the clash

"My work is inspired by my love of nature and the outdoors. The quest for each stone is part of the intrigue and the integral piece of the process of transformation that each rock undergoes. I transform each rock into something not intended by the forces of nature, a container of mementos, ceremonial cups, commemorative jewelry and the ritual of tea making. The work references memorial ceremonial rituals in our lives." Julie Jerman-Melka

colorado metalsmith julie jerman-melka carves river rocks, often pairing them with semi-precious or precious stones such as diamonds, pearls, sapphires and garnets to create her jewelry and commemorative vessels . the work has a distinctive, organic feel and she describes this coupling of materials as "a clash between the intrinsic and what is perceived as precious or valuable".

for the locket above, jerman-melka carved a pocket in the stone and added garnet, agate, pearls, fine silver and sterling silver. strong, yet delicate. rough but soft. feminine, with a touch of tomboy.

a pocket for your dreams

"The construction of each piece begins by looking at the materials I have gathered & taking into mind the color, texture & shape. Then preferring to work without putting too many limits on myself I let the alchemy of art evolve in its own way. By using traditional metalsmithing & sculpture techniques such as forming, carving, soldering & sanding I create unique sculptural jewelry" Rone Prinz

in italian, tasca dei sogni means 'a pocket for your dreams.' jewelry artist rone prinz found the inspiration for these dream-pocket wearable vessels from cultures around the world that use pouches and other containers to hold their prayers. she combines semi precious stones, fused and soldered copper, brass, 18 karat gold and sterling silver to create these little gems.

toby goldsmith, aka 'supersleuth' uncovered these earthy delights!

inner light

"These small objects with light are the result of an inner search, my origin, my myths, my legends: my past." Nicolas Estrada

nicolas estrada uses the unlikely combination of vegetable ivory, silver, seeds and electrical components for his unique wearable vessels. drawing inspiration from his columbian roots and the creation myths surrounding the sun, earth, moon and stars, he creates the mysterious vessels, embedding a small light bulb and battery case inside each one. turn it on and watch the interior glow "revealing unexpected silhouettes, textures and forms." an enlightened expression of his history.

wearable collage

"While my work falls in the category of jewelry, I prefer to think of these pieces as wearable collages. My influences and inspirations stem from an appreciation for nature and family. Monochromatic colors, diverse surface textures, and repetition are commonly used to create a harmonious and soothing unity among varying objects." Jaime Jo Fisher

jaime jo fisher mixes traditional silver work and collage. bits of plastic, glass - even dryer lint makes its way into her wearable beaded vessels. contemporary yet timeless. perhaps due to fisher's willingness to combine the possibilities of found objects with more traditional jewelry techniques? yes, i think so.

pucker up

"The same soft, flowing curves in my earlier sculptures are evident in my handbags. They beg to be touched and have a very sensual nature to them. I also try to incorporate the human form in my handbags whenever possible with a humorous aspect to them." Kimberly Chalos

indiana wood sculptor kimberly chalos worked for a furniture company for ten years before becoming a handbag designer. kimberly's obvious skill and mastery of the materials is coupled with a quiet sense of humor. the purse above is part of her 'gabby' series. get it?

pop-top

"I believe that everyone is capable of changing or touching someone’s life. I feel that everyone deserves a chance, respect and the opportunity to be included in a society. The women of Cia do Lacre and 100 Dimensão might think that they have gotten something from us at ESCAMA, but I think the contrary. I have witnessed, first hand, what makes someone strong, hopeful and resilient. All of that is in their faces, in their everyday lives. I am the one that have gotten something from them!" Socorro Leal Schwiderski

andy krumholz, socorro leal schwiderski and eric pedersen are three friends who had an idea, and they ran with it. as owners of escama, they partner with brazilian women's cooperatives to manufacture handbags from recycled materials. fashionable and functional, the bags are hand crocheted using recycled aluminum pop-tops. the handbag pictured above was made with over 700 pop tops. we hope that this novel concept becomes mainstream very soon. incredible.

