2011: The year of the 'Golden Rabbit'...

2011: the year of the “Golden Rabbit” – sources say that this will be a great year for my “Metal Monkey” (how fitting, considering my occupation) and I’m inclined to agree. Three new collections in the works, a potentially huge opportunity on the horizon and given of all the custom Bridal work I’ve taken on over the past 7 years, this year I’ll be designing custom Bridal dressings for two of the loveliest ladies. You see, I’m always requested to design one-of-a-kind pieces for wonderful women worldwide however, these two are something special: my phenomenal friend Debra, who happens to be an amazing photographer, mother of two, fellow Scorpio, friend of 17 years and a beauty of a bride-to-be and then there’s my whipsmart, hilarious and gorgeously unique friend of 24 years, Laura. To create a custom piece is in itself one of the most enjoyable aspects of my creative endeavors… to create custom pieces for such complex and original women, even more-so.

Although I’m most certainly not one to fall into the category of ‘pink, princess, bride’, I do adore bearing witness to the real-life love stories unfolding around me. People who, seemingly seamless in their compatibility, love and mutual respect for one another, deciding to commit in the most profound and deepest of ways. To be requested to take part in this, such a personal and significant experience which will shape the lives of these amazing people forever, is quite the honor and also, quite the inspiration. Two crazy/awesome ladies with wildly different sensibilities and very distinct and unique preferences will be adorned and supported by Harlow in Chains (and in these cases: Jeni Jaques) on the most important day of their lives. These two are personal, and I can dig it.

I’m nothing short of blessed in this arena. While I’m sifting and sorting through the endless stream of rubble in which I’m to find my inspiration for creating this year I won’t be lacking for it here, as these two lovelies are inspiration all on their own.

Until next time and with love (which is all that counts, really)…

Xo

J*

Back to mine...

Spring’s on the horizon, and slowly but surely I’ve come to see that I’m lacking; in major ways… it’s not that I’ve been drifting along, unaware - I’m  very much aware – it’s just that in actual fact, I’ve been ignoring that gnawing urge to start creating again. See, Harlow has absorbed all of my energy and since, my entire focus has shifted to accommodate it. I need to start painting again. I miss it more than I’ve ever allowed myself to realize. You see, I used to have a house; a house with a detached garage which I swiftly claimed as my studio space. I miss that space – so many nights when I’d rush home to head out there, close the rolling door, place a new piece atop my gifted antique architect’s drawing table, turn the music up and go. I had about 4 rows of shelving lining 3 of the 4 walls; cathedral ceilings and row upon row of paint: hundreds of cans of spraypaint, sorted by hue; timeworn silver coffee cans filled with caps (pink dots, gray dots), cans of interior and exterior paint, acrylics, latex, oils, watercolors; bottles and jars filled with colored pencils, brushes, knives (used to manipulate paint) charcoals and my favorite tool for illustration: my treasured collection of mechanical pencils. It was heaven. Reclaimed wood boards as canvas; acetate, tile.

I’d let go. Before I knew it, the sun would rise and I’d be covered in my precious cherry reds, custom-mixed teals, permanent marker – my hands and arms laced with precious cuts from using my straight razor for stencil work, proudly wearing the bruises I’d unknowingly accumulated on my arms from leaning at some impossible angle to get the perfectly imperfect shape. I loved it. I’ve never had a relationship with anything in this life that compares to the one I have with myself, my ‘art’. Whether a piece was ‘good’ wasn’t of consequence, as most creative types know that we’re our own worst enemies… it was the love affair I was having with my creative flow. Something about bringing form and color to life was addictive and I’d become transfixed.

I need to get ‘back to mine’.  Painting, writing, music, design and creation in general – not limiting myself to Harlow. I used multiple mediums – yes, the paint work which was a tad ritualistic/therapeutic but also the graphic work, composition; I suppose my mindset was almost a kind of meditative state. Letting go, expressing whatever latent issues I had bumping around within, but then again this had always been my escape. Ever since I was old enough to hold anything – brush and pencil followed crayon closely.

I guess this could count as step #1; climbing the ladder in the upward direction of my happy and well-adjusted self. It’s my goal to start working again; not for the shows, the sales or the notoriety, but for me.