Interview - Liane Rossler

Liane Rossler in her Sydney studio.
Image kindly supplied by photographer Daniel Boud of Boudist

Spicy Dinosaur dinner - how about those colours!?

Dinosaur Designs vases - more incredible colour

gorgeous gumball necklaces

A few weeks ago you may remember I wrote a little piece about the latest range from fantastic Australian company Dinosaur Designs. I have been a huge fan of Dinosaur Designs for such a long time now, so I was more than a little bit star-struck when I received an email out of the blue from Dinosaur Designs co-founder Liane Rossler thanking me for the write-up! Wow!

So... I have to admit I shamelessly seized the opportunity and asked Liane if she would be interested in doing a little interview for The Design Files... and to my (further) excitement she accepted!

Dinosaur Designs are one of my absolute favourite Australian design-based businesses for a number of reasons. Liane Rossler, Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy founded the business in 1985 after humble beginnings as art students selling their handmade creations at Sydney's markets. Their incredible path to success is well documented in Australia, and is such an inspiring story for any hopeful young designers/creatives!

One of Dinosaur Designs' many strengths is the fact that all their work is absolutely unique - handmade and hand-tinted, no two products are ever the same. The integrity of this approach is truly admirable in an industry so often consumed with mass-manufacture and cost-cutting. DD's signature style is instantly recognisable - an eclectic blend of chunky, textural shapes inspired by organic forms, combined with the most intuitive, incredible use of colour.

As a business, Dinosaur Designs strikes the perfect balance between art, craft, design, small-scale manufacture and shrewd business strategy. Their popularity never wanes, their collections are always true to the signature DD aesthetic - yet their style evolves with each new range to incorporate new materials and broad influences. Dinosaur Designs is an extraordinary company, who just go from strength to strength with each new project and collaboration they undertake.

I feel very lucky to be able to share this interview with Liane Rossler of Dinosaur Designs - Thankyou so much for your time Liane!

Images from Dinosaur Designs' latest range - 'Delicate'

Tell me a little about your background – what path led you to where you are today?

I studied painting and drawing at city art institute in Sydney (now COFA). I completed a Bachelor of visual arts degree and postgraduate degree in professional art studies. I met my 2 partners Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy while studying. We thought it would take time before we could support ourselves as painters, so started a stall at Paddington markets making and selling hand painted clothes. Then we introduced hand painted jewellery to compliment the range. We enjoyed making the jewellery more, and so developed the range more. We were at the markets for 18 months, and when we left art school, we moved to a little studio and started to wholesale. After a couple of years we opened our first store in the Strand Arcade, followed by one in Paddington the following year. Then one in Melbourne, and 6 years ago, one in New York. We also wholesale nationally and internationally. (more details on the Dinosaur Designs website).

Dinosaur designs has become one of the most successful and respected design-based businesses in australia. What do you think are some of the reasons for your incredible success and achievements? Did you ever expect your designs to be as popular and as well known as they are today?

Oh…thank you! I guess we had an original product to offer, and we are continually excited and inspired to design new pieces. Quality and method of production and the way we run our business are also important to us. We never really thought about how popular it would be, but still get a thrill whenever we see people wearing or using our pieces.

Dinosaur Designs seem so prolific – especially given your work is handmade and each piece is unique. You stock stores in Melbourne, Sydney and New York, and you exhibit and distribute your work all over the world. How is your workshop/studio structured to keep up with demand – do you have a large team creating the products? Do you and your partners still play a hands-on role in the design and creation of the pieces?

We design new ranges and launch them in our stores every couple of months. Because we hand make every piece, we can make new colours and produce different techniques every day. We have a total company staff of about 60, and everything is produced at our Strawberry Hills studio. Each piece is hand made with love and care. We have a great team, and it is a wonderful environment to work in. The three of us still design all the pieces and plan the concepts of the ranges. The dd team then do the production - mould making, casting, sanding and finishing.

Dinosaur Designs accessories. top image - striking glossy polished resin bangles and rings, bottom image - timber veneer bracelets and beads.

You’ve collaborated with some very well known international designers, and worked on varied projects including installations, textile and rug design and even camera and laptop designs! What’s next for Dinosaur? What would be a dream project?

It is really exciting to work on collaborations with other companies – it has been great to design pieces and have other people do the manufacturing. Designer Rugs were fantastic to work with, and we love doing the installations and other projects. My dream would be to do a hotel one day and design and make everything for it.

