Bubblegum POP!

Bubblegum POP Neckpiece © Margaux Lange 2009
sterling silver, pigmented resins, plastic Barbie doll parts

3 1/4" x 3 1/2" x 1/2"

This necklace is headed to the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston, MA for POP Craft Exhibition Aug 8 - Oct 22, 2009. Opening reception will be on September 11, 6-8pm. For more information visit their website: http://www.societyofcrafts.org

I'm very pleased with this piece. It still references the Rubin's vase idea I started with, however it ended up becoming something entirely different than I had originally intended and as it turns out, I'm perfectly OK with that! It's important to allow the piece to just become what it wants to be sometimes. The good thing that happens with that, it that it can lead you into a whole new direction you didn't see coming. I now feel inspired to make other pieces in this vein and see where it leads (love that feeling!)

Bubblegum POP Neckpiece © Margaux Lange 2009

A Design Project

I was contacted a while back by a graphic design student named Teresa Rodriguez asking to use images of my work to create a catalog/presentation about my jewelry for her graphic design studies. I was flattered and honored to have been asked. Teresa sent me a copy of the finished catalog and it turned out wonderful so I thought I would share some pages from it here!

I particularly liked her idea to use bold Barbie silhouettes in white to showcase the jewelry, as if Barbie were literally wearing herself.

Teresa also included an interview style FAQ section in the catalog, along with contact information regarding the galleries carrying my work and where to find me online. It was all beautifully printed and bound into a book measuring 7" x 12."

I was blown away by her thoughtfulness to send me a copy of the catalog. I have often sent materials to students to use for various projects and rarely hear from them again, so it means a lot that she thought to contact me after the project was complete to thank me and to show me the results of her hard work. And as another wonderful little bonus, she sent me an actual Barbie and a Ken doll she had used in her presentation which she knew I would put to good use! Very sweet.

Teresa has now graduated college and is off to face The Real World, so to speak. Too see more of her portfolio or to contact Teresa for design projects, (full-time or freelance) visit her online at: www.coroflot.com/teddy I am confident she will go far in her design work. Thanks again Teresa and best of luck to you!

Indigo

Salon Indigo, the international salon for textile patterns based in Paris featured my work in their Influences brochure which highlights of-the-moment design as inspiration. The brochure is handed out at their trade show events in Paris and NYC. My Smiley Necklace can be found on page 8 of the full color brochure (top right hand corner)…

Susan Kasson Sloan

I mentioned Susan Kasson Sloan last week, the woman who curated the 500 Plastic Jewelry Designs book, so today I thought I would devote a separate post to her amazing jewelry work. I love the fluidity and painterly qualities Susan achieves with such a humble, hardware store material such as resin. Below are some of Susan's more recent designs that I'm head over heels for…


It's so inspiring to see how much her work has evolved, even though she has stuck with essentially the same materials throughout her career. I guess it kind of gives me hope that my work will continue to evolve as well (especially since these days it feels incredibly stagnant.)

500 Plastic Jewelry Designs

I received my complimentary copy of 500 Plastic Jewelry Designs in the mail recently and couldn't be more thrilled. I can honestly say it's one of my favorite books published by Lark so far - the work is SO GOOD and incredibly inspiring.

My Silver Shoes Bracelet can be found on page 306!

This is the third time I've been published in Lark Books 500 Series, (previously: 500 Bracelets and 500 Necklaces) and I couldn't be more pleased. 500 Plastic Jewelry Designs was curated by none other than the fabulous Susan Kasson Sloan, resin artist extraordinaire and a woman I admire very much.

OH, and a big shout out to Jaime Jo Fisher and Liana Kabel, jeweler friends who are also featured in the book! It's going to take me a while to fully devour all the images, however surely I will enjoy every minute of that.

New Zealand's M2Woman Magazine featured my work in their winter 2009 issue:

page 29
(click images to enlarge)

Many thanks to Heloise for the wonderful feature!

And speaking of shoes…

The Perfect Fit: Shoes Tell Stories Exhibition opened June 14th at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA. I have two bracelets and a ring included in this exhibition. Unfortunately I wasn't able to personally attend the opening, however Jessie Schlosser Smith, the museum's exhibitions manager, was kind enough to send along some photos of the show for me. (click on images to enlarge)

My three works are to the far right of this case on the plexi pedestals. (Love the use of actual high heels in that one large necklace next to my work.)

The show will be up through January 3rd so I'm hoping I'll get a chance to pop over to MA for a visit soon. If you're in the Boston area, I encourage you to do the same! It looks like a fantastic show and the list of participating artists involved is quite extensive and impressive. For more info visit: Fuller Craft Museum.

Virtual Shoe Museum

I was invited to contribute images of my shoe-themed jewelry works to the Virtual Shoe Museum, a website created in 2004 by a woman named Liza Snook devoted to all things Art, Design and (most importantly) SHOE related. Three of my pieces are featured on the website which you can check out here. The site is a lot of fun to explore. You can search by object type, color, material, designer, etc. A super assemblage of inspiring imagery for the shoe-lover in all of us. A few of my faves are below.

Her Mess © Michel Tcherevkoff

Shoe Fetish #1 Black © Bruce Gray

Ma Gouvernante © Meret Oppenheim

Self Portrait

Yes Necklace was created specifically for the Portrait/Self-Portrait Exhibition
Shaw Jewelry Gallery in Northeast Harbor, Maine (July 9 - 22, 2009.)

Yes Necklace © Margaux Lange

sterling silver, 14k gold, raw brown diamond, plastic Barbie & Ken doll parts, hair, resin.

I'm really getting into making more narrative pieces lately, and after this recent custom commission, I decided to have a go at a variation for my Portrait piece.

I used a raw diamond and 14k gold wire to make the ring.

Hand-fabricated link chain with 14k gold jump rings and handmade clasp. Each sterling silver link was individually hand-hammered to create texture. Patina finishing.

I also decided to incorporate a bit of my own hair - the synthetic red-haired Midge dolls really just weren't cutting it in terms of the right color red ;-)

Portrait/Self-Portrait opens at Shaw Gallery in Northeast Harbor on July 9th and will be on exhibition through July 22nd. Other exhibiting artists include: Lynette Andreason, Robert Ebendorf, Thomas Mann and Susan Hoge. Opening reception 5-7pm so stop by if you're in the area!

I'm leaving for a little vacation tomorrow and will be taking a break from blogging until July 13th. I hope you'll check back in with me then. Happy 4th of July everyone!

I heart my custom clients!

A few recent custom commissions completed…

Gazing Necklace with hand clasp
© Margaux Lange

Sterling silver with matte finishing and pearl drop.

Pink and Olive Glitter Eye Earrings
© Margaux Lange

Four Smile Clover Necklace
© Margaux Lange

Sterling silver, diamond cut ball chain and hand clasp, patina finishing.