in their homes. Most of my jewelry depicts plants, small animals, insects, reminiscent of the types of things found in a naturalist’s cabinet. I really enjoy creating pieces featuring things that a lot of people may overlook or wouldn’t think of as beautiful, like seed pods or mating slugs, to hopefully make people reconsider them from a new perspective.

    2 3

    I spent my childhood playing in the woods, wading in ponds, and digging for fossils in the back yard. (We hit a layer of concrete about four feet down once, and were convinced we hit the next layer of the earth’s crust.) I went to the University of the Arts for illustration and design after considering studying biology, and most of what I make still tends to be centered around my interest in science. I’ve frequently had a hard time sticking with a specific medium or project long enough to get a good body of work started or a book finished. A changing moment for me was learning to work with this trait rather than try to force myself to be more disciplined. I realized I needed to have many different components to one piece, which led me, somehow, to the idea of making jewelry using a variety of materials and tools. After trying a number of other directions, I remembered the scroll saw and a wood burner I had as a kid, and thought it may be the perfect way to bring more drawing into the process. Also, I’ve come to the conclusion that I gravitate towards things that can permanently damage my fingers…

    So a few years ago, I dug my saw out of my parents tool garage, bought a fancy adult level wood burning system, and slowly figured out the rest of the pieces. I’ve been building the collection I have today for about a year, and started showing craft events last summer. Now, I get to come up with new designs all the time, sand wood, saw, draw with hot things, paint, drill, and I actually have a reason to buy fancy papers and beads, so I haven’t gotten bored yet!

    4 5

    My studio space is in the apartment I share with my husband and our bird, Turnip, in West Philly. I absolutely love having my workspace at home. I strive to run my business as earth friendly as possible. Our whole apartment is run on wind energy through a third party supplier, and all the materials I use are recycled or sustainable, including the packaging, and I use cruelty-free animal parts, a lot of which I prepare myself. (People love bringing me dead things.) And a piece of paper containing wildflower seeds is included with each box!

    Since I was young, I’ve felt a responsibility to do at least my small part to contribute to wildlife protection. Part of the motivation for starting this business was to be able to donate part of my profits to environmental conservation. 10% of everything I sell is donated to an organization that corresponds to each piece. These are the Nature Conservancy, the Arbor Day Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, The Xerces Society, and Bat Conservation International. I’ve chosen these groups because they use their donations honestly and effectively, are committed to using methods based in science and research, and they work to educate and engage the communities surrounding their projects in a sensitive manner. I hope people will be inspired to learn more about conservation, and think about how they can use their own skills to help the environment, even if it doesn’t seem to be connected at first, like making jewelry.

    6

    I’m really excited to be a part of one of my favorite craft shows in Philly! Come visit me at booth #49 and geek out with me over science!

  • Meet the Maker: Marisa Krol of Interstellar Love Craft

    by Marisa Krol, Interstellar Love Craft

    mesoldering (1)
    I never planned on being a jewelry designer. They say, the thing we most enjoy doing as a child is incredibly valuable in identifying what would make us happiest as adults. Looking back now, I feel that is true for me. The beauty and mystery of life process, is how it has shown up in the most unexpectedly brilliant way.

    Diviningerarings _MG_4053-Edit

    I firmly believe we are all gracing this plane of existence to connect with and learn from one another. In our own unique ways, we connect through infinite forms of expression. It is my intention to create a platform in which expression is free to be what it wants to be in any given moment. Interstellar Love Craft was created 6 years ago (almost exactly as I write this), to communicate the intention of connecting with and serving others though creative expression. Months after its inception, I began the process of learning my craft through volunteering my time studio assisting an artist in my local community. During this time; the past, present and future felt as if they were intersecting, and ILC found its home in the practice of jewelry metal smithing. I share this with you because openness has been, and continues to be, a significant component in the success and growth of this endeavor. An openness expressed in process as well as outcomes, interactions and direction. No matter what path one takes, it will always be a roller coaster of experiences and feelings about those experiences. So long as we adhere to our values and inner truth, pay attention, and not take anything that isn’t constructive personally, I firmly believe we will be taken care in this world.

