Sometimes the art of personal adornment is about more than just looking pretty or dressing up a boring outfit. Sometimes the artist behind a piece of jewelry pushes things further and gets you to really think about bigger issues every time you look in the mirror or touch that bracelet on your wrist. That's certainly the intention of the designer behind kerin rose jewelry, who strives to create talismans for a modern age.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. I have been an artist for about as long as I have 'memory', though, I have expressed that in many ways throughout my life. I have had 'day jobs' ranging from being Miss Piggy's dress designer for a few years, to working as a freelance stylist in the film industry, to teaching art in the public schools. The thread that has always sort of connected it all has been creating jewelry. I had worked at that full time many years ago, but got tired of being on the road alone for shows, and having my self expression be tied to how to pay the rent, so I gravitated to other things for a while.

How did you get started as a designer? It was sort of accidental... when I was a teen, I wanted to take a ceramics class at the YMCA. It was full, so my mom stuck me in a copper enameling class. Neither of us knew what that was, but the teacher, Felicia Liban turned out to be a nationally known and well respected cloisonne artist and jewelry designer. I guess I was something of a prodigy, and ended up being her apprentice all through high school! I did go to art school and studied sculpture, and got my masters in art therapy/art education.

What inspires your work? So many things: nature, spirituality, things that people tattoo on their bodies... I have always been very interested in the talismanic properties of jewelry: how people use it to mark the important moments in their lives, or how they wear things to embody the idea of who they want to be in this world. Right now, the way I am working holds a message. You see, my jewelry begins with carvings that I make from the bees wax produced by the honey bees my sister keeps. I then cast those carvings into reclaimed silver and gold. I am trying to bring attention to the honey bees, who have been in danger and are disappearing at alarming rates, and we have not yet solved the mystery. We rely on them to pollinate our food, so this is a serious issue! I use reclaimed metals, too, in an attempt to tread more lightly on the earth -- mining is really terrible for our environment. There are links to organizations on my blog where you can find out more about these issues.

Many of my designs come to me in dreams....I kind of 'see' them when I am in that place between sleep and wakefulness... For myself, I like to create jewelry that is not just "here's a pretty stone", yet I really do appreciate that kind of work when others make it....it's just not the kind of thing that I am driven to do as an artist.

Who are your favorite designers? I try not to look at too much in the way of jewelry design, because I am always afraid of being subconsciously influenced by someone else's work that I might love...though I do cruise the fashion boutiques in town once or twice a year for some quick inspiration and to see what's "in". I look more to fine art....I am a big fan of Niki de Saint Phalle, Alexander Calder, Frida Kahlo, and Georgia O'Keefe.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? Oh boy.... mascara, mascara, mascara! I think I would need that on a desert island! And I have some weird idea that the pricey kind like Lancome is really better, though Maybelline Great Lash wins all the awards! That, and really nice smelling body hand lotion... these days, I am in to Pacifica Spanish amber...it's organic, and makes you feel like you're in Morocco!

As far as fashion, I am a total boot girl...clunky kinds!...right now I am in love with my Frye harness boots, but it's even better to find them gently used, so they have that already beat up "I have lived a life" look!

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? Believe in yourself, work to find your individual creative voice, of course, but also know that just like finding true love, you have to wade through a lot of "no's" to get to a "yes". It's about finding the right fit, between, say, yourself and a retailer or gallery or venue, and when you do, it will be so worth it, because it will work beautifully for both of you!

We are living in such radical times as artists and designers! The Internet has created a global opportunity to market yourself -- take advantage of it!

Where can people find your work? On my website, www.kerinrose.com, which is also linked to my Etsy shop. Also, Gallery in the Woods,and JK Jewelry. There are a bunch more listed on my trunkt portfolio, which I keep updated. You can find me there at www.trunkt.org/kerinrose.


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