Julie Lake was kind enough to sit down and tell the darlings a little about herself and her jewelry line, Lake. We personally love every piece of hers, but her Small Pods are something you must check out!
Not only is her jewelry fantastic, but if you are looking to get a friend a gift her packaging is incredibly special and creative. Do something nice for a friend, go buy them a Julie Lake original!
SD: How did you end up making jewelry?
JL: Jewelry has been part of what I’ve done since the beginning of my
artistic career. When people ask me what I do I tell them that I am a
metalsmith – just to avoid the full explanation. I like to explore
all aspects of the medium including installation, sculpture,
functional objects, and furniture. But, jewelry satisfies my desire
to work on a tiny scale, and I love the idea of women out there
walking around wearing something I’ve made.
SD: Where did you go to school and what did you study?
JL: I studied metalsmithing at the Oregon College of Art and Craft in
Portland and studio art at the University of Oregon.
SD: What was your first job in this industry?
JL: I actually worked as a bench jeweler while in school. Even though I
did mostly grunt work, it provided a realistic balance to the lofty
ideals that art school presented.
SD: What inspires your designs?
JL: Simplicity, lightness.
SD: What is your design process?
JL: I can’t see something until it’s in front of me. That’s why I can’t
really sketch out designs. So, I do a lot of experimenting and
testing of the materials – and I watch. Once something interesting
happens it becomes a model or a part for a finished piece.
Also, a lot of my current work is constructed nontraditionally using
stainless steel and an industrial welding process – like what is used
for metal sculpture or steel structures. Instead of a flame, I am
working with an electrical current, which melts and fuses the metal.
I have altered how the torch is normally used so that I can create
small, delicate work.
SD: Describe your philosophy behind your designs?
JL: The nice thing about making jewelry is that it is all about form and
function. These little objects that fit on the body and compliment
it. I don’t let myself get heady like I do with my artwork. It’s a
purely visual aesthetic.
SD: What does your average day entail?
JL: I really don’t have a routine, and that’s starting to prove itself
as a serious problem.
SD: If you knew then (before you started your business) what you know now,
what would you do differently?
JL: Just to be more confident. Doubt is what kept me waiting tables for
far too long.
SD: In your opinion what is the best and worst current fashion trend?
JL: We are lucky because in this day, more than any other in recent
history, numerous designers can actually subsist off their work. The
online community, especially, has enabled a direct interaction between
consumers and designers. It doesn’t take being chosen by one person
who runs a boutique to sell our work. We now have these avenues to
present work to the varying public and directly gauge their response.
I think that independent fashion today caters to and educates the
consumers instead of accommodating the particular tastes of a shop
curator.
The worst trend?? Well, I could really go without ever seeing
another set of antlers printed onto a t-shirt.
SD: Who is your greatest influence and why?
JL: My father, Ron Lake, made me want to make things. He is a craftsman
– actually he’s a folding knife maker – which was a bizarre world to
grow up around. I spent so much of my time out in his workshop, so I
became comfortable with tools at a young age. I also learned to
appreciate the process of turning raw materials and time into
something beautiful.
He quit his day job when I was four or five years old and has been
very successful with his work ever since. In his own words ” I got
sick of punching a time clock”. He helped me realize the independence
that can come from being an artist or designer.
SD: What do you think the hardest aspect of your industry is?
JL: There are so many jewelry designers out there, which makes it
difficult to be found by consumers. But, this could help raise the
bar on some of the online selling venues. Metalsmiths and jewelers
will have to create innovative quality work to be noticed.
SD: Do you have any events you are getting ready for in the near future?
JL: Unfortunately, I have a big move to plan…. So all the cool events
are out for now.
SD: What’s next for your line?
JL: I’m really loving making open, light, fragile looking forms. I’ll
continue with that and start introducing some more nontraditional
materials.
SD: If there was one designer on Smashing Darling you could ask a question
to who would it be and what would you ask them?
JL: I find that with some people there is a strong desire and love for
designing and, with others, there is an innate and neccessary need to
create. I saw that Kaytee Papusza, of the amazing Papusza Couture,
started designing and sewing when she was extremely young and that she
grew up within the design world. It made me wonder if clothing design
is a chosen passion of hers or if it is an essential compulsion since
it was such a strong aspect of her upbringing.