    lexicropped ladylazpeacerings

    For me, expressing and sharing this inner light and truth is what inspires my line of work. My hope is that it is felt by, and experienced through the wearer. By utilizing open forms inspired by sacred places and sites of reverence, pieces take shape and become apart of a greater collection. There are tangents along the way that result in micro collections and one of a kind pieces. This keeps the work engaging for me, and hopefully for those who follow its development and support its growth. I often feel like I am making something for someone in particular, which is unique to them. It brings me joy beyond compare when each piece unites with its person. For this reason, I enjoy traveling as well as building relationships that are both customer and community based. For example, the Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philadelphia not only has become one of my favorite destinations, but it has also been a source of inspiration and collaboration in a way that facilitates growth. In no other place, that I have had the good fortune to spend time in, has the maker scene felt so supportive, healthy and fun. You all rock!

    pileofjewelry

    In closing, words cannot express the gratitude I feel for being able to participate in the creation of what I want my life to look like, and the good fortune of meeting others along the way who are invested in doing the same. It is a power we all possess, and one that requires the conquering of certain fears and trusting that the universe strives with us towards fulfillment. I hope that whatever it is that moves you, it is something you are able to practice with regularity. Discovering purpose in ones work, and feeling like we are a part of a larger network of life supporting beings seems to me to be most valuable.

    templerings

    Thank you for taking the time to read my musings on life, work, and creativity. I hope you are living (at least part of the time) in a place of childlike joy and peace. And if not, make the time to search and discover. Humanity might depend on it.

    ——————————————————————————————————————-

    You can find Interstellar Love Craft at our November 7th + 8th Fall Art Star Craft Bazaar or visit her website year round!

  • Meet ASCB Vendors As The Crow Flies + Co

    crow15
    As the Crow Flies & Co is a little family business in West Philadelphia run by Mike and Wilder Scott-Straight. Married for almost ten years, they started As the Crow Flies & Co five years ago combining their efforts. Mike has been making jewelry for over 20 years since he was a youth vending stained glass jewelry on Telegraph Ave in Berkeley, Ca. Wilder technically could have met him then, as they both moved to the Bay Area at the same time, lived in the same neighborhood and frequented the same places. That however, wasn’t meant to be and they didn’t meet until 10 years later when they had both gone back to the east coast and discovered a mutual love of all things old and the joys of flea marketing together. That joy led to Wilder’s vintage plate collection, which led to much of the jewelry that Mike makes today.

    crow3
    The story goes, that one of Wilder’s favorite calendar plates fell and broke. Mike who up until that time had just made stained glass jewelry thought maybe he could make something for her with the broken shards. He made a piece for her and a few more too and soon he was looking around to see what other plates were damaged enough to cut up.

    crow9crow6
    Over the last 7 years he’s perfected his technique and his eye. He looks for interesting images and patterns, cropping them carefully from the original plate. He tries to find the stories in these images and hopes you can see them too. He has a love of all things nautical so ships and lighthouses always abound as do birds.  By choosing already damaged plates from flea markets to work with, he brings new life to an otherwise discarded object.

    crow5 crow4
    Vintage dishes are storytellers, steeped in history. The original makers in Europe and the US have a fascinating past to them, as do many of the patterns and the places they came from. The original owners, and their stories also have tales to tell. Mike does a lot of custom work from family dishes that have been well loved over time. By making the broken shards into necklaces, earrings and cuff links, families can keep the memories and have something uniquely wearable to show.

    crow13
    Mike has kept doing stained glass, his first love as well. With an art deco aesthetic he makes earrings and necklaces. Just recently he started making chevrons, based on the windows of his 1903 West Philadelphia home.

