Category Archive for ‘inspiration’ rss

Creative Workspace

I think it’s fascinating how people are inspired by different work environments. Some, need a clean, sparse, perfectly organized work environment. Others, (like me) surround themselves with inspiration boards full of colors and textures and stacks of books, magazines, and photographs. Along with jewelry materials, my studio is full of various random glasses,bowls, jars, mirrors, flowers, and fabrics I use for backdrops when I photograph my jewelry. I love these photographs of the offices from the contributers to the in Martha Stewart Living magazine. Photographer, Robert Polidori, sparks our creativity by showing us several different workspaces and the many ways artists are inspired.
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Free Jewelry for YOU

Do you know someone who is getting married?  Erin McDermott Jewelry is having a special promotion.  If you refer a bride to have her bridesmaid’s jewelry designed by Erin McDermott, I’ll send you a free pair of earrings…your choice.  I love working with brides to choose the perfect piece of jewelry to fit their style and to match the bridesmaids dresses perfectly.  Plus, it takes the pressure off of a bride to think about what to give her bridesmaids as a gift.   To see some good examples of past weddings, take a look through the blog and e-mail me at erin@erinmcdermott.com.

new ideas…

The idea of the disc necklace began with a request from a friend to design a piece of jewelry to have in remembrance of Matthew Mullin. The three phrases engraved into the disc were, “live well, laugh often, love much.” Since then, I have received hundreds of requests for personalized engraving…dates of marriage, dates of birthdays, places, life mottos, colors, & initials. I’m even beginning to add stones to the necklace along with the discs. If you would like to order a sterling siver disc necklace, please go to the “treasure chest” on my website and click on the image labeled, “Silver Initial Disc Necklace.” The image shows three discs, but I can make as little as one..the price is still the same…58.00. Then, send me a message (under contact) or e-mail me at erin@erinmcdermott.com and tell me what you would like engraved into the discs. Enjoy…
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New Charm Necklaces

Check out these one-of-a-kind charm necklaces! Order them by clicking on the “Treasure Chest” or look under “New Jewelry.”
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Ladybug rings are here!

Several of you have been asking about the ladybug rings. Happy to say, you can finally order them through my website under “treasure chest.” As you know, I’m a big fan of ladybugs. Aside from being so cute and charming, cultures all over the world associate ladybugs with good luck and good fortune. For the English and French farmers ladybugs indicate good weather. In Sweden and other countries the ladybug will bring good luck with finding your true love. If you (or someone you know) is in the need of a little luck or just would like to wear a unique and different hand-crafted ring, you’ve found your match! I wire-wrap each one individually, so each ring is a little different.
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Kathryn Dale Barton

One of my greatest friends, Kathryn (Kate) Barton just launched her website. Kate, I’m SO proud of you! Kate paints portraits, poster art, and…pretty much anything. She’s working on a painting of my bulldog, Sukie & I’ll make sure that I share it with you when it’s finished. I love her artist statement & wanted to share it with you.
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Renegade Craft Fair

I’m always inspired by walking around the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn, NY. It’s pretty awesome how many incredible artists are out there!  You’ll find everything from silk-screened t-shirts to jewelry made from old records and maps to letterpress stationery.  Here are a few treats that I picked up the other weekend…a sweet hand-crocheted hairpin by Wren, a wooden tree button, an owl fabric guitar strap, and a belt buckle made from discarded metal parts.

 

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Just a little Ditty

I met Dickie in college…she has the perfect mix of creativity, energy, passion, and strength… Her awesome blog reminds me take a moment each day to appreciate the little things in life that can bring joy.   I love how she gets a high from someone flipping a penny on the ground from tails to heads…for someone else to find it heads up and from witnessing someone walk down the street, alone, with a smile on their face.   I saw Dickie the other day and she told me about one of her closest friends that recently died.  I admire her strength and the way she shares with us the way that Matt impacted her life.  Dickie wrote about Matt on her blog:

 “Matt signed all his emails and letters with live well, laugh often, love much. It was more than a closing, more than just a motto. It was how he lived. Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin this post, I already know I will not do Matt justice. All I really know, is that he came into my life for a reason– and luckily, I figured that out the moment I met him, not the moment he died. Matt used to say, “lose the morning, lose the day”. He made the most of every day– and truthfully, I’m not sure he would have any regrets about his life…How many of us could say that? I, am certainly not one of them, yet.”

