a few of my work tools - photo (c) d.s.

1.

screen for screen-printing - photo (c) d.s.

hand screen-printed leather - photo (c) d.s.

2.&3.

vintage molds - photo (c) d.s.

hammering in a vintage mold - photo (c) d.s.

4.&5.

silicone mold and resin bones - photo (c) d.s.

6.

hand- stamped medals for the brand - photo (c) d.s.

7.

the regular tools for an assembler - photo (c) d.s.

8.

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"In fact the few jewelry designers that I admire are far from threading tiny pearls on a chain, or delegating their work to workshops. This "work" does not inspire me because for me there is nothing to inspire, it's just business. What I like is the creations that tell a story and especially I love the baroque, the sculpted the unique! "

These words are from Nathalie, which operates under the name of Charlotte Martyr.

These are the words, and other things that have given me the urge to write this article. Since I started to create, I've always been quite overprotective about the work “behind the scenes”. Afraid of what I do not know, maybe afraid of the potential copycats, afraid of breaking the mystery above all, ... but these days I felt "The noose was slowly tightening around my neck" and I told myself it was time to show you the difference between the work of threading beads and the working with raw material. And here I do not judge anyone’s work. It is simply the notion of time; the way you are working that is different. (And I know that threading hundreds of beads can also be a long process: I too mix the two techniques). And it is this way of working, the work of patience that makes the object unique. These techniques give the object imperfections that tell a story, a personal story to each object.

Also, I wanted to say that in terms of jewelry making I am completely self taught, I learn from people around me and my creations are enriched by their advice. I think of my mother who is a jeweler (and who knows a lot!), and also I think of Nathalie, Adeline, Ianik. Because that would be rather pretentious to forget that when we are creating we are not alone, we have not invented anything and I think it is dangerous to hide his influences, for me it is a lie by omission... Anyway that is not the issue of this article…

Above are some “behind the scenes“pictures and also my hands…

1. here are a few of my work tools, there is a lot more above my table and of course I need also a few more to complete the collection.
2. The great screen for screen-printing on leather, made by Ianik. He taught me everything on the screen-printing process! And we are working again together on new patterns for the upcoming collections!
3. And the result on leather, hundreds of feathers that we must know put the eyelet on and cut to make an amulet like this one for exemple.
4. Vintage mold from Center Asia. I used them for the summer 2012 collection (photos soon!). I had to learn the technique on my own, watching some youtube videos...
5. First tests on cold brass. I was so excited to try them, but of course you have to use annealing metal!
6. The tiny resin bones just out of the mold. Another technique I learned by myself, with a book, the advice from the great boutique 'esprit composite' and a few geek forums. Of course it is kind of, I mean very toxic, so I put a mask on...
7. I choose to stamp and cut myself the tiny pagan poetry medals I add on each necklace, so each one is different. 
8. And of course the pliers (I don't know the name in English), everyone knows how to use them!


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So i hope you liked this article, do not hesitate to tell me what do you think, here is a place for conversation also.