    crow11Wilder always had an eye for color and fabric. She originally started with knitwear but when their daughter came along she wanted to make timeless clothes that weren’t easily found in shops. Believe it or not she’d always been intimidated by sewing, mostly due to the half broken machines that she’d found in thrift stores and been working on. Her friend gave her some expert advice, buy a cheap, new machine with instructions (this is key) and learn the ropes on that. She did and with a few quick lessons from said friend, figured out sewing was not as terrifying as she’d first thought. It, in fact, was fun and liberating!

    crow12
    Wilder uses simple, timeless, vintage patterns and combines them with new designer fabrics to create a fresh look that’s sweet and harkens back to bygone days. Her inspirations come from her some of her favorite childhood books, Pippi Longstocking, Anne of Green Gables and The Princess and The Goblin.

    crow8 crow7
    At the moment she only makes girl’s clothes but with the new addition of a little boy to the family she realizes boy clothing is going to have to happen soon (look out for it this fall).

    crow2
    Mike is excited to be vending at the Art Star Craft Bazaar in Asbury Park, which was his grandmothers old summer stomping ground in the 1920s. He’ll be there with plenty of ships and lighthouses as well as stained glass brights and Wilder’s summer dresses and skirts, perfect for the beach.

    crow10 crow1

  • Meet ASCB Vendors: Tigerlillyshop and Dreadnought Workshop

    Hi, we are Allison and Brett, the artists behind Tigerlillyshop and Dreadnought Workshop.

    maple_double_2_500_0
    Double Maple Seed Necklace by Tigerlillyshop

    We met in college at MICA, he was a painting major and I was a sculpture major. We have always been studio artists. After our early careers in mural painting and upholstery, we decided to narrow our scope and put all of our efforts into a creative business. Most of our jewelry skills are self taught. With our creative talents and drive, we thought we could make a sustainable handmade life as studio artists in Baltimore City.

    Tigerlily 2
    Dreadnought Workshop Money Clips

    So here we are 10 years after starting my Etsy shop! Our lines have evolved and changed with our interests but have always remained true to our hand. I started out with custom plastic rings, developed the kimono button jewelry, then the botanical metalwork and later Brett launched the men’s accessory line, it debuted in 2010. Shoppers can still see us at select regional retail shows, but mostly we make our living wholesaling our men’s and women’s jewelry. You can find us in the studio every day filling orders and shipping all over the country. We are a growing business and hope to be for a long time.

    Hydrangea Earrings
    Hydrangea Petal Earrings by Tigerlillyshop

    My sister Maria Fomich and I developed the Tigerlillyshop Botanical line together. Since 2009 she has been part of this crazy train ride making her own metalwork and helping spread the word about our family business. Last year she opened a beautiful retail brick & mortar in New Orleans to showcase her own handmade art jewelry. In her Adorn & Conquer Gallery you will find our Tigerlillyshop & Dreadnought lines, and a curated selection of only the best handmade gifts. We are proud to be living the handmade life, advocating for and supporting artists in our larger indie family out there!

    Tigerlily

    About Tigerlillyshop’s Botanical Collection: Allison collects nature specimen to press into metal for one of a kind jewelry. She also creates a cast jewelry collection of her best finds: acorns, twigs, maple seeds, etc.

    Tigerlily 3About Dreadnought Workshop: Brett is inspired by the city, American history, and the things he experiences living in an urban setting. Brett’s new line of belt buckles, tie clips, and cufflinks are made using various metal fabricating and casting techniques which he has learned through studio exploration.
    ———————————————————————————————————-
    Thanks to Allison + Brett for sharing their story with us today! Please visit them at the Art Star Craft Bazaar on May 9th + 10th in booth #104 at Penn’s Landing Great Plaza. You can also find them here: Website, Twitter, and Facebook.

  • Guest Post: “Power of Three” by Forge & Finish

    The women behind Forge & Finish jewelry collective invite you into their Philadelphia studio to catch a glimpse of their creative process through these fun short films.

    You can find their work at Booth #20 at our upcoming Fall Art Star Craft Bazaar on November 8th + 9th! Look out for more Guest Posts by participating vendors in the days leading up to the show.  Enjoy!

