SFJ: Where did your journey of jewellery making begin?
LMJ: It began back in High school. I went to a small school on
the South Coast and ended up having to do metal work.This was my first
introduction to metal. I was the only girl in the class of 15. I learnt to turn
metal on a lathe, weld and rivet. I made 'useful' items such as tool boxes and
G clamps. My art teacher helped me transition from making large scale metal
items into making smaller wearable pieces.
After high school I travelled the world for a few years. On
return I came back and applied to ANU art school to study gold and silver
smithing- but was rejected. I needed a better portfolio. I enrolled to
do an advanced diploma in Visual arts and Design at CIT in Canberra, and
graduated after 2 years. I reapplied for an ANU gold and silver smithing course
and also applied for Enmore Design Centers Contemporary Jewellery and Object
design course. I was selected to enrol in both. I chose to further my
study at Enmore and couldn't be happier. The knowledge and skills I learnt
at that school have been invaluable.
SFJ: Describe the style of your
jewellery.
LMJ: I like using stainless steel and do a lot of braising (which
is like welding just not using a welder). I get a lot of commissions for
engagement rings and wedding jewellery. I am a big believer that an engagement
ring is forever. Get her something she will love forever and is her style- every piece can be
tailored to the individual. I like coloured stones and different coloured diamonds although
a good white diamond is hard to beat. I used to be all about chunky, bold
jewellery but now I am partial to delicate, fine pieces. I am a
massive brooch fan, for men and women.
SFJ: How important is social media to
getting your label ‘out there’?
LMJ: Social media is the best source of advertising for someone
like me. I am terrible with computers
and have allocated all social media responsibilities to my sister
Kaitlyn. We are currently on Facebook Leonie McRae Jewellery and Instagram
Leoniemcraejewellery. Social media is a free way for people to see my work. I
get a lot of people asking me for things just because they have seen a piece of
mine on either facebook or instagram. I also like looking at what other people
in the industry are doing and what they are making. For small designers like myself it's one if the best marketing tools and enables us to get our brands and
work out to a larger and broader audience.
SFJ: Can you explain the design and
production process of your jewellery?
LMJ: Depending on what I am making depends on the design process.
Each piece is individual and there are different processes for depending on the
piece. If I am making an engagement ring, I like to have some
input from the client whether that be the boyfriend or the girlfriend receiving
it. Some clients like to have more of an input in the design process than
others.
Sometimes items are designed and made to display how you have
understood a certain brief. I am expected to come up with a concept and
starting from there create my work. I also just make things.... just
because. I enjoy this, as there is no need to have a developed idea,
it just happens.
SFJ: How do you go about sourcing
materials?
LMJ: Metals are pretty easy to source. There are a few metal
merchants in Sydney. I tend to use A&E metals, not for any reason
other then it was close to campus when I was studying and easy to get to. I've just continued using
them. Stones, depending on what they are, I get from different places -
coloured stones usually come from O'neil's. Sourcing stones can be a
little tricky- its a bit of a secret world, and usually you have to be
introduced to a supplier by a pre-existing customer or are a student at one of
the art or design schools. Some stone setters will source certain stones for
you.
SFJ: Where do you get inspiration for
your pieces?
LMJ: Inspiration for me comes from everything and anything. It
will not always be jewellery that inspires me. It actually rarely is, it’s
usually a fashion editorial or an ad campaign. It can be anything from buildings,
sculptures or the ocean. It comes from my past experiences and future hopes.
It's hard to say exactly what inspires me, I feel like that is a question that
you get asked a lot and is hard to answer. For me it’s everything.
SFJ: What are your goals for your
brand for the future?
LMJ: I would love to be able to make jewellery full time, that would
be a major goal for me! At the moment I have a little studio in my garage, work
full time and make pieces on my days off and in the evening. I'm heading to New
York to study for 6 months in May- this has always been a major goal for me,
which I am so close to fulfilling! My ultimate dream would be to have a
small store or "gallery" that stocks only up and coming Australian
designers, not only jewelers, but fashion designers, shoe designers, interior
design products. I feel as a designer myself I should support others in my
position.
SFJ: What advice would you give to
other young designers wanting to start their own label?
LMJ: My Advice to any other emerging designer is to learn as much
as you can, where ever you can, however you can. Be persistent and ask for
help. I was lucky enough to be offered an internship at a gallery (GAFFA)
whilst I was studying. This experience was so valuable to my career, giving me
insight into how to market a brand, put on exhibitions and how to approach
suppliers. I was always surrounded by other encouraging emerging
artist. Never turn down an opportunity that may help you gain more
knowledge in your field, no matter how shit the job may be! Never take
your self too seriously!
SFJ x
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