Jewelry
Deconstruct … Redesign
Feb
10 months, 5 days, 3 hours and 46 minutes ago I packed up my workshop in Boulder, CO and headed west to catch a plane into the unknown. I have counted every second since then, for in the back of my heart there lived a constant aching to return to the craft that I had left behind. If there was one thing that I had missed more – this was it, the freedom to create from the mind and construct with the hands. With Boulder long in the dust, my shop is now finally starting to take shape in the deserts of the Southwest.
After unpacking my saddlebag and examining the jewelry pieces designed from over a year ago, I quickly began to realize that I needed to rethink the look of The Redwood Series. The sizes of the pieces were originally constructed on the basis that they would hold live plants and water in them. After building several prototypes the idea proved impractical but the concept stuck and so a line of large moss jewelry began. Now it’s time to change and simplify, and here is what the process looks like…
Jewelry design begins with a concept. You need an idea to work with, whether that is a mood, a color, texture, sound or memory. In my case I was inspired by the Redwood forests of Northern California. I loved the straight lines of the giant tree trunks, the dark brown textures and the incredible greens in the moss and lichen growing on their sides. I wanted to create pieces that had this same memory in them. Working from last year’s concept I am taking a few pieces and modifying their size, the elements used in their construction, and the packaging they will be placed in for shipment.
In an effort to increase the jewelry’s environmental sustainability I have found suitable non-toxic glues, water based natural wood dyes, a fast growing wood type that is sustainably harvested, and an organic extra virgin coconut oil that will serve as the final finish. The packaging will be as minimal as possible using 100% recycled materials and the absolute minimum of marketing info: a water-based stamp instead of printed business cards . Redesigning with the right materials will allow me to produce these pieces with less of an impact on the earth and at a lower cost to my customers.
It is extremely important as designers that we consciously create in an eco-friendly manner. Good design should always consider sustainable materials with minimal impact on ourselves and the environment. The next time you consider buying a piece of jewelry or perhaps designing one of your own – ask how the piece will be made, with what materials, and if it is possible to create a similar item without toxic elements.
welcome back!!! 🙂 while i didn’t comment on your posts while you traveled. i did enjoy reading them! 🙂
am exciting that you are reopening your shop. enjoying reading about the redesigns.
Thanks Shannon! It is great to be back and creating things. I just launched my Etsy shop two days ago, I should be opening my shop on this page within the next day or so.
Your article is very interesting. As an amateur jewelry designer myself, I’m loving the points you share about being aware of the impact you have on the earth when creating material goods.
Perhaps you can share a few tips as to where you for example bought your waterbased stamps and how you transformed your jewelry? Meaning what steps did you take to redesign it all?
Thanks in advance!
Aysha @ The Creative Muslimah
Hi Aysha, thanks for the thoughtful comments. I bought my stamp from a local stamp maker here close to San Diego called RubberStampChamp.com they provide a variety of stamps with water bases. They also have skin safe inks for other applications. The steps for redesigning my jewelry started with laying out the original designs on the table and taking a very harsh objective approach to criticizing the size, shape, color and materials used. I ended up deciding to re-design everything at about 1/4 the original dimensions. I then looked up glues that had a very low VOC rating or none at all and that complied with non-toxic standards under ASTM D-4236. Then I started cutting and experimenting with sizes, materials, etc… until it looked right. Good luck with your creative pursuits, hope this helps!