Sunday, June 19, 2011

Project Accessory Update

So, I am back from NYC, sitting in my livingroom. I didn't make the cut. But I did find a lot of encouragement from the experience. First off, there is no reason to be intimidated by being judged. I learned so much about my work, how to present to an audience, and learned what I need to do to make it next season. No really, they told me that! I found the judges to be friendly, generous in their suggestions, and best of all, I could totally see where they were coming from.
This just wasn't my time. I wasn't ready and the universe knew it. Next year I will go back and give them exactly what they want. In the next 11 months and 29 days I will learn how to make a handbag... not just A handbag, but many variations. I will learn the concepts and work my way up. I will also know how to design and make shoes... shoes like no one has ever seen before, because they will come from inside me, which no one else can do but me :o)
And last but not least, I will not be afraid to go BIGGER with my work. I will still do the meticulous, futzy things I've always done, with lots of details and wonderfully finished edges, but I will also let myself explode with big pieces, without fear... and I will document it ALL... every single piece. After all, if you want a killer portfolio, you have to choose the best of the best of your work and build your book so it has flow, crisp photos, and an occassional model photo with a little sense of humor.
Surprisingly, they were impressed with my portfolio, given that I put it together from photoshoot, to layout, to printing, in just three days! I think they thought it was "quaint" but the photos had enough quality to get a feel for what I do.
All in all, I would say it was an exceptional experience, and fun, and there is nothing like the confidence boost of seeing other's portfolios and knowing that your work is pretty damned good. It confirms that you belong doing what you love to do.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Project Accessory open casting call in NYC




My goodness I've been busy! I found out about 9 days ago that Project Accessory, a spinoff of Project Runway, is holding an open casting call this weekend in NYC, so I'm going for it!

I am required to fill out a 29 page questionaire, provide my passport (which is in the process of being processed), provide a portfolio (which I did not have but am currently creating) and a couple of photos of myself.

I have been working like a chicken with my head cut off all week, trying to make things to fill a portfolio and today is a photo shoot day. Sadly, other than the photos I post on here and a few product photos from last year, I really don't have anything to show my range of skills! I have vowed to never sell or give away anything without taking a studio shot of it first!

Lesson learned!

Monday, June 6, 2011

New Work - Cuffs, iPod cases and Fascinators





Keeping up with orders and the internet is turning out to be more intimidating than I'd realized. I have not posted in a while but I certainly have been busy! I am not only making jewelry, but iPod cases (because I made one for myself and now everyone I know wants one), and feather fascinators (because they are fascinating!), and I have done all the research on feathers to the point of saturation and am writing a much needed tutorial. It includes washing, bleaching, dyeing and every kind of manipulation techniques that I find. Making the screen shots seems to be what is taking so long. AND I finally found some of those Swarovski circle findings... and plenty of 'um!
So, here are some pics of some of my latest projects. They are not the good quality photos but they atleast will give you a glimps of what I've been up to.