10 years ago I fell madly in love.

today i’ve buried the remains.

I’m free. again.

truly free.

It’s a new year all over gain. It’s the beginning of one more cycle of our continuity.

Resolutions aside, what’s the best way of starting it? Dates and events will be repeated, seasons will replay and we’re still the same. It’s up to ourselves to provoke change where it want it. Little adjustments to our attitude might go a long way.

The new year can be exciting if you look at it as new opportunities that will rise where you can to shine through. Or it can be a dreadful feeling of deja vu where you expect nothing new to come of it and feel trapped in a loop.

Like someone once told me, we need only to resign ourselves of the past. You only can’t change what has already passed. Everything else deserves a fighting change. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t resign yourself to an endless loop.

All your power lies in your attitude. The way you face the world around you is more powerful than might you think. It affects everything. You change the way you see yourself, the way you deal with others change, the way others respond to you changes, opportunities change.

At first it might hard to shift to a more positive approach. Just remember, whatever your insecurities are, others have them too. Everybody is flawed. It all comes down to how we deal with it and if we let it overpower us. Everyone has value, so let others see you.

Don’t be afraid and embrace who you are. Polish your positive side and don’t obsess over the negative. Focus on what you want and how you’ll get it instead on what you can’t have!

Have a great year!

Awhile back there’s was a new classmate in my school who happened to from my hometown (rare thing). We started chatting, just really trying to know a little bit more about each other, and in the middle of it I asked her how old she was. She did tell me her age but she also said “I don’t think people’s age is a relevant thing to know”. At the time I just thought “I wasn’t going to discriminate you by your age”, but then I started to wonder, why did I ask about age? Why would that matter, or what would that reveal to me?

Just plain curiosity doesn’t quite answers it.

Age can be a point in common. If our age isn’t too far apart we can find common points in childhood memories, a childhood hero an important event or something else from that era. It gives you a lot of topics to explore with this person, specially when you’re getting to know one another. It can give you a faint idea of their background. Even when it’s someone who’s age is farther from ours, it still pin points an era which we might know something about, or not. It can sparkle questions.

Other than that, how relevant is it?

Will age hint on someone’s maturity? Absolutely no! There are kids whom can be more mature than some adults. Just because there’s a social expectation of a maturity level in accordance with certain ages, it doesn’t make it true.

When we are teenagers we think that we will change and become adults as we turn a certain age. Not so much turning 18, but I see the most reluctance about turning 20 or 21. That’s when we officially leave our teens behind and enter a whole new decade. The 20′ies it’s supposed to be when you get a job, move out, get married, and so on. But the year we were born doesn’t determine much, our personality does.

A lot of younger girls I see look older than me because they behave a certain way, and vice-versa. Even thought we associate these things with age, it’s has more to d with attitude and personality than age.

Sometimes these things can get to our head. I know it got to me when I turned 24 earlier this year. Where I thought I was supposed to be and where I actually was, were very different. And I was going crazy about it, feeling bad and a bit of a loser!

But that was ridiculous. Age shouldn’t matter, just like gender, ethnicity or whatever! We each have our own path, we aren’t supposed to be all serialized in the same stages at the same time.

Everyone always prejudges, that’s what first impressions are. But how accurate can these be when they’re mostly based on preconceptions and stereotyping? How often is it convenient for us to not question them?

I’m not going to talk about the big issues here, such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and so on. No. I want to address something smaller that is often neglected, but just as important.

The other day I was once more commuting to school on the ferry, and something happened.

I was sitting there and I saw a man in a really casual and relaxed outfit, “vacation wear”. He had a laptop with him and was talking business on the cellphone. I related myself to that man in some kind of level, thinking how cool that he was so informal, and I wish that to myself. (I wont get into much detail on where he might have been going, because from here to Lisbon with no luggage and just a laptop, it’s mostly like work.)

So far so good, right? I related to it and thought it was awesome.

But then, I looked down to his shoes! I’ve always hated that type of shoe and what it is usually associated with. And the immediate thought was of complete rejection now! “You and I are nothing alike”, came to mind! And so, it hit me!

I just let a stereotype take huge proportions into a kind of prejudice, and it affected my first judgment of this man. How ridiculous!

And I started to wonder how many times we let this happen. How often do we let small things become such major factors on a first impression?

We all have different perceptions of the same things. We perceive different meanings or connotations for the same objects, ideas, and sometimes even words.

And the truth is, I never thought any less of anyone based on their status or social class, so I kinda felt immune to all the prejudging crap. But even though it wasn’t in the same nuance as most people, I do it as well in some level, I’m not immune.