Dinosaur Designs rugs for Designer Rugs - left - 'Sunrise', right - 'Banana Split'

Which designers, artists or creative people are inspired by?

I love contemporary art, architecture, design, but also great thinkers in any field. Inspiration is everywhere. I always find something interesting and inspiring to listen to on ted talks (www.ted.com).

Where else do you find inspiration (travel, film, books, architecture, etc)?

I’m constantly inspired by art and nature. Just seeing how the light falls on something, or the way colours are sitting together in everyday life is constantly inspiring. I love films – especially documentaries, and ‘thoughtful’ architecture. Often the most simple things are inspiring.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

It’s pretty mixed. Design. Meetings. It is good to be open to what the day brings, because sometimes you need to be open to the opportunities can occur. You plant a lot of seeds as you go along, and sometimes they pop up.

Bangles and rings from the wood veneer range of accessories

What are you most proud of?

I’m proud to be able to have creative freedom in design and the way that we run the company.

What's the best thing about your job?

As above.

And the worst?

Love it all :)

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

I’m looking forward to seeing the world become more sustainable, and seeing the mind shift move away from the economy being the most important thing.

Bangles from the Bamboo range

Sydney questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in sydney?

Seans Panaroma at Bondi. Perfection.

Where would we find you on a typical saturday morning?

At home doing painting or craft with the kids, or taking a walk around centennial park.

Dino Breakfast

Sydney’s best kept secret?

Mmmmmm…..that’s a tricky one. I think you can find pretty much everything here if you look for it.

Dinosaur vases. left - 'Bamboo' range, right - classic range

Pieces of Eight new exhibition - My Pet Rock

David Parker: Ring, white gold and lemon citrine.

Bridget Bodenham: Various stone-ware ceramic mortar and pestles/nutcrackers.

Justine Austen: Necklace , silver box catch and pyrite crystals threaded on silk.

Heyyy I hope my interview with Melanie Katsalidis on Friday sparked some interest... her gallery in Fitzroy North is such a treasure-trove of exquisite finds... I'm not usually a fancy jewellery girl, but there really is something special about Pieces of Eight.

If you need another reason to visit, Pieces of Eight are launching a new window exhibition this Tuesday (June 24th) entitled 'My Pet Rock'. An eclectic, international group of jewellery and object makers exhibit works that explore ideas of sentimentality in relation to material things... including concepts of what makes something precious, and what invokes attachment to personal items. The exhibition will run until July 19.

'My Pet Rock' is the first of many exhibitions at Pieces of Eight which will showcase the work of international artists alongside local talent - contributers from as far as Canada, the UK and Argentina are represented in this show.

Pieces of Eight
635 Brunswick st
North Fitzroy

Open Tues - Fri 11.00am - 6.00pm
Saturday 11.00am - 5.00pm

Interview - Melanie Katsalidis

Melanie Katsalidis in her studio behind the Pieces of Eight Gallery in Fitzroy North

Pieces of Eight gallery and shop

The Design Files is such a great way to contact and meet some of the most incredible creative people.... I find myself constantly inspired by the people I have the good fortune to research and interview for this site... and today's interview is no exception! Melanie Katsalidis is someone I find incredibly inspiring on so many fronts... she established her gallery and shop Pieces of Eight, in North Fitzroy in 2005, enlisting her architect Dad to turn a beautiful old industrial building on Brunswick st into a gallery, shared studio space, and a first-floor apartment. When you see what has evolved at Pieces of Eight in under 3 years, you'll understand my enthusiasm!

Pieces of Eight is a gallery and artist studio specialising in handmade contemporary jewellery and object based work made by Australian and international artists. Melanie carefully selects the artists represented at Pieces of Eight, and curates regular exhibitions, as well as managing the day-to-day needs of the retail side of the business. She also manages the shared studio space behind the gallery, in which 6 jewellers (including Melanie herself) create their work. But first and foremost - Melanie is a jeweller, and although she struggles to find time to create her own work these days (understandably!), its her background as an artist that gives her a unique approach to the running of a creative business.