 Dickie asked me to design a necklace with three discs symbolizing the way that Matt signed all his e-mails and letters.   I wanted to share it with you…

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Boys and Girls Club

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking to the Boys and Girls Club of Charlottesville about owning my own jewelry business.   The group of young and talented girls asked questions about pursuing dreams, thinking big, and overcoming obstacles.   After the presentation, we made jewelry together & I had a great time watching these girls shine.  I came home on Friday to find a package full of hand-written letters from the girls listening to the presentation.  Each one had written a letter thanking me for believing in them and letting me know that they will never give up on their dreams.  What an amazing group of girls!

India Hicks

India Hicks is one sweet Bahama Mama…I love reading about her life in the Bahamas, her cute kids, and her creative inspiration.  She has such a natural and kind beauty that I just adore. P.S.  I also am craving this dress by Norma Kamali…don’t you just love print and the cut?

 

 

 

H&M Home

H&M is coming out with a new home collection - I’ve heard it’s going to be energetic, urban and organic!  I’m 26 years old and I’m still wearing a long green cargo skirt with lots of asymmetrical zippers that I bought from H&M in ninth grade…so I can say that the fabrics will hold up for a while.   Here’s a look!

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Reiter8

I was introduced to Reiter8 bags during a visit to Maine this past summer.  They are made from recycled sailboat sails and will last forever!  I love all little details…the contrasting trim, the denim that lines the inside, and the diagonal sail seams featured on the back. reiter8.jpgreiter8-2.jpg 

Love is Blind

This vase was created from the “Love is Blind” project.  Participants shared love letters that were transcribed into Braille and transferred into a relief pattern on this vase.  love-is-blind-vse.jpg  

Aaron Foster

I’ve always wanted to take a road trip and hit every state.  From each state, i’d like to collect old charms and coins and create a funky charm necklace.  Aaron Foster, a unique artist based in California, collects lience plates from the United States and designs some pretty amazing pieces.  Check out his website!af1.jpgaf21.jpg

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’ve always been impressed by interesting designs created from  the foam cafe lattes.  I love lattes & I  get an extra little thrill taking the first sip while looking down at a marbleized heart made from foamy milk and espresso.  I’ve been curious how to do this at home, and I finally learned how from this video.lateheart.jpg   

Skeleton Keys

I’ve always been intrigued by the romantic idea of skeleton keys & I’m excited to start incorporating them into my long charm necklaces (they will be on the website soon).   My good friend recently gave me a brown paper bag full of skeleton keys, and I love examining each one and imagining each key opening a unique antique clock, amour, door, or treasure box.  Check out these porcelain skeleton keys here.blog_key1.gifskeleton_key2.jpg  

Hable Construction

 

I adore my new bag by Hable Construction.  The fabrics from this company are textured, bold, sturdy, and durable….just perfect for me to lug around tons of beads and jewelry.  The textile designs are interpreted into hand-screen linen and cotton canvases.

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Olive & Sunshine

I love these fun and quirky animals designed by Jennifer Muskopf.  She will even create animals for you from your most treasured fabrics…each one is beautiful and has so much personality!  You can find the whole collection of Olive & Sunshine animals herecamel_correct.jpgclcheetah_l.jpgsquirrel-blog.jpg 

love this carpet…

I’m in love with this carpet designed by Yvette Laduk.  I found it on one of my favorite sites!  9-4-woody-wood-carpet.jpg       upclose_wood.jpg 

A fascination with “nooks and crannies”

I was blown away when I recently received an amazing list of inspirations from my friend, Brendan.  He enjoyed reading the list I made of semi-random inspirations on my website and shared with me a few of his… 

Things like handmade paper from Amalfi, the smell of sealing wax, the chill humidity and aroma of a wine cellar, the smell of asphalt after a rainstorm, the sound of an owl at dusk, mist rising off a lake at sunrise, the smell of cracked corn and motor oil in a country garden shed, a glass of white wine backlit by candle light, lightening bugs winking in and out of existence on The Lawn as night falls, the smell of honeysuckle, primroses and field grass together on Western Albemarle road on my bike, the deep dark velvet crimson of a chocolate Cosmo (the flower, not the drink ;-), stacks and stacks of books by the bed, moss covered statuary and fountains tucked in far corners of a garden, hidden brooks, watching the sun come up from an airplane, the fog rolling across San Francisco Bay on a summer afternoon,  Fleur de Lis,  a navy blue wool cable mariner’s sweater, Bean boots,  big wood-handled well made umbrellas from London with beautiful dark iridescent fabrics, the sound of someone speaking Italian, the warm smell of pine from the tree at Christmas, feeling the weight of a dog sleeping across your lap, restaurants lit only by candles, dinners outside in the Summer in a field, under an Oak tree, bonfires, the taste of the first coffee in the middle of nowhere on a camping trip, swimming at night off of a dock under a full moon.  Et cetera, Et cetera, Et cetera . . .