Creating Elegance Through Upcycling
I’ve always thought about life not as odds ‘n’ ends, but as odds and evens. There are those in life that are paired with another and those left standing alone. That is the yin and yang of life. And then there are the evens that flank the odds. So when you have 2 and add 1, you have an odd and an even. Two can set one apart. And three is the most stable number there is consisting of one even and one odd.
Victoria Tane
Random Facts About You?1) Olive green makes my eyes stand out
2) Mark Cottman is my favorite contemporary artist
3) I picked every fruit imaginable in Israel while I lived there for 2 years
4) My husband and I own a 1966 vintage airstream sovereign land yacht that has been lovingly restored
What got you started crafting?
I got started making jewelry with a kit I received as a birthday present when I was 9 years old. There were wood and plastic beads and I used them to make necklaces for my friends and family. My Mom
What is your source of inspiration?
I’ve been fortunate that as an artist I’m inspired to look at things not as they are but as they could be. Where other people see junk I see possibilities. When people see my jewelry they’re not always able to recognize the elements. I equate this phenomenon to them seeing their dental hygienist at the opera. At the end of the day, things taken out of context can create surprise and delight for me and my customers. Much of my inspiration comes from individual clients who bring me single earrings, broken strands of beads, and odd pieces of costume jewelry for redesign and repair.
What have you made recently?
Ten years ago, I came across a few hundred pounds of antique lamp crystals from the 1920s that were used in the lighting industry. They puzzled me because there was no way to attach them. I was finally struck with inspiration and created four distinct bezels for the four shapes of crystal - triangle, shield, oblong and round.
The bezels were made out of polymer clay and I worked with a caster to cast the pewter bezels right onto the loose stones. I wanted a rough hewn handworked look to capture the original handwork of the models and the elegance and asymmetry of the original quartz crystals. I didn't want precision or perfection. I wanted the texture and the unevenness that only handwork can afford. The bezels are plated in an oxidized silver and lacquered giving this necklace an old-world handwrought patina. Once the original models were made, I set about engineering the necklace so the crystals are linked in a graceful mosaic pattern. If Elizabeth Taylor wore antique crystals instead of diamonds, this would be the necklace she'd choose.
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
I sell my jewelry at 26 juried fine arts and crafts shows in the northeast US annually. I also have a jewelry shop online. There are times when I've even sold my necklaces when I've worn them out and sold them off my neck!
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
I choose handmade because I can have personal contact and connection with the maker. I'm intrigued by stories, the history of things and how they move from one hand to another. It used to be if something broke, you fixed it. Now people just throw things away. Without knowing the story behind the objects, it becomes easy for people to discard them. Connecting with artists allows me to become part of the creative process.
Find Me
LocationNashua, New Hampshire
Email Address
Victoria Tane
Personal Website
http://www.victoriatane.com
Store Website
http://shop.victoriatane.com
VTS-FREESHIP
@victoriatane
http://www.facebook.com/vtstudios
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