Melanie's vision for her business is so clear and uncompromising... even the smallest details are carefully considered. For instance - Melanie showed me how she designed the jewellery display cases in such a way that the locks are invisible, hidden underneath each section of cabinetry. This took some careful planning and sourcing of the correct hardware - but I completely understand Melanie's fastidious attention to detail! After all - although everything on display at Pieces of Eight is essentially for sale, the space is run more like an art gallery than a retail space. One continuous display case runs across all walls of the shop at eye level - so you're not bombarded with product as is the case in most retail spaces. Each piece on display is unique and handcrafted... and Melanie knows the background of every single artist like the back of her hand! During my visit, she reeled off information about each piece of work so quickly and so fluently I could barely scribble it down in time!

But of all her successes, I think Melanie's greatest achievement has been the creation of a collaborative working environment as a central part of her business... I would love to work in such a wonderful, inspiring space! It's clear that Melanie's passion for object-based artwork and jewellery extends far beyond her own creative output, and I think one of the gallery's greatest strengths is the support it offers local artisans and jewellers.

Read on for an insight into Melanie's creative inspiration, the challenges she faced in setting up her business.... oh, and there's about a million photos too. :)

Current work by Rachel Gorman - a collection of ceramic stud rosettes (top), and enamelled copper and silver brooch (bottom).

Images from the incredible workspace of Rachel Gorman (who shares the studio behind Pieces of Eight with Melanie and other jewellers).

More of Rachel Gorman's beautiful workspace - I love her ordered collection of delicate trinkets and materials...

Work by Laura di Florio and Alida Cappellata forms the current window display at Pieces of Eight, entitled Through the Window. Both artists use photographic media as a central component in their work - di Florio's work uses layers of photographic images and perspex, whereas Cappellatta uses discarded metal film canisters to create delicate forms inspired by the organic forms. This exhibition runs until June 21st 2008. More info here.

Work by Japanese-born, Melbourne-based jeweller Yuko Fujita... I love the organic nature of these pieces, and the muted colours. Yuko creates these using silver, ceramic and handtinted silicone (those coloured 'cup' shapes are actually squishy and flexible silicone pieces!). The result is truly stunning and so unique. Yuko Fujita is having a solo show at Pieces of Eight in September this year... stay tuned!

More from Yuko Fujita - for some reason her work reminds me of underwater creatures like anenome and seaweed...

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

After studying the International Bachelaureate, I was still unsure about what career I wanted to pursue, so I studied Arts at Melbourne University, majoring in Art History and Cinema Studies. While I really enjoyed the course and the campus, I missed physically making things and so I began making jewellery as a side project and selling my work through a few independent fashion stores and craft shops. As I came to the end of my Arts degree I knew I wanted to get some formal training in jewellery and pursue it further, which led me to study Gold and Silversmithing at RMIT University. After this I got some business skills by doing the NEIS course and working full time as a jeweller with a part time job in retail on the weekends. The opportunity came up to establish a big shared studio at 635 Brunswick St, and before I knew it I had also made the commitment to open a gallery in the front of the space. It just seemed like the right time and place.

You’re a jewellery designer, and you also manage and curate the work of other jewellery designers for your own gallery/studio. How do you balance your own creative output with the running of your gallery and workshop? How do you find these two roles complement each other?

Trying to fill the two roles is a huge challenge. The gallery currently takes most of my energy and attention as there are so many aspects of the business to manage. As I result I find myself spending less time at the bench as I have less time and head space to make my own work. However I am probably now more time efficient than I ever was, and my plan is to give myself more time for my own jewellery/artistic practice as we become more established.

Being an artist myself means I probably make different decisions than a strictly business-only person. Firstly I have an understanding of materials, process and the realities and pressures of being an artist. I also am happy to do certain things that I deem important, but may not be financially driven, like the way we produce a catalogue for every exhibition we hold. This is about documentation and giving longevity to the work which will only be exhibited for four weeks, although it’s taken months to put together.

Melanie's own workspace... including her dentist's drill (seriously!) with all the necessary attachments. Who knew jeweller's used dentist equipment!? The bottom image here is Melanie demonstrating using the drill... bzzzz. ouch!

Melanie's own work on display

A lot of creative professionals say that they love the creative side of their job, but hate the paperwork and the ‘business’ side of things. Do you struggle with things like marketing and promoting yourself or your store, keeping your accounts in order, managing staff or other designers? What advice would you offer emerging designers about establishing a creative business?

