Over the years, I’ve made many different kinds of art jewelry pieces for the neck, arms, and earlobes, but this time I am inspired in a whole new direction.
Can you see it taking shape on my work bench?
Tiaras!
Like some of my favorite projects, I didn’t plan what happened—which made it even better.
Mixed Messages Gallery was putting on a themed show for a book signing. In honor of Laura Sidsworth’s newest kids’ book, Spoiled Pink, they threw a pink princess party. I was invited to participate, and when little girls’ pink tiaras came to mind, I made several for the event.
And were they ever fun to make! They were full of sparkly Lucite beads and spiral wire—light to wear and fanciful! After making those, I started to think about bringing that playful sparkle to every day life.
Shouldn’t grown-ups have tiaras too?
Tiaras, everywhere!
I asked myself: What if you were queen of your life? What if you ruled over your domain with benevolence and dignity? And a sense of humor? Well, you would have a royal title and a tiara for everything, of course!
Inspired and following a wild creative path the goddess work set me on, I’m making sparkly, collaged tiaras with regal titles for everyday activities. “Our Lady of the Laundry,” “Sultana of Sear,” and “Goddess of the Golden Rule”. Working in every spare moment to capture the energy and the idea—adornment, acknowledgment, flights of fancy and fun—in service to everyday, mundane, and life at our simplest and most common.
What if?” I wondered. And I tried it. “What if…” and I tried that too. I love when creative work seems to take on a life of its own!
Her Serene Highness of Hearth and Home
Our Lady of the Laundry
Having fun with soap bubbles and froth!
Countess Penelope
This royal lady is in charge of the household budget, dollars and sense, and pinching the pennies.
Goddess of the Golden Rule Tiara
Sultana of Sear
The Supreme Sorceress of the Spicy Kitchen
I’m getting so many ideas!
Each tiara are sparkly and humorous, fun and fanciful. The pieces are wearable, yet over-the-top enough to be displayed as art pieces.
The fun of collage is making a variety of materials work together. I love faceted Lucite beads— which are too big, too loud, colorful plastic—paired with gorgeous Swarovski pearls. In others, I’m using tulle puffs and sparkly ribbon with colored art wire.
Despite being a first for me, the style is consistent with my body of work with wire, coils, and really unique materials. The designing has been fun, and the execution fun too (which isn’t always the case). I’m having a blast. It almost doesn’t feel like work.
Come see!
These tiaras will first be exhibited at the new show, “Reflections,” at Circle Gallery in Madera starting March 2, 2017. They’ll be on display (and for sale) along with several others not shown here. If you’re in the area, please come by to take a look!
If you were queen of your world, what would your title be?
I loved seeing this idea in its development stages and Melanie’s excitement as work turned into play. That’s the best of all worlds and what some of us, as artists, women, and title-holders, strive for. If only it happened more frequently and everyone got to experience the feeling. I can hardly wait to see the next pieces–maybe they will include the Princess of the Pasture and the Equine Empress, who knows?