emiko-o reware

Nothing better than making the front pages of your hometown’s major newspaper! It only took me 15 years, but here I am featured as the Style &  Taste  cover story for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 11, 2012! Wonderful article, “Silver, gold, Lego: Precious links to the past are jeweler’s gems“ by John Petkovic – we had a long phone interview back last fall and it was definitely worth the wait. HUGE, multiple images accompany the article (photographed by me, Aryn Shelander, and Christine Dhein).  A different angle with this article, focusing on my Parma roots and start as a young recycling artist. Plus a nice quote from local retailer who carries my work in downtown Cleveland, Anne Van Hauwaert Fashion Design. If you’re in the area, stop in her boutique at Little Italy’s schoolhouse at 2026 Murray Hill #106, Cleveland, OH 44106.

As I say from time to time, “Cleveland Rocks!” To read the online version, go to cleveland.com or click here to see a larger image.

For the month of October, art jewelry web retailer, Object Fetish, is featuring my jewelry and doing facebook promos as you see here in their e-newsletter. Just go to Object Fetish on Facebook, sign up, and get 5 friends to sign up and you’re ALL entered into the drawing! With more drawings for bracelets to come. Object Fetish is a great site, international scope, and certainly an honor to be featured. Go see my page on their site!

Continuing emiko's Top 5 Tips for Getting Your Business Out There!

TIP 3: Take Note & Be Accessible

LEGO party, photo by Becca Bond, styled by Anders Ruff

Pay attention to how people respond to your work, feedback from your customer base, and who your customers are/what your niche market is. For instance,  I discovered early on that my largest client base were moms, not young women. Be open to feedback about your designs and don’t be afraid to ask what they would be inclined to purchase (“If I designed this as a pendant would you be interested in it?”)

Be Accessible: means have a web presence. As I’ve said in my lecture, “If you aren’t online, you don’t exist”. Sounds harsh, yes, but we live in a global marketplace, largely due to the accessibility that online markets afford. Invest in the time to set up a website or blog, an online store either through your website, Etsy, Supermarket, Custommade, or any of the other online retailers out there.

Also get involved in social media: have a business page on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and connect with other crafts people on crafthaus.ning.

Have as many of your professional images posted online, along with your artist statement and image description. Flickr is great for setting up collections of your work. Add descriptions and make sure to do those tags!

It’s been awhile, but I’ve been invited back (2 buyers later…) to show at the SFMOMA MuseumStore Jewelry Trunk Show and Sale! In conjunction with their Annual Member Appreciation Day, museum members will receive 20% off of purchases at this show and the MuseumStore. Come see my latest creations, classic favorites, and the ever elusive but oh-so-popular Windows Earrings in all lengths, in Iced and Bronze styles.

iced Window earrings

Would love to see your smiling faces this Saturday, April 16, from 10am-3pm

SFMOMA – Schwab Room in the museum atrium
151 Third St (@ Mission)  San Francisco

Other artists showing:
From the Bay Area: Rebecca Overman, Tina Frey, Marna Clark, Philippa Roberts
Southern CA: I. Ronni Kappos, Barbara de Jounge
International: Diana Schimmel, Dos Riberas, Tamara Lisenberg, Doris Vinas
Also: Tia Kramerr, Jenny Christiansen, Octavia Bloom, Victoria Bekerman

Manufractured Forward installation image

This week is the double reception for the Manufractured Forward show at CCA’s Oliver Art Center: March 30, 5:30-8:30pm is the artist’s reception for the general public; April 1, 3-4pm is the closing reception for the Craft Forward conference attendees. I’m so honored to have been invited by curators Steven Skov Holt and Mara Holt Skov to be among 7 other extra talented local artists. The exhibition was first put together for the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland Oregon in 2008, and had an accompanying book, Manufractured: The Conspicuous Transformation of Everyday Objects.

Other artists in the show are: Michele Pred, Harriete Estel Berman (my hands still ache from assembling her grass/gras’/ installation, plus see my costume handiwork in the straight jacket in Measuring Compliance), Mitra Fabian, Liz Hickok (friend and jello artist/photographer!!!), Andy Diaz Hope, Laurel Roth (fancy panty liners!) and Thomas Wold.

born again virgin by Laurel Roth

Measuring Compliance by Harriete Estel Berman

Alamo Square by Liz Hickok

Room for Recovery by Mitra Fabian

Tall blond secretary 2 by Thomas Wold

Fear Culture by Michele Pred

day by Andy Diaz Hope

Mara notes that notes that, “Increasingly, artists, craftspeople, and designers from around the world are gathering familiar mass-produced goods as their new raw materials, using both pristine products and castoffs to create works that are completely unexpected, while at the same time surprisingly familiar. The result is a collection of pioneering work from a wide range of practitioners who combine the industrially uniform with the uniquely handmade. “ She elaborates on Manufractured Forward, saying it “ is an opportunity to bring together a provocative group of Bay area artists whose work expands the philosophy and aesthetic practice of Manufractured into conceptual, political, domestic, environmental and social realms. Each and every one of the projects in Manufractured Forward stands, paradoxically, as both a warning about the excesses of our consumer culture and same time as a beacon for a new kind of boundless creativity.”