I was amazed, how shoes being such an innocent thing to consider could take such an exaggerated proportion! It’s rather irrational. It’s like analyzing evidences out of context. We don’t know anything about the circumstances, we are looking at only a fragment of this person, and yet we are quick to judge. We make assumptions and are inclined to believe them, not give it the benefit of the doubt.

Corliss and John are two amazing and inspiring artists! I found them through Flickr and was immediately hooked on their use of materials, shape, color and concept.

Their work is simply exquisite, fun, and provoking, just stunning. I applaud their recycling of everyday use objects as new materials in clever way. It’s surprising how they are transformed into non-obvious pieces.

They have a fresh approach to what jewelry is supposed to be. There’s variety and versatility, and no constrains to a traditional mold.

Lets know more about them through their own words, which they wrote so eloquently!

2-Roses Studio, located in Southern California, is a life long artistic exploration and collaboration between metalsmith Corliss Rose, and lapidary John Lemieux Rose. Each is a master craftsman with a distinctive style and artistic vision all their own. Together the 2-Roses have forged a unique creative synergy that explores the boundaries of art, ornament, jewelry, social commentary and humor through the combination of wildly unorthodox materials and techniques.

The studio is typically working on 18 -24 separate projects at any one time, these include commissions for individual collectors and corporate clients, producing one-of-a-kind and series objects for galleries and stores, concept pieces for museums and shows, and educational seminars presented at Universities and museums.

If you’re in their area, you can even schedule a visit to the studio!

In addition to being accomplished craftspeople, Corliss and John are highly involved in the social and business community of California. Corliss is the current President of the Metal Arts Society of Southern California, and John is on the Board of Directors of the Small Business Development Council.

Traditionally, jewelry is about status and power. We do not think this has changed much over time. What is changing is the criteria for conferring status and power. This used to be mainly a function of the rarity and value of the materials. There is still a significant portion of the public that sees jewelry in this light. But over the last 100 years there has been a slow movement towards higher value on concept. This has pushed a portion of jewelry design into the fine art category where the value of the materials are consequential only in as much as they support the concept of the piece. This is just one schism that has formed between “traditional” jewelers and “art” jewelers. Perhaps the largest contention is over form and function eg. If a piece is non-functional, is it jewelry? Your question is a very good one, because this is exactly what cutting edge jewelers around the world are asking themselves right now.

What did you do before getting into jewelry? And what brought you into jewelry?

John started working professionally at the age of 15. Corliss began her art career at the age of 7. We are both the product of a formal International art education in which we underwent rigorous classical training and apprenticed. We have both worked as professional artists all our lives.

Over the years we have worked in a broad spectrum of media and the art. In addition to metals and lapidary arts, we have made our living in fine art (painting & sculpture), commercial illustration, product design, furniture design, ceramics, fabric arts, leather, culinary arts, floral design, stage craft, retail display, motion pictures and multimedia. We continue to practice in many of these fields and aggressively cross-pollinate skills and techniques from one media to another.

Our current focus on jewelry was the result of a collision of several activities. We were very active in mining and prospecting, which led to the accumulation of large amounts of gem and mineral material. At the same time we were creating a lot of art objects from exotic woods. We began cutting the stone and incorporating it into the wood objects. At the same time, a new material called Polymer Clay caught Corliss’ attention and we began incorporating that into our work as well. Since we both had formal jewelry training it was a small step to move from objects d’ art to jewelry.

The early pieces sold well and it was a natural progression as more and more of our time was spent fulfilling demand for jewelry.

To you, what is the purpose jewelry?

The purpose of jewelry is deeply personal and is as varied as the number of people who wear it. Its purpose can be to make one feel happy, powerful, stylish, or connected to a group. Jewelry can express a mood, make a bold political statement, a wry social comment, be flirtatious, or defensive. Jewelry is almost never about the object itself, its about what it represents to the wearer and its impact on others who come into contact with the wearer.

What, or who, most inspires you and your work?

Corliss: My father was a florist. He taught me to observe and appreciate nature, flora and fauna. Sea life is also a big part of my work.

John: I spent most of my childhood in museums and studying picture books of art. The Renaissance artists had a huge impact on me because of their multidisciplinary approach to the arts. The narrative paintings of the Romanticists and Pre-Raphealites have also been a big influence. It impressed upon me the importance of story telling and understanding what was underneath the surface. Lastly, I have an irrational love affair with the machinists of the 19th century, for the improbable ingenious and elegant contraptions of the industrial age.

What do you love most about making jewelry?

