Have you noticed that in Austin everyone and their dog thinks they can be a jewelry designer? I do love the "do it yourself" attitude that the people of this town have. However, I feel like everywhere I turn these days someone is trying to pull off their basement made arts and crafts projects as wearable art. Okay, some can actually succeed at this. Some can't. When the participating designers in Austin Fashion Week were announced, I scoured the list of jewelry designers to find some designs that stood out above the "basement crafters" and the "pretty, but seen it befores."
I succeeded when I came across "ax + apple." Jamie Lyn is the designer behind this classic jewelry with a modern edge. Originally moving from South Florida, Jamie has since lived in 7 different cities. Growing restless in her surroundings easily, Jamie eventually found her way to Austin. She calls Austin "my kind of town" and says she feels lucky to call it home. And lucky for us, Jamie says she will be sticking around for awhile.
I did a little Q&A session with Jamie to find out more about her interesting jewelry:
Of all the artistic outlets to choose from, what made you choose jewelry design?
It took me years to hone in on jewelry. I studied fibers and fabrics, ceramics, and specialized in photography in college. And while I was well received in these outlets, I was still restless and often found myself feeling creatively stagnant. I had to push too hard. It wasn't until years after I graduated that I started dabbling in jewelry making. I started teaching myself basic techniques and fell in love with metal. I love the sound it makes, I love watching it melt and oxidize… I love all the tools and the fire and the endless possibilities, and I love that when you finish a piece you get to put it on and keep it with you. I am constantly buzzing with ideas… which made me realize this was my match.
