About Carrie . . .
Just over four years ago a friend said to me, “Carrie, write down what it is that you want in life, no matter how absurd it may seem right now, write it down.” So I sat down with my journal and very simply wrote, December 13, 2001: Travel. Make jewelry. Work for myself.
Little did I know at that time of waiting tables, making beaded necklaces for friends and trying to figure out what one does with a degree in graphic design that shortly there after I would meet a goldsmith,Wendy Newman, and begin a three year apprenticeship learning the ins and outs of jewelry design and self employment.
My journey of becoming a jeweler very closely resembles the process of creating a piece. At an early age I had an attraction to creating with my hands, from friendship pins and bracelets, to ceramics and eventually design. Within myself, I saw raw materials as an opportunity to express beauty and creativity. I find that I am intrigued and inspired by the process of taking simple items and manipulating them in order to present something new and innovative. I derive a sense of accomplishment and excitement from this process that at the core leaves me with that feeling of ‘hey mom, look what I made as school today.’ The tangibility of my work provides me with a great sense of pride and is what I enjoy most about creative process. (Seeing others reactions and the enjoyment they get out of my work is just a bonus I never expected to experience.)
Inspired by a myriad of mediums including colored glass, stones, clay and paper my goal is to present sources of color in combination with metal both elegantly and vibrantly without limitation. For me, working through a concept from beginning to completion allows me to get my hands dirty and really feel the energy of piece I am attempting to create. I find that I am drawn to creating pieces that represent color in modern forms and have an element of functionality. I create jewelry that is meant to be worn and enjoyed regularly, on a daily basis, not just for special occasions.
Who knew, that almost five years after I wrote that journal entry I would be living out each of those dreams in combination with each other. I wonder what’s in store for the next five years!