Jewelry today is the artistic wild west of ideas and executions where everything goes and no one knows exactly where the boundaries and frontiers are. There is more change going on in this medium right now than any other aspect of the arts.

What do you try to express through your work?

We work on a number of different levels. What we are trying to express changes with each piece. Some are political statements, others are social satire, still others are about pushing the boundaries of form and/or materials. In most cases we are presenting work that addresses multiple issues.

What materials do you prefer to work with, and why?

We are creatively omnivorous and see everything as potential material for jewelry. Our interest is in exploring the possibilities of that which we find around us.

Do you have a work philosophy or concept?

The big concept is really the most ancient of traditions. That is, personal adornment is created from the things we encounter in our environment. Our job as artists is to really see our environment. This is what led us, for example, to use to circuit boards in our jewelry. We are surrounded by them, but we don’t see them.

What keeps you motivated to continue in this path?

Touching people. What we do effects people on many different levels. Can we make something that brings joy, changes a perspective, introduces a new idea, or maybe is meaningful enough to be passed on to another generation. Besides that, what we do is really fun.

From your own work, what’s your favorite piece and why?

Our favorite piece is the one that somebody just bought.

Which piece was the most difficult to execute, and why?

The most difficult piece to execute is always the one you are working on at the moment. There is an old saying, “No artist ever finishes a work, they merely abandon it at some point in time.”

We’d like to thank Diana Lerias for allowing us to babble on about ourselves. Our own mothers would not have given us this much time. Thank you Diana.

Pay them a visit at 2Roses.com for more.

In the modern day, most of us wear it to express ourselves, our individuality or our sense of belonging to a group, or even perhaps both.

Just like the clothes we wear, our jewelry might say something about us. We choose what we identify with and we wear. We are expressing a part of ourselves, hinting who we are to the world around us.

Adornment

I believe this is the strongest reason most of us wear jewelry.

Mankind started wearing jewelry in prehistory. The first pieces were done with seashells, small crustaceans, unpolished stones, small hunted animals’ teeth and bones. These were stringed in natural fibbers and made into necklaces and bracelets. The intention was to stand out, attract attention. Much like a peacock.

We like wearing pretty elegant things, to make us feel that way about ourselves. We might see it as vanity, but it’s probably much more connected to self-esteem and confidence boosts. Many of us strive for happiness, so we probably grab on to anything that makes us feel good. The feeling provides us with the illusion of happiness. Small moments of well being we wish to extend.

Status

Man evolved into hunting bigger and dangerous animals. So, the jewelry made out of these animal’s bones and teeth, was mainly worn as a trophy, a display of valency from the hunter to the community, assuring them a high position on the hierarchy.

Throughout the history, there has always been a social hierarchy based on wealth, thus being reflected in the quality and abundance of jewelry.

Today we see a display of status through extremely expensive jewelry, with extravagant sparkling jewels. Those who are wealthy display it with exclusive pieces, with astonishing and inaccessible prices to the non rich.

Amulets & Talismans

People used to believe that each jewel and metal had a specific beneficial magic property. Also colored glass was used to emulate jewels, but the color alone was believed to hold power as well.

There’s been a huge decrease in this type of jewelry, but some folklore amulets still survive depending on the culture.

Also there’s been a bit of a revival of jewels magical properties due to the New Age movement.

There’s probably more…

We have many types of jewelry, such as functional, religious, remembrance, official, and so on…

Related links:
Jewelry History

I like working with metals and making jewelry out of it. But then, lately, I feel like the end result is just something superficial and materialist! I don’t want to work everyday on something that leaves me feeling guilty for not be doing something more meaningful.

While searching for meaning in this, I could view it as a gift that will be memorable for someone. But that doesn’t really push my buttons.
Or maybe that, it’s a piece that will make someone else feel good about themselves, or beautiful while wearing it. But I kinda shrug to this.
It’s not that these aren’t valid reasons. They are! It’s just not what drives me.

How can I do this, if I myself don’t understand the “why wear it” in the first place (beyond vanity)? I guess, sometimes, I need everything to have a deep meaning…

I’ve been wanting to make this website more personal and less of a static portfolio.
Jewellery isn’t my identity, so why should my website be all about it? Let’s change that.
I want the website to reflect more of who I am.

But then, what is my identity? What’s my image? What is it that identifies me?

Since I can’t seem to figure it out, I won’t put up a front. I’ll just try to show as many of my facets as can. I’ll contradict myself if necessary. I’ll try to be brave on stepping out of my shell of comfort.

This is the goal.
Let’s see how it goes!

