it's always darkest before the dawn A small, limited series of work made with dark, dramatic resin and fine metals. Released for Fall 2020, capturing dried florals in ethereal designs, set with fine 14k gold-fill and sterling silver. I was interested in making a new series for fall (even though my last release was only in September), and just sort of found myself making these dark, moody pieces in the studio one day. In stark contrast to my usual bright blues and soft neutrals, these black & white pieces started to form into a really different kind of series. With Halloween right around the corner, these necklaces and earrings work really well as an autumn collection - but I think...
It's here! It's here! Today I am proud to launch my latest series of work, titled "Elements." This is a new collection, with entirely new designs. "Elements" is a body of work showing off natural wood, paired with fine metals. Strong geometric patterns, complemented with soft, natural tones. When I started to work on this series, I wanted to accomplish three things: 1. Get back to the wood. This has tugged at me for a while. When I was sorting through my things for our recent move, the wood I'd accumulated over the years really grabbed my attention. I went through my entire wood stock, and I can still remember where and when I got nearly every piece. Reclaimed guitar...
I compiled some of my past custom orders and added them to the site - finally! It is a genuine joy to work on these special, totally unique pieces, made from the fragments brought or sent to me by my lovely customers. Every bit of wood, garden, or flower is a small treasure that is not only beautiful all on its own, but also stands as a symbol of something deeply meaningful. A trip, someone's home, a specific memory. Each project is an honour, to be given these natural treasures and to work with them, crafting a piece/set to be worn and loved. Here are a few pieces from the last while: This set (above) was made for a sweet...
I thought I'd share a bit of what all this has been like as an artist/artisan/self-employed person. Not for any purpose other than that it helps to share our experiences - and if the internet is all we have now, might as well use it for #realtalk. I think naturally artists are optimistic people. Broad strokes, I know. But, we hang a lot of our hopes on this system: make something, get it into the world, hope to sell it. Repeat. Little fragments of our expressions, out into the world again and again. We have systems we've built: sales avenues we've developed, and customers we have engaged over years of work. We make and create, with the expectation that we will...
So some news from me: At the end of February 2020, my family and I are moving across the pond! My husband, Nate, recently accepted a biomedical research position in Maastricht, in the southern region of Netherlands. It's basically his dream job, in a pretty amazing location - so we are really excited! What does all this mean for Wild Blue? Besides a few weeks to move and get set up, and slightly longer shipping times, I really do plan to continue "business as usual." Building WBY has been one of the most fulfilling and exciting parts of my life, and I have no intention to let it falter or drop. All my equipment and supplies will ship or come along with me. I'll...
