Wearable Art Blog

Paper Jewelry by Angela Simone

Angela Simone, an artist from Milan, Italy, loves to create beads out of all kinds of paper and pair them with materials like yarn, hemp, cotton, and even wood or plastic. This necklace was made by using the quilling (rolling the paper) technique to transform corrugated cardboard into a very pretty piece. SImone says, "I love paper, its scent, its texture and the fact that it is a live substance, fragile and sturdy at the same time." Tell me, does this look like paper? Paper creations by Simone and other artists from around the world are on display at "Paper Jewelry: Poor Jewelry" taking place at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, Italy from September 15 - October 25, 2009. To see more of Simone's paper jewelry, go to Angela Simone.

Funk Shui by Jessica de Haas

Jessica's de Hass's felted creations sell under the label of 'Funk Shui', which is a play on the concept of 'feng shui', the art of creating harmony. Haas, who lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia, hand-dyes wool and uses a variety of techniques to create patterns on the felt, such as fabric inlay, hand stitching, and beading. Here is how Haas describes her work: "Part art, part fashion, with a healthy dose of fun and funk. The result is a piece of wearable art that enhances the beauty of the wearer." I couldn't have said it better. Here is a gorgeous jacket that demonstrates her artistry. You can see more of Haas's jackets, hats and dresses on her website, Propagate Love.

Please note: I inadvertently placed a photo here of another artist's work in the original version of this post. The photo now appearing in this post is a work done by Jessica de Hass. I regret any confusion this may have caused. I hope you enjoy this photo.

 

Jewelry by Imogen Belfield

Imogen Belfield is a young jewelry designer from London whose inspirations are intricate rock formations and architecture. A multiple award winner, Belfield is intrigued by the textures of metal, porcelain and gem stones and combines them to create sculptural rings and necklaces. Belfield says, "My jewellery collection reflects how the city (East London) has become my muse, inspiring these ‘architectural hors d’oeuvres’ in which the porcelain forms nestle within the protective grip of the metal. The creation of these porcelain forms juxtaposed with mild steel, silver and gold is only made possible by an uglier, less attractive material being formed, filled and kilned..."  Here is one of Belfield's stunning rings which shows off her design philosophy. I like the contrast between the white porcelain and the gold and the different textures Belfield carved into both. How about you? You can see more of Belfield's works on Not Just a Label, where she is one of the artists featured in the Not Just a Label shop right now.

   

Fruitful Fungi Jewelry by Alena Joy

Alena Joy is a nature-inspired jewelry artist from the U.K. who says, "My collection ‘Fruitful Fungi’ is inspired by occurrences within nature that would otherwise go unnoticed. Precious metals are used alongside dried kiwi skins. Nylon filament represents mold spores." Kiwi? Mold spores? Now that is original. Pictured here is the 'Fungal and Pearl' Necklace (left), which is just lovely. The matching earrings are pictured below. If you look closely, you can see the mold spores popping up from the middle of the pearls in both the necklace and the earrings. I love the soft colors and uneven shapres Joy uses to replicate mother nature. What do you think? See more at Alena Joy.

Cathy Villiers Design

Cathy Villiers, is a Belfast, Northern Ireland-based fashion designer who has been displayed in the New York Museum of Moden Art and the London Fashion Textile Museum. She started off as a clothing designer in 2004 and evolved to making and selling her own designs in 2007 because she wasn't satisfied with the quality of 'manufactured' clothing. Cathy’s funky and fun creations range from dresses, tops and slacks to accessories like scarves, gloves and belts. All of Cathy's pieces are unique, like this unconventional suit. Notice the red stitching on one side of the collar only. Just the right side of the skirt is embellished with bows and strings. She also provides a customizing service. Creative clothing for women who dare. What do you think?