The business side for me is very important and needs my constant attention, but my passion is for the more creative aspects of the business like curating the exhibitions and helping artists develop their work for the gallery. The business side however can be really interesting and it has been a huge learning curve for me, and I love seeing the results of the huge amount of energy I have put into things.

Since I have been on a tight budget I have had to do many things myself that I will be happy to delegate to others in the future. Doing things like marketing, advertising and book keeping myself has meant I’ve been in total control of all these aspects which make you think critically about the business and how you are running things. Although I look forward to passing these jobs onto professionals in the future, I at least now have an understanding of how these things work.

I would advise emerging designers to look into leaning some basic business skills if they want to have their own business. The government run NEIS course I highly recommend, or go to Small Business Victoria. Also, be professional in how you market yourself and approach clients/galleries. Have your own business cards, a blog or website and take good quality images of all your work.

How would you describe your own style of jewellery design?

Clean, architectural, geometric and fluid.

Melanie's own work uses silver, gold, oxidised silver, and well as powder coating (that's the red you see in the images above). Powder coating is an industrial technique where paint is essentially 'baked on' to metal surfaces at high temperatures. Melanie has also started using black pearls in her work more recently.

Which designers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

So many, it’s hard to list! I have very broad interests in diverse things, and although my work is very different from these people, I am inspired by: Droog Design, Japanese contemporary culture, artist James Turrell, Tadao Ando’s Chichu Art Museum, artist Anish Kapoor, jeweller Sally Marsland, jeweller Manon van Kouswijk, Caravaggio, Mesopotamian sculpture, musician Goldfrapp, chef Karen Martini, the modernist house at Heide and the gardens, the people around me, my grandmother’s crazy knitting projects, being in love.

Where else do you find inspiration – ie books, magazines, your environment, travel, your family and friends?

I love my home which is my sanctuary, my retreat. I really enjoy travelling and would ideally travel twice a year. I am currently very drawn to Japan and have been there my last two trips overseas. My dad is an architect whose influence has been more subliminal than direct. My creative friends are always inspiring to be around, as is the workshop behind the Pieces of Eight gallery where 6 jewellers work independently. I buy lots of magazines and especially like IDS, Another Magazine, Urbis, Dazed and Confused, Surface, Object, Russh and Monument.


Michelle Cangiano is a jeweller as well as teacher at RMIT. Her pieces incorporate acid etched illustrations which are then embossed onto silver sheets to create delicately textured surfaces. In the top image you can also she her carved, faceted shapes made of painted huon pine.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Checking my emails while I eat breakfast, opening the gallery, making cups of tea between taking care of lots of little things. Often I meet with artists who are dropping off new stock or showing new works, tend to customers and reply to lots of emails! There’s also lots of other things to do like clean jewellery, photograph work, re-arrange displays and work towards the up-coming exhibitions.

Lucy Folk's whimsical designs are all inspired by food! Much of Lucy's work employs a fascinating technique called 'electroforming' in which a particular food item (pretzel, dorito, burger ring etc) is encased and preserved within layers of 24 carat gold. This means inside each pendant/brooch/earring is the actual piece of food! Incredible! Lucy also carves super-light, soft jelutong wood into food-inspired shapes like salami slices and fruit pieces. Be sure to visit Lucy's gorgeous website for more lovely images.

What are you most proud of professionally?

Establishing Pieces of Eight and the reputation we’ve been cultivating.

Pieces of Eight display cases

Object-based work by Melbourne printmaker Julia Silvester. The top image is part of a beautiful collection of work combining layered lasercut timber, printmaking and illustration... The bottom image is from a series of glasswork Julia has sandblasted with medieval botanical imagery.

What's the best thing about your job?

Meeting great artists, visiting their workshops and selecting new artists to represent. Also curating the exhibitions is always an interesting process and hugely satisfying.

And the worst?

The stress can wear me down and getting sick is my body’s way of making me stop.

What would be your dream creative project?

Something which gives me the chance to travel and select participants for an exhibition here in Melbourne, and then the exhibition would travel to various fantastic galleries internationally, with me in tow!

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Expanding and growing the business. Developing my own work. And throwing a great big party when I get married early next year!

I love these chunky, faceted silver shapes by Krista McRae. I also really love the display layout - Krista created the clear faceted display blocks for her work to sit on. They complement the work so well! Beautiful.