pursonality

"I love Mid-Century design. Objects and materials from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Things like linoleum flooring, Formica® table tops, and Fiesta® dinnerware. An Eames chair, screenprinted rayon textiles and Bakelite® jewelry are all favorites." SL Savarick

perseverence and persistence payoff. take a look at sl savarick's finely crafted, highly detailed polymer clay inro and purses and you will quickly see what i mean. impressive. it is evident that he has spent years studying, practicing and experimenting. multi-layered silk screened images are an elegant surface treatment for these beauties. they've got pursonality, don't you think? savarick will be unveiling a new line of work just in time for the new year. patience my dears, patience.

pearly whites

“In every step of my jewelry creation I combine the Eastern traditional boundaries and the Western modern boundaries, reaching the realm of where objects adorn the body using contrast, tension, absence and presence.” Kiwon Wang

there is no shortage of imagination at work here. new york based kiwon wang is an accomplished jewelry artist who strives to bring us the best of 'east meets west'. this wearable vessel, which opens to release and catch two perfect pearls, is part of her jewel containers series. outstanding. i also adore her furniture for pearls. hmmm...i could use some new furniture.

come home

"I approach my work intuitively, which often adds an element of surprise. I begin with a rough sketch, then I let my senses carry me through the process of creating each piece. Not until a piece is complete do I consider its meaning or source of inspiration. It is at this time that my intellect kicks in to interpret my 'creation'." Peggy Cochran

before discovering metal, peggy cochran was successful carving wood, making furniture and sculpting clay. but when this talented metalsmith touched metal, she felt like she had come home. check out her one of a kind wearable vessels - and don't be surprised if you feel like you want to take one home with you...

double duty

"My collections are unique hand-constructed accessories and hand bags. Most pieces have transferable use as fashion accessories (bag/purse) or as interior accessories ( box/decoration). Each piece is individually made from folded leather or moulded leather." Aiko Machida

leather pocketbook. ok. treasure box? maybe. both? yes! aiko machida hand molds, folds, forms and stitches colored leather - constructing completely functional items that look like origami. i've got it - new word folks: leathorigami. yup, that's it. great stuff.

talisman of grief

"Life is change and cannot be contained or it will stagnate. This vessel is symbolic of this letting go or flowing through of life. Let it remind you to be open and to move forward." Betty Helen Longhi

north carolina metalsmith betty helen longhi believes that crying is a cleansing experience. she created the 'vessels for tears' necklace (shown above on a beautifully crafted stand) as a way to offer comfort and while the open design does not hold liquid, it does act as a gentle reminder that tears must flow through us to wash away the pain. wear it. hold it. feel it.

minaudiere

“I am often asked, "Why purses? Why don´t you make figurines or sculptures?" The reason is because a figurine or sculpture just sits there collecting dust. You aren´t supposed to touch it. But because these purses are functional, you are supposed to touch them, caress them and examine them. Your life is enhanced because it´s wonderful to carry beautiful things around with you and use them. And that is what I want my creations to do.” Kathleen Dustin

o.k. i admit it. i'm drawn to unusual things: people, art forms, points of view. polymer clay is one of those unusual things. around only about fifty years, the medium is now getting the recognition it deserves. a handful of polymer clay artists have emerged (along with the support of a growing polymer clay community) to catapult the medium into the realm of fine art. watch closely folks, this is history in the making.

it is easy to see why kathleen dustin is one of the world's foremost polymer clay artists. her purses are on the cutting edge of wearable art. almost all of her exquisite evening bags incorporate haunting images of women which she sketches and then transfers to the clay.

i've seen her work up close and personal. held a purse like this one. examined it. turned it over in my hands. opened it. closed it. the craftsmanship and artistry is superb, but please don't take my word for it - see for yourself.