Designing and Making Jewelry
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| The model wears
a pin as a bolo tie |
I travel the country attending
miniature shows and gift shows to find my components. I have several Artists around the
world hand making some of these findings specifically for each different theme. Most pieces
are a mixture of 18k gold, nickel, brass and copper plated findings which give
the pins their 3-dimensional look. Metals that tarnish are not used, so all
my pieces will stay bright with a cotton cloth wiping. A lot of the
finishes are "antiqued" to give the finding an older feel. Some of
the miniature books and magazines are of thick paper that hold up well.
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Caramia Justian
Artist |
I begin my work by soldering
the best stainless steel pins to the back of the base. Then the hanging
chains are soldered if the piece calls for them. Everything is dipped for cleaning
and readied for the Topical Theme choice. This is done in layers with either
background of leaves or stars or solid big pieces. The
top layer is the Theme itself. I spend a whole day on one theme so
my thought process is focused on that subject. Finally, the
piece is finished with seed pearls and/or rhinestones to give it a polished
classy look. A lot of the pins have hanging charms or chains to give
movement and draw the eyes. Each piece is a unique
one-of-a-kind work of miniature art that is definitely a conversation starter.
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| The model wears
a brooch as a collar pin. |
About the Artist and Her Designs
Although I have dabbled in the Arts all my life, I became serious about art
as a profession at Oakland Collage in Farmington Hills, Michigan. I
studied oils, pastels, pottery, photography and jewelry making at
this time. Jewelry making was of casting, waxing, metal stampings and stone
inlay work; a good all-around introduction to this craft.
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| Hummingbird used
as a hat pin |
Another favorite class was
that of 3 dimensional canvas work, using all types of materials onto canvas
to create collages of sorts. In 1980, I moved to California and Studied Interior
Design at UCLA while selling my Canvas work at local Art Shows.
In
1988, I felt
a need to go back to a love I had abandoned. That
of Jewelry Design. I didn't want to create work similar to any one
else and thought of the use of collage similar to that I did on canvas; Miniature
Canvases. That is how I started creating the over 110
different themes of collage brooches I am known for today!
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