Krista McRae's beautiful (and very tidy!) workspace in the Pieces of Eight shared studio - I love those faceted silhouette shapes on her wall...

Melbourne Questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

My birthday dinner in April was at Kin in North Carlton, a new restaurant run by old family friends who’ve known me most of my life. Amazing, memorable food.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

If I’m not working in the gallery, I’m making pancakes for my fiancé and myself while trashy music videos play on the TV. Otherwise enjoying a late, long brunch with friends. My current favourite café is Mixed Business on Queens Pde, Clifton Hill.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Cocoro Japanese restaurant and ceramics on Smith St, Fitzroy. Great food, lovely people and on a Sat night you can watch the drag show at Trade Bar across the street which is quite entertaining, especially without having to listen to the music!

Object-based artworks by architect Mark Szulgit and artist Julia Adzuki. Mark is originally from New York and Julia is Australian, and the pair are partners in work and in life. They're now based in Sweden, and are gaining international recognition for their ice sculptures and involvement in Sweden's famous ice hotel!

A big thankyou to Melanie for all her time with this interview! Be sure to visit the Pieces of Eight website and also their blog for lots more info, as well as in-depth profiles of some of Melbourne's most exciting contemporary jewellers and artisans.

I should also mention that Melanie is taking part in Craft Victoria's 'speed dating' development event for craft practitioners entitled Making out, which takes place on August 15th at Craft Victoria in the city. The event is an opportunity for emerging craftspeople and designers to present ideas and gain advice from established craft and design professionals like Melanie! More info here if you'd like to participate.

LASTLY, Pieces of Eight have just confirmed they'll be taking part in a studio open day with Craft Victoria as part of the 'Month about Making' festival in August. So if you want to see more of Pieces of Eight behind the scenes, pop down on Thursday August 21st between 1.00pm and 5.00pm!

Pieces of Eight
635 Brunswick st
North Fitzroy

9497 8121

Open Tues - Fri 11.00am - 6.00pm
Saturday 11.00am - 5.00pm

Dinosaur Designs - latest range

I just received a new promotional catalogue from Dinosaur Designs... The theme for their latest range is 'bamboo'. Gorgeous things as usual - I love the bangles... they always look best en masse(?) of course. Also the delicate flat beads (above) with their varied textures and patterns are stunning. And.... I just want a house full of their vases and bowls too. Is that too much to ask?

My scans of the catalogue are below... but they really don't do the colours justice. Check out their website for better shots.




Mother's day is just around the corner here in Aus... good present maybe? Go on.... Be generous. She deserves it :)

Dinosaur Designs
562 Chapel st
South Yarra
Vic

Stores also in Sydney and New York(!). (If you're in the US and haven't discovered this fantastic Australian company yet please go visit... you won't be disappointed!)

Interview - Victoria Mason

Victoria Mason used to try to save perfect pencil shavings. They looked so beautiful, she'd try to keep them whole for as long as she could, but they never lasted for very long. Now she make ones that do keep. And you can even wear them around your neck.

Victoria's jewellery collection is unique. It's feminine but it's kooky. Her aesthetic is one that doesn't grab attention, but each piece seems to tell a story - like the cute miniature silver washing line... or the dangling pair of converse runners hanging from a silver chain. Each delicate, tiny object has a history of its own. Her gorgeous pencil sharpening necklace is my favourite I think, but there are so many goodies... I also love the tiny little silver speech bubble and tea cup earrings. In Melbourne you can find her things at Fat, Meet me at Mikes and Kids in Berlin (check her website for addresses and for other stockists).

Victoria has been running her own business since 2005. She designs and makes all the pieces herself in her studio in the CBD, and she also does all the day-to-day business-woman stuff like running a website, doing the sales and the paperwork, and having the odd exhibition. I always find it inspiring to learn about successful start-up design businesses... so I asked if Victoria would answer some of my nosey interview questions, and she accepted! Read on to find out about the challenges she has faced in setting up her business, the excitement she still gets from turning her ideas into perfect, delicate shapes of silver... and make sure you read the last few questions to find out about her favourite Melbourne places.

Thanks Victoria!

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I started making jewellery in my first year out of high school and haven’t ever stopped. I studied jewellery design at uni then trade school, worked at the bench for a couple of jewellers then started on this path about 6 years ago. It’s actually all I’ve ever wanted to do so I think I’m pretty lucky that I get to design and make exactly what I like every day.

