metalsmith

Today’s interview is with jewelry designer Judy Babin. She is currently a librarian and artist residing in Portland Maine. Most of her free time is spent teaching printmaking and metalsmithing at Artascope Studios in South Portland Maine.

Trish: How and when did you start designing jewelry?
Judy: I started designing and making jewelry about 8 years ago after taking a class in metalsmithing at the Maine College of Art in Portland Maine.

Trish: When did you start your own line of jewelry?
Judy: The line I have now really started just over the last few years. I was working part time last year and that allowed me to spend a lot more time researching techniques and more of the history of jewelry design.  Also just walking my dog at the beach got me really thinking about my design esthetic a lot more and a real cohesive line of work started to grow.

Trish: Where do you turn for inspiration for your designs?
Judy: Nature inspires me a lot, and knitting and weaving. I like to try and reconfigure techniques I see in knitting, crocheting and weaving with metals.

Trish: What fashion trends, if any, are influencing your jewelry?
Judy: Fashion doesn’t really influence my work although I constantly devour fashion magazines! SD: What does your average day entail?
Right now my average day entails answering emails and checking for orders,
walking my dog and new baby and then getting to work on any orders and new pieces.
Most of the day I work on pieces and then check the computer. I’ll surf around on Flickr and Facebook, troll Craigslist and then try and post new images. Mostly I just try and create. I get too bored on the computer.

Trish: What does the future of your company look like?
Judy: I’d like to keep it small and manageable. I love just having sales from the internet because I can be pretty shy and that way I don’t have to face anyone! But really I’d like to get into a few local shops and just increase my internet sales. In the far future I’d like to have a my own tiny store front with a work bench in it.

Trish: Do you have a company mantra that helps you run your business?
Judy: Keep it simple.

Trish: What is the hardest part about being in business for yourself?
Judy: Doing taxes and keeping from slacking off. You do get lonely and find yourself talking to your pets more than you think is normal.

Trish: Who are your fashion icons (past or present)? Do you think they influenced your personal style?
Judy: Jackie Kennedy, she dressed so cleanly and simply. Always elegant. I guess I could say she remotely influenced my own personal style in that my clothing taste is simple to show off my jewelry designs. Then again I always loved Debbie Harry when she was in Blondie, so I’m a mix of tough and classy. But lately more tough.

Trish: If you had the choice of any jewelry designer in the world to work with/for, who would that be?
Judy: Arline Fisch, amazing metalsmith.

Trish: When you aren’t designing, what are you up to, any other things you are involved with you want to shout out?
Judy: I volunteer at a local art co-op called Artascope Studios in South Portland Maine. Everyone there teaches, sells their work, does the marketing and cleaning and just about everything else. It’s a great place to learn and share.

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