I’ve created some new works for this show, beginning my Museum Series pieces, inspired by artwork and exhibitions seen at local museums. Winter’s Brush was informed by The Russian Bride’s Attire (1889) by Konstantin Moakovsky, an extremely large oil painting at the Legion of Honor which I came to know through Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave show that is up currently. This neckpiece utilizes recycled makeup brushes,LEGO and rope; silk cording, fine and sterling silver, coated copper wire.

Dawning II is the other new work, second in Dawning collection, based on Dawn’s Wedding Feast (1959) by Louise Nevelson, a room-sized installation of recycled wood, which I was lucky to see at the De Young museum a few years ago. Materials in this neckpiece are recycled LEGO,Connectix and electrical cable, paint, fine and sterling silver.

Hard to believe it’s almost March; where did Jan and Feb go? The end of this week will be the closing of Closet Artists: Art to Wear exhibition at Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St Petersburg, FL. Unexpected and re-purposed materials are the themes of this fashion exhibition, so it was a great fit for my work. Sponsored in part by the International Academy of Design and Technology, IKEA and the Surface Design Guild. My First Royal Jewels were prominently featured in the press for this show.

Check out articles in the South Tampa News and Tribune, “Wear your art on your sleeve“, and in Creative Loafing, “Playing with clothes: Closet Artists...”.

REOPENING OF SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF CRAFT + DESIGN
SFMCD has been moving around into Pop up locations around SF while they search for a new permanent space, their latest space is on 201 Third St @ Howard. The opening was Feb 15 for the show, Crafting Architecture: Concept, Sketch, Model. The space itself is architectural and intriguing with its steel and glass nooks and crannies, and I’m honored to have my ready-to-wear jewelry line in the Museum shop during this show’s run through May 29th.

My b&w stripe basic bracelet was featured in their latest newsletter and is available on their website store.

You won’t want to miss my last holiday event of the year, happening today, Dec 3, from 4-7pm at Interstice Gallery in the Mission! If you haven’t been by the space yet for one of Shana’s previous events, make sure to come out this weekend and get in the holiday spirit with us. Today I’ll have TONS of LEGO jewelry for everyone on your gift list: NEW kids pendants and bracelets; long, swingy pendants on sterling chains; cufflinks, plus sophisticated new color combinations like Aura, Aegean, and Cashmere. I’ll have my full catalog handy to take Pre-Orders with FREE SHIPPING for items I don’t have on hand. My event is featured this week in THE LATEST AND GREATEST on BoldItalic.com.

Also, NEW LEGO Greeting Cards! So much fun to style and photograph, this is definitely going to be an annual, recurring product. Inspired by our Accessorize with Toys workshops and all those board game boards, I’ve made Upcycled Ornaments and Table Tops Trees, all which will be at the gallery this weekend. Not to mention the Hugging Dinosaurs ornament series (hard to resist the Golden Dinos, or anything spray painted gold, for that matter). If you’re on facebook, you can see the event posted there and also on Shana’s blog.

Speaking of ornaments, come by the gallery on Sat, Dec 4, from 1-4pm for our Ornament Making Party. Make your own ornaments from recycled game/toy parts and I’ll spray paint it gold to give it extra pizzazz. $20 gets you all the ornaments you can glue gun together, plus treats and mulled wine. It’s addictive, and you’re guaranteed to go home with successful projects, perhaps even gifts.  The SF Chronicle listed our Ornament Making Party as one of the Eight Great DIY Holiday Gift Workshops!

