World Artisan Gems

Name: Ivy Long—designer of Edera Jewelry

Website Link: http://ederajewelry.etsy.com

Where are you located? Beautiful Vermont, in the United State

What do you make? I make opulent, handcrafted lace jewelry. Many of my designs are one of a kind, and I have recently branched out into a Bridal Collection. I love creating custom pieces for brides–my specialty is designing jewelry that compliments the lace and detailing on a bride’s wedding gown.

When and why did you begin creating your jewelry/art? I’m fortunate to have grown up in a creative household where all sorts of supplies were at hand, and creativity and experimentation were encouraged. My mother is a milliner and textile artist, so from a very early age I was surrounded by wonderful fabrics, laces, buttons, beads and trims, and could watch her at work. As a result, I’ve had a lifelong fascination with fiber arts and other handcrafts. In my early teens, I became particularly interested in jewelry making and apprenticed with several jewelry designers while still in high school. In my early twenties, I began crocheting delicate lace as a hobby, but quickly realized that I could combine this with my love of jewelry making, and Edera Jewelry was born.

What materials and methods do you use? My jewelry is created with an unusual fusion of lace making and jewelry techniques that I’ve refined over the years. Any given design might include crochet, tambour embroidery, sewing, hand beading, wire wrapping and stringing. Many of the lace motifs in my jewelry are drawn from my collection of lace patterns, some dating back to the 1800s. I use the finest silk and real metal threads –like those used in historic Renaissance and Rococo textiles–in my work, as well as vintage beads, semi-precious stones, gold-filled and sterling silver wire and findings.

Where do your design inspirations come from? Historical costuming, antique and vintage lace patterns and textiles, ethnic embroideries, silversmithing techniques, Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Rococo jewelry, the art of Klimt, the Pre-Raphaelites, the Glasgow School, Elizabethan portrait paintings–the list goes on! I am like a magpie, blending different eras and inspirations together. Sometimes even the stones and beads themselves suggest a design to me.

What is your best working environment/where is your studio? I have a sunny little studio in our house that has a slanting roof and lots of windows.

Where can your products be seen? My Etsy Shop,   My 1000Markets Shop,  My Boticca.com Shop,  My Blog

Magazine articles or press: Courtney Love’s Hotlist Atlanta Magazine StyleList.com OneWed Best Wedding Sites

Who are you a fan of? There are so many talented, independent jewelry designers out there, especially on Etsy. I’m always amazed and inspired by: Magdalena of MagdalenasAtelier.etsy.com,  Jennifer of JenniferMorrisBeads.etsy.com,  Lorianne of Plumevine.etsy.com,  Emily of EmilyGrayJewels.etsy.com,  Penny of SparrowSalvage.etsy.com, Sheela of Eccletica.etsy.com, Wendy of FussJewelry.etsy.com, Jess of RosyRevolver.etsy.com

Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: One of my favorite designs right now is the Aurore Necklace. It’s the result of an experiment in creating more layered, three-dimensional effects in my jewelry. Strangely enough, I was inspired partly by translating silversmithing assemblage techniques into textile techniques. The pendant has an openwork base, which I embellished with different motifs and components, including a vintage rhinestone in a handmade cabochon setting. Instead of cutting and sawing and forging, though, the pieces are crocheted, and instead of soldered, they’re sewn in place to the base. This is perhaps one of my most opulent designs, too, in that it features quite a few AA and AAA grade stones, and is a wonderful, dramatic length that can be worn long or doubled up. I started with the large pink chalcedony focal and let it inspire me. The result is a romantic harmony of pinks and gold and crystals, which reminds me of something from a fairy tale.

Aurore Necklace