What were the major challenges in setting up your own business? Did you have any assistance - from experienced mentors in your field, or from government schemes (ie the government’s New Incentive Scheme?)

Deciding to start this business was a really gradual process and it was just the next logical step. I have worked in the industry since I was 18 and as I increased my range of jewellery and stockists I reduced the hours I spent working for someone else. I haven’t had a mentor nor any grants but I have learnt a huge amount just from the different businesses I’ve worked for.

How long have you been running your business?

I’ve been working for myself since 2005.

Do you work alone or do you have helpers/collaborators?

I work on my own at the moment but I think that I’m close to having too much work for one person. Sometimes I get this image in my head of that circus act with the lady and the spinning plates…

Are there any particular designers you look up to or are inspired by?

The artist Howard Arkley is one of my favourites at the moment. His bright airbrushed paintings let you see the suburbs through his eyes and it’s just beautiful. He has such affection for the ordinary surroundings of his childhood and it’s totally inspiring.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

I spend a few hours each morning on the computer, answering emails and doing paperwork, then I spend as many hours as I can at the bench (which is my favorite time).

What are you most proud of professionally?

The best professional decision I’ve made so far is to move back to Melbourne. Even though I’m from here originally, I did all of my training in Sydney and decided to return in 2003. Melbourne is a great place for designers because it’s really open to new ideas and there are lots of businesses that support small producers.

Where do you find inspiration?

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about what kind of objects can be really calming and beautiful and then I tried to work out ways that I could make them work as jewellery. The result was a (growing) collection of household objects. Some I made in miniature, like the peg, spoon and teacup earrings and others, like the pencil sharpening pendant, I made in true-life scale. I wanted to celebrate those beautiful details you can only appreciate when you slow down enough to notice little things, like the pleasure of eating or sharpening all of your pencils and ending up with a beautiful pile of colour and wood.

What's the best thing about your job?

I have a lot of freedom in that I can spend days designing and making the sort of jewellery that I love.

And the worst?

I spend a lot of time on my own so when I go out after work I’ve been known to get a little bit 'Chatty Patty’.

What would be your dream project?

I would really love to collaborate with an Australian fashion label and while I’ve got the wish list out (and wow, there are plenty that I love on the list), it includes Lover, Gorman, Obus.

Where do you see your business in 5 years time?

In 2013? Gee, I wish I hadn’t thought of it that way! Wherever I am I’ll still be making jewellery.

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

I’m really looking forward to going into work tomorrow because I’ve had an idea for a pendent that I’ve been working on in my head for the last couple of months and it’s time to make it real.

What advice would you give young designers looking to start up their own business?

Make/design something that you’d want to buy yourself. Have faith that if you have a passion for what you are making then others will too. That does seem like a really obvious thing to say but there are plenty of people who try to make for an unfamiliar market and while it may work for a short time, it’s really hard to evolve at the same pace as your customers.

Melbourne Questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

At The Commoner in Johnston St Fitzroy (I loved it so much I wanted to marry it)

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Most often walking the dog followed by breakfast at Chimmy’s in Richmond but I also love an excursion to new suburbs to find new cafes.

Best boutique in Melbourne for clothes?

Anonymous Posh in the Royal Arcade has a great selection of good quality vintage clothes.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

A blog written by Pip Lincolne who owns Meet me at Mikes in Fitzroy. She is not just a toasty-warm wordsmith, she also has a genuine affection for the crafting community and it makes me feel happy to see the citythrough her eyes.

Oye Modern

Resin and silver bangle by Loop

Translucent resin bangles by Loop

Acrylic diamond rings by BY:AMT

Floral star amulet necklace by Kristina Brenke

Jeni from Oye Modern emailed me yesterday about her online jewellery store... After checking out her collection I jumped at the chance to profile Oye Modern here! Jeni specialises in contemporary pieces by independent designers, most of whom are Australian. My favourite pieces include the stunningly simple resin and silver bangle and translucent resin bangles by Loop, the kooky acrylic diamond rings by BY:AMT and the more girly Floral Star Amulet necklace by Kristina Brenke (all pictured above)... But there's a lot more on offer so be sure to browse the site to check out the rest of the Oye Modern collection!