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Meet Birna Sigurbjornsdottir of Birna Jewelry,
our featured designer for August
What inspired you to start designing? I went back to school to become a ceramic artist, took a jewelry design & fabrication class on a whim, and in 3 months was hooked!
What's your background and have you always been creative? Are there other artistic endeavors you're involved in? My grandfather, 2 of my grandmother’s brothers, and 3 cousins are/were master goldsmiths in Iceland. I’ve always been creative and if I had more time, I’d like to study watercolor painting. |
Please tell us a little about your line and what inspires your designs? My jewelry is feminine without being girly. The best way to describe it would be "mermaid and moongoddess inspired".
What other types of mediums have you worked in? I’ve worked a lot with yarn and I was a professional art candlemaker in Switzerland.
Do you hand make your pieces? What equipment do you use? Yes, I make everything by hand. I use a propane torch, hammers, anvils, various mandrels, pliers, dapping blocks, a rolling mill and a polishing wheel.
What was the most difficult thing about starting your own line? Cold calling galleries and boutiques.
How long did it take you to get a studio and has that made it easier for you to work? I share a studio with 2 other jewelers. It took three years to get out of the school’s (NSCC) studio and into my own.
Whose work do you admire? Jamie Joseph, Faryn Davis and Lulu Smith.
What advice would you offer new designers entering the market? Believe in yourself, don’t give up, and make sure your work is unique!
What is your vision for your business and where would you like to be in five years? I want to be doing more special occasion pieces, custom pieces for weddings and the red carpet!
Any other area of fashion you'd like to delve into? I want to make jewelry-inspired evening bags.
What current trend would you like to see go away? Empire waist dresses and tops, the ones that make EVERYONE look pregnant.
If you could have one item, new or vintage, what would it be? The black sealskin boots I saw in Iceland last summer.
What was your favorite fashion related item growing up? Anything and everything my grandmother and mother’s sister would send us from Reyjavik.
FUN
FACTS:
What's your favorite color? Poppy red, no, mustard yellow, no split pea green, no teal blue, oh, do I really have to choose one???
If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money? Buy a flat in Reykjavik and spend at least 3 months a year there.
Cats or dogs? Cats, so low maintenance!
What's your favorite season? Fall: turtlenecks and boots!!!
What are you embarrassed to admit you can't live without? Eclipse peppermint chewing gum.
What are you currently listening to on your iPod? Damien Rice, SOOO sexy!!!
What's your favorite movie of all time? "The Sound of Music".
Who/what are you currently obsessed with? Finding a black turtleneck body suit to go with my new suede miniskirt, and wanting it to be cold enough that I can wear it!
Eat in or take out? Eat out!!!
What was your favorite band growing up? Who else? Duran Duran.
If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would it be? My grandmother, I miss her tremendously.
What's your favorite guilty pleasure? Going by myself to a matinee in the middle of the week and having popcorn and a cherry slurpee, yum!
Describe your style in 1 word. Ocean. |
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Archive
of Past Featured Designers:
Miyuki Ott - August 2007
Seed Clothing - September
2007
Moxie & Oliver - October 2007
MishMash - November 2007
Tarah Prater Designs - December 2007
Effie's Heart - January 2008
Organik - February 2008
Red Delicious - March 2008
Marlo M Jewelry - April 2008
Ugly Baby - May 2008
Like a Rock Star - June 2008
Da-a tis - July 2008 |
