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New works up on Website

I just wanted to point out that the images that I took a while back with Maureen Keaveny are now up on my website, islaytaylor.com... So, check it out and make sure to check back, because we're taking more photos this week!

It's the final count down...

In the eternal words of Europe, It's The Final Count Down... I've only got a few days left until my upcoming deadline of a photo shoot, and my studio is a mess as I try to get organized for the documentation. The picture is of the mourning necklaces that I've been working on spread out all over my work bench. Also, I'd like to point out that my grandmother made that work bench... pretty amazing!!! I've got three necklaces, two brooches, and four rings to finish by the end of the week, how will I ever stay sane!

UPDATE: After my Mother read this post she called me up to give me more information about my work bench. As it turns out, although the work bench was my Grandmas, she didn't actually make it... AND it's much older than I thought! Apparently this work bench was gifted to my Great-Grandfather (my Grandmas father) from the Poppenhusen Institute

of College Point, NY. The Poppenhusen Institute is an independent

education center that was founded in the 1860's and has been in operation ever since. What's really neat about the Poppenhusen is that their charter mandates that they were open to all students; so they even taught women and african americans during a time that nobody else would. I guess my Great-Grandfather was given three of these benches, which were made at the school. My Father has one, I have one, and I don't know where the third went. Maybe my Mom will comment on this post and clear up any of the misinformation that I've posted here...

I WANT I WANT I WANT

So, I get all anxious and whiney and desperate when I find ingenious pieces of jewelry on the internet. I'm in a tizzy that I don't think I can live without these smart knit pieces below. I can only justify my obsession by stating that it's getting cold out, and jewelry that can double as outter-wear seems to be utilitarian, and therefore, I must own it!

This chain from Yokoo is so gangSTAR! I love the size, the texture, and the oddly 80's Run DMC influence of this piece. You can visit Yokoo's store on etsy.com, where she has tons of cool stuff available.

Another cool find on etsy.com is this knitted power cord necklace from knitknit. I love the simplicity of the piece, and how much it still resembles an actual power cord. It's such a clever translation of a crocheted tube into something playful that just wants to get wrapped around a neck.

I really like wearable textile pieces, and I especially like it when artists incorporate age old traditions like crocheting. But sometimes crocheted elements in jewelry can look like grandmothers doilies ended up on the body... I found this set (Ok, I know it's not technically jewelry, but I'd love to adorn myself with this Ol' West Parure) by Inger Carina as I was browsing around for neat-o things on the internet. Inger is a Swedish textile artist, and you can see more of her amazing work at Hello Craft Lovers!

New Mourning Pieces

I've been working pretty diligently to get some

new pieces of mourning jewelry finished up. I just had some necklaces documented that used horse hair, sterling silver, and jet beads in the design.

The new pieces that I'm working on will also use hair and beads, but will also incorporate some vintage fur (mink?) stoles that i've deconstructed, and are more playful with the beading. I'm liking where the direction of this thought is going, and am excited to complete this series of pieces so that I can figure out which direction I'll take. I'd like to continue with using the fur and integrate some other vintage textiles and leathers.

The image on the top is of a set of jet and gutta percha mourning jewelry. The middle image is a depiction from an 1884 Harper's Bazar of a woman wearing a mourning mantle. This

outfit features a crepe collar, deep cuffs, and a veiled mourning bonnet,

which indicates that this outfit was meant to be worn during deep mourning. Finally, the last image was one that I took while working on some three-dimensional sketches in my studio.

I like to compose pieces (in this case a necklace and a brooch) on my dress form. Working this way helps me figure out ratios, balance, and composition. This image is a little bit dark, but you can see the black mink fur, and some of the different beads that I'm using.

I'm also creating a few monochromatic white/beige pieces of mourning jewelry. Although I'm super excited about them, I'm keeping the images a little more top secret... I think they are a little more glamorous, and I'm using the working title of 'A Champagne Funeral' for these pieces...