    Demure de Rigueur’s Little Shaker Necklace from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

    Lace Army’s Fortune Cookie Necklace from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

    Bombita Designs Raw Diamond Ring from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

  • Featured Artist: April Hale


    April Hale is a traditionally trained metalsmith who has been practicing her art for over ten years. Creating jewelry in her small studio in Bozeman, Montana, she derives her designs from forms and colors that she sees in the landscape. Because of her jewelry’s connection to the environment and her desire to create sustainable jewelry, all work is made from a minimum of 50% reclaimed materials. By using reclaimed steel or roofing copper as a base for colorful enamel, hand-forming earwires from recycled sterling silver, and forging steel baling wire into rings, bracelets, and components of necklaces and earrings, April creates jewelry that transforms everyday materials into expressive, finely crafted adornment.

    When she is not working in the studio, April can usually be found wandering in the woods, either on foot or cross country skis, looking at birds and finding wonder in her surroundings.

    “Flowers on Branches Necklace” by April Hale / forged steel, enameled copper, and sterling silver.
    April in her studio.
    Dangling Flower Earrings in Blue + Green by April Hale / sterling silver and enameled copper
    Enamel + Steel Linked Bracelet by April Hale / forged steel, enameled copper, and sterling silver
    Flower Post Earrings by April Hale / enamel + sterling silver

     We are so happy to be carrying April’s line of bright + colorful jewelry! Check out our entire collection of her work here.

  • Meet Jewelry Artist, Ashley Gilreath



    We are thrilled to welcome recent Philadelphia transplant, Ashley Gilreath to our roster of artists.  Ashley graduated from East Caroline University in North Carolina with her BFA in metal design in 2010 and then went on to exhibit her work across the country, teach and hold various artist residencies, most recently at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee.  Her multiple lines of beautifully sculpted jewelry are inspired by the “decay of memories, architecture, and heirloom objects”.  We are really excited to carry a few of her lines of jewelry in the shop!  Here is a look at each series of jewelry that we are carrying PLUS a statement by Ashley about each one. Enjoy!

    Weathered + Broken Wood Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pieces within this series are inspired by broken and decaying wooden fences, barns, or farming equipment. I’m interested in the process through which these functional structures are built, utilized, and abandoned over time. I enjoy how splitting and water marks on the surface of the wood provides a visual timeline for the life of these crafted objects. – Ashley Gilreath

    Water Castings

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    These earrings are made out of sterling and fine silver water castings. During the casting process the silver is poured into cold water and as it sinks it cools very quickly, and forms these little cups! Sometimes looking like nests, drops, or blobs, I save the best formed cups and fill them with colored glass! Enameling is a process that allows for fusing glass to metal, and it adds a wonderful reflective dimension to these earrings!
    – Ashley Gilreath

    Inscription/Book Cover Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This body of work explores the tradition of writing notes and inscriptions upon the inside covers of books, and how a confluence of stories and people come together to create these objects. The words of the characters, the choices of the author, the artists of the covers, the writers of the secret inscriptions, and the owner of the book all effect how an individual would interpret the personal messages. Through time, as the book passes from hand-to-hand, these stories continue a dialogue whose original intimacy has faded.

    – Ashley Gilreath

    Botanical Jewelry 

    The designs in this series are directly influenced and inspired by the gardens of my past, specifically the hydrangeas that my mother rooted from her childhood home in Louisiana and brought with her to North Carolina. This transplanting of roots from one place to another directly reflects the paths we follow in life, and how home is given new meaning through time.

    These flowers are so delicate, their blooming so quick and fleeting, yet their impression on our senses endures. I attempted to merge those characteristics into a wearable object, so that one could wear a shadow of the blossom.

    Check out our full collection of Ashley’s Jewelry here and visit the shop to see it all in person! Any of her pieces would make a wonderful gift for Valentine’s Day!

     

     

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.