Monday, October 13, 2014


Today, I've been asked to participate in an "Around The World" blog hop. The blog hop is an artist, designer, maker blog interview that has been traveling the globe from blog to blog. I was nominated by Emily of Emily Claire Studio. Emily is a fellow jeweler from Colorado, which you may know is one of my most favorite places. She creates beautiful, sterling silver jewelery with a modern appeal and a natural voice. Her work is delicate, easy to wear, and inspired.

Give her a look-see.

 Here we are now, in my little corner studio in Arizona.
Today, it almost feels like California- there's a soft cool breeze and the birds have been singing outside of my window all morning long. There must also be one particularly chipper guy perched on the chimney as he's echoing in the fireplace. We're all thankful for the cooler weather, the desert doesn't see much of it.

So lets hop to it, shall we?

1. What are you currently working on?

This may be the hardest question to answer, because I often find myself working on at least 5 projects at once. I have an incredibly hard time focusing, not only on a single idea at a time, but also on a single medium at a time. That way of working is honestly, for me, pretty exciting. It keeps me thinking, trying new things, and lets me run with the inspiration of one idea, to the other.  It helps to keep me from getting bored and I think it offers my designs more potential. So, to answer the question, for the past few months, I have been working very quietly, on a whole new collection. I have also been working on a few custom orders, a lot of wholesale, and some buttery-soft, leather pouches. Right now the studio is on fire with a new design chalked full of river rocks, turquoise, arrows and pins- I can't wait to share that here, I really can't.

Other days, I keep it simple. Quite usually on the weekends, I work on my own personal things- yesterday was focused on making a new ID tag for my little furry kiddo. Indy for president!




2. How does your work differ from others in its genre? 

That's honestly something that I don't focus on anymore. I just want to be myself, and I hope that's how I am different. I hope that my own unique voice shows through my work without me having to be forceful of it. The more I focus on working from my heart and less from a questioning and constant state of, "Who am I?" the more I grow, the more cohesive my work has become, and the happier I am with what I'm producing. I focus very genuinely on my craftsmanship. I will refinish a piece 8 times over if need be... it's important to me that no matter what, day in and day out, I am improving, I am honing my skills, I am learning new techniques and I am delivering the best that I feel I can... at least at that moment in time.




2. Why do you create what you do?

Being a maker is in my blood. The ability to pull down the dreamy images of my mind and wrangle them into existence is actually quite thrilling for me. Knowing, learning, and mastering different skills is one of the most exciting things I can think of doing. And being good at them, getting better at them, learning more... that's important to me. It's a passion so deeply rooted inside of my being and it's one that I've known since childhood. I believe in hard work and dirty hands and at the end of the day, knowing that I can create something, knowing that I can transform nothing into something- that's why I create.

4. How does your creative process work?

I sketch... a lot, but I rarely ever make something with a set plan. Both in life and in my craft, I really hate to plan things out. I like the idea of transformation, I like that by the end of the night a necklace may end up being a ring, and that nothing I do has to be anything at all. I let pieces sit for months, sometimes even years. Some days I start with a stone and by the end of the day I don't even know where that stone is. My mind trails and I let it. I follow it. When I let things get serious, those pieces usually don't speak the way I want my work to. You can both see and feel the forceful nature of planned out pieces. I want my work to feel easy and free, and so I create that way.


5. What are your dreams for your work?

My biggest dream for my work is that I can simply keep doing it. That my hands work. That my mind works. For the hiss of my torch to always be my favorite song and that other people can hear the melody.

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And so I pass these questions on. I am nominating another beautiful creator, Jen from My Paper Cut Heart. I chose Jen because she takes chances, she creates from her heart, and she's a silly soul. I love her carefree approach and her ability to draw the images of her mind so naturally leaves me baffled daily. She now lives in the grassy dreamland of Llanwrtyd Wells, but spent many years living at sea... an inspiring woman to say the least. 


Jen will pick up this interview, and post it for you with her answers next Monday. Be sure to check her out, she's a doll.

xo
A



4 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for joining in the blog hop Ashley! You are truly talented and I admire your writing as much as your art.

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    1. Thank you for inviting me, Emily! I learn a lot about myself through these kinds of things. All the best to you and your business! xo

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  2. I loved this sneak peek into one of my favorite little birds!
    Ash, you have such a style all your own and a big heart. My favorite thing about you is your "realness".
    Love & feathers & arrows of silver! Always.

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    1. I really appreciate that, Lynn. It's been quiet the journey, but every up and down has been so incredibly worth it. xo

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