Interstice Gallery
3443 26th St, between Mission and Valencia, SF

It’s a non-stop fall season for me and my jewelry and workshop! This Saturday, Oct 2, from 10am-4pm I’ll be one of 12 artists selling work at The K11 Craft Sale over in Berkeley. K11 stands for Knit One One Studio which is normally a knitting studio/classroom and store run by Sile Convery. The Craft Sales are a monthly event, featuring different artists (this will be my first time showing here).  Sounds like it’s going to be a fun day, with refreshments provided for vendors and clients! Plus I’ve heard yummy things about Sweet Adeline Bakeshop which is a few doors down…

The other artists on board are: Koide Studio(ceramics), Jen Hewett Studio (printmaking/textiles), Hairphernalia (floral hairpieces), Fresh on Mondays (felted items), Clarine’s Florentines (florentines), HoneyComb Jewelry, Heathered, King Bag Company (recycled bags), Tinted Mint (eco friendly products), Peanoonies (vintage goods), Tiny Sparks Design (screen prints on wood).

I’ll have on hand some new merch such as Halloween earrings and minifig pendants for adults and kids, plus a ton more minifig earrings and slim pendants.

Here’s Jen, my awesome model from last week who I had a blast with photographing my work. She’s the new LEGO Girl Next Door, wouldn’t you say! She’s sporting quite a bit of new goods, including the minifig pendants, rainbow ss slim bracelet and the dreamy Aegean Limited Edition bracelet (inspired by my recent visits to Greece). Come to Berkeley and see for yourself!

COMING UP in OCT:
Oct 1, 6-8pm Opening Reception for The Plastic Show, Velvet da Vinci SF
Oct 7, 6-8pm: Accessorize with Toys Workshop at CA Academy of Sciences
Oct 24, 10am-5pm: Accessorize with Toys Workshop at East Bay Mini Maker Faire, Temescal

Celebrate the Fall Equinox with us this Thursday (Sept 23), 11:30am-1:30pm as we bring Accessorize with Toys to Green Zebra for their Power Hour lunchtime event! Green Zebra Environmental Action Center is a great community resource for many of your eco needs. You may know them best by the great coupon book they publish, highlighting eco companies in the Bay Area. Recycle your batteries, bulbs, and come get valuable info on how you can lessen your carbon footprint.

projects made at SCRAP workshop

Why spend your lunch hour in the office? Come down to the Crocker Galleria, lower level (enter on Sutter Street side) and make jewelry with us: charm bracelets, expressive badges, necklaces, keychains! Super easy to get to: take Muni/Bart to the Montgomery St station, and the Galleria is on 50 Post @  Montgomery. Class fee is $10.

brooch made at SCRAP workshop

Then on Friday, Sept 24, 4-7pm join us for our Artist Reception Happy Hour at Green Zebra, celebrating our recycled jewelry art show, “From Geekery to Regality: Beauty in Reuse”. My Metal Arts Critique Collective (M.A.C.) has been showing a selection of our recycled jewelry work in the window of Green Zebra for their Eco Fashion Month. Open your minds to the creative possibilities in circuit boards and recycled & familiar plastics.

Meet the artists, have a bite and drink, and peruse the selection of smaller, ready-to-wear jewelry for sale (bling yourself out for your dinner date!). Party ends at 7 (gates close then), so come early!

See more from M.A.C. on the web: http://critiquecollective.rewarestyle.com/

Accessorize with Toys Workshop @ Green Zebra
Thurs, Sept 23, 11:30-1:30pm
$10 class fee

From Geekery to Regality: Beauty in Reuse
Recycled jewelry by the Metal Arts Critique Collective
Sept 1-30 with Artist Reception Friday, Sept 24, 4-7pm

BOTH EVENTS HELD AT: Green Zebra in the Crocker Galleria
50 Post Street @ Montgomery, SF

For those in the SF area, grab today’s SF Chronicle and turn to the Home and Garden section to see the interview by Nancy Davis Ko about my work and the upcoming American Craft Council show at Fort Mason this weekend! My first time selling at this national craft show, very exciting! The SFGate article is already online and there are so many  photos of my work and me in the studio, it’s fantastic!

Only a few more days to prep all the new work I’ll be bringing to the show, some of which were creatively captured by SF Chronicle photographer, Lea Suzuki. Come by this weekend and see more of what is hot off the bench. I’ll be in the Fort Mason FESTIVAL PAVILION up in the Mezzanine in the ALT CRAFT section.
WHEN: Friday, Aug 13, 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm.
ENTRY FEE: $12 admission for one day, $18 for 2-day pass. Come Friday after 5pm and only pay $5 (think wine bar and hands-on crafting with Etsy).

BIG NEWS–I’m going to be set up to take credit cards at the show (Visa, MC, Discover) and soon to implement on my website, thanks to ACC hooking me up with a Professional Membership and great rates with Payment Alliance. Hope to see you this weekend and look for my large pink banner…