I’m always curious about this subject of what flatters different people. I think I first got aware of this subject applied in jewelry with a Susannah and Trinny book, “What You Wear Can Change Your Life”. The book itself didn’t reveal much, so I tried to look around for more information on this.
So I’m compiling here what I got out from all of it.

Remember, this is only a general guide. There are always exceptions. And always keep in mind your personal style, of course.

The most important factor is proportion! Consider your structure. If you’re big go for the heavier pieces or if you’re small stick with more light or delicate ones. A smaller piece in a big person will only make them look bigger, and the reverse happens making a small person look smaller with something too big.

Necklaces

Consider your frame, if you’re on the small side chunky will overwhelm you. It might even make you look stumpy. These are for the larger framed, because it complements their size. Petites should wear slimmer pieces.

A short length will draw the eye’s attention up and, if you’re not tall, it might shorten your figure a little. A longer length elongates, just be thoughtful as to where the end of the necklace hits. Don’t have it end at your widest points.

Avoid chunky on short necks, as it adds width to it.
Also forget about chokers. If you cover up what little neck you have, it will look like you have no neck at all. Plus, the choker will only emphasize the thickness. So as you can imagine, narrow necks benefit a lot. Even if they aren’t too long, a narrow choker will give you the extra width you need without making your neck disappear.
Long necks are the best for wearing chokers.

Pendants

If you have big breasts, choose a smaller length closer to your collarbone. Having a pendant sit at your breast’s line focus too much attention on the wider part of your chest. And passing that line is probably not for the best, as it will attraction the eye to far too low.

Rings

If your fingers are thick, a delicate ring will only accentuate that as the ring becomes lost in the finger. And the ring just fades away no matter how pretty it is.
You have the structure to wear a big robust ring. Your hand supports such (visual) weight.

The inverse happen on narrow fingers. A chunky ring will appear too heavy. While a delicate ring will look best. If you want a bit of a bigger ring go for a cut-out design, it keeps it light. But you need to avoid the over-sized stones in your fingers.

Bracelets & Anklets

The same as the rings applies to the wrists and ankles. With an exception, you can wear a bundle of them and it’ll still look good. Just make sure they are similar, as in the same style and material, and you can layer as many as you want. You don’t want them to clash, but that they complement each other.

Now remember, you don’t want to wear anything that’s tight on the wrist or ankle. It will only add width to them. Wear it loose where it doesn’t cut across your narrowest point. This actually adds contrasts to the thickness between the wrist and the point where the piece sits.

So, again, heavier arms should stay away from anything too slim. And thin ones avoid too large.

Earrings

Long earrings elongate the face. Just be careful not to have them end past your shoulder’s line, it might shorten your neck.
Avoid shapes that are the same as your face, it only accentuate those features even further. For a balanced look chose the opposite. Round faces wear more angular shaped pieces, and vice-versa.
(Inverted) Triangle faces, narrow chin when compared to the cheeks, can balance it out with an earring that’s larger on the bottom, like a triangle.

Of course this all depends on the effect you want to achieve, and how accentuated your features are.

Combining

You don’t want to concentrate all of your jewelry in the same body area. Otherwise the pieces will be competing for attention and none will stand out. You want each piece to have their beauty shine through.

In the end

The most important is that you feel good in what you wear and that it suits your style and personality. Something that you feel confident wearing is what you should focus on. Usually if you feel great wearing it then it’s the right one for you. Don’t be a slave to guidelines, they’re not mandatory rules.

It felt so pointless, the artist thing.

For a while this bothered me deeply, “I’m an Artist” didn’t really tell me much about what is it that they exactly do. And at the same time I thought it was a bit presumptuous of them, it was upsetting me.

After some time, it finally hit me why it displeased me so damn much…

Being an artist isn’t an occupation. Beings an artist is an identity!

When I’m asking what you do, if you’re an artist, I’m asking about your art. What is your art?
Through what media, how do you express your artist’s identity?

In this context, “I’m an artist” is simply so vague and empty. Meaningless.

Is it someone who experiences life and then recreate that through a medium? Is it someone who shows the world their skills? Is it just someone with creative ideas?

Or is it maybe just a label?

Is it what you do that defines you? Or is it who you are, that defines what you do?

What defines me? Is it my experience? What about my personality? My emotions, my line of thinking, my mistakes, my insight, my dreams, my karma…?

It’s the whole mix that makes us who we are. But still, who and what am I?

Must I be someone? Must I, at all, be? How does one know ones identify? How do I decode all the information, how do I gather all of it into an answer?

And will I ever find it?