Moose Spotlight: Southwestern-inspired Handmade Jewelry Creations

"I strongly believe that you get what you want by putting it out there. And put it out there like it has all ready happened."

- Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns

MEET THE ARTIST

Jewelry Artist Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

@allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

THE JOURNEY TO CREATING JEWELRY

Meet jewelry artist Allysia Edwards based in Durango, Colorado. She has been creating jewelry for 7 years and you can find her creations on Instagram @allysiabrookedesigns.

"I loved jewelry as a little girl. I still have little turquoise bracelets and earrings that I wore as a toddler. And a tiny gold heart shaped ring with a diamond in it that my father bought for me when I was 5 from Mexico," Allysia shared when we asked what got her inspired in making jewelry. She also added that her family collected turquoise and Native American Jewelry since before she was born. Adding that she thinks she's just destined to do this.

"When I started making jewelry it was just a hobby." She lived in San Diego and she was a bartender. She explained that that lifestyle can be exhausting so she never had the energy to create the way she does now. "In 2019, I decided to move back to my home town, Durango, CO, to take care of my then 95 year old grandfather. He made it to 96 and a new decade! Shortly after he passed, COVID hit. I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I focused all my energy on jewelry."

As things started selling consistently, Allysia decided to try and turn jewelry into a full-time career - and it worked! "Fingers crossed it continues to work! I get really uncomfortable these days, if I don’t have a creative outlet. So I can’t imagine doing anything else."

Firsts are unforgettable! Allysia shared that all her friends have always been so very supportive of her. So all of her first pieces were definitely sold to her friends. She remembered that they all wanted custom pieces, and all of those friends continue to buy from her.

Let's take a look at some of Allysia's amazing creations!

Handmade Cuffs by Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

Turquoise Jewelry by Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

Handmade Jewelry by Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

ARTIST'S DESIGN STYLE

"My very first teacher, Deanna Jacobson became a good friend. She told me I was meant to do this. I used to go over to her house and we would create together outside of class." Allysia learned very quickly, her teacher Deanna's words of encouragement were sort of her AHA moment. Through Deanna, she realized she was destined to do this and that she was good at it.

Here are a few more stunning jewelry creations by Allysia!

Handmade Rings by Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

Rosarita Ring by Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

Handmade Rings by Jewelry Artist Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns on Instagram

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Allysia's design process varies every time. Sometimes, she has a general theme in her head, and she sketches things out around the stones. At times, she just sits down with a stone and let the piece create itself. She added that, if she's lucky, ideas just start flowing into her head and she has to quickly sketch them out on her iPhone so that she doesn’t forget them.

When asked to describe her design style, Allysia explained that she gets really bored if she creates the same thing over and over. Sometimes, ideas come to her as she creates the piece. Sometimes they come to her right before she falls asleep or in her dreams. Sometimes ideas are inspired by her surroundings.

But her favorite style to create is Art Deco - and that idea was inspired by the tv show American Horror Story: Hotel. "The Art Deco era is stunning. The architecture is so beautiful. So one day I decided to create an Art Deco collection inspired by the Southwest. Turns out the two go very well together!"

JEWELRY DESIGN TIPS, TRICKS, AND HANDY TECHNIQUES

What's one design tip you one to share with your fellow artists?

"I love adding granulation. But sometimes the silver balls don’t solder well if the bottom isn’t flush. I recently learned to put the balls in a dapping block and hammer one side. It smooths out the rounded top and flattens the bottom for flush soldering. I always like to melt solder onto the balls or any component prior to soldering them to the backplate. Less chance of a solder spill that way."

One piece of technical advice on creating.

"Clean solder lines are very important to me. If I’m soldering components or wire that are not on the border where I can saw off extra solder spill, I melt the solder on the back of the pieces first. Then solder them on to the back plate. You generally have very clean lines that way. My first teacher taught me that trick."

Any words of encouragement or tips to those who are starting out in the world of jewelry-making?

"Classes can be hard to come by. But you can pretty much YouTube anything. Experience comes with time. Don’t expect everything to be perfect the first time. Experiment with cheaper materials. Oh and save alllllll your scrap including metal dust. Send it back to a refinery when you are broke and get some cash back into your pockets!"

Lastly, here's Allysia's message to the universe:

Allysia Edwards of @allysiabrookedesigns Blog Feature by Turquoise Moose