I am often asked about where I get my inspiration for my designs, by friends, relatives, partners, reps and even journalists (yes, I do get interviewed from time to time, check out my press page for more info - press .There are a few new PR pieces I haven’t put up yet so stay tuned :o) )

Usually the answer to that question is that I travel a lot. I get inspired by architecture, nature, what’s happening in fashion, people on the street, fabrics, flowers and more and more. It all sort of mixes up in my head and then a design comes up. It often just happens like that, I get a complete mental image of the piece.

Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I doodle on paper or in my sketch book (or on napkins, receipts or whatever is handy. Inspiration doesn’t always come at the most convenient times), and play around with shapes and how they react with each other. I always start with some kind of drawing. Usually, the finished piece ends up looking a little different than the drawing, which is natural. Metal behaves differently than a drawing on paper and I am pretty used to that.

This time I have to say that my inspiration comes from technology. As I mentioned in my previous posting I am paying around with a rolling mill and thinking “I wonder what this thing can actually do…” This with a combination of playing with Photoshop and Illustrator… It seems like working backwards, usually I use technology to create my existing designs. This time I am letting technology drive my designs… we’ll  see what I come up with!

Also, I have been connecting with other jewelry designers and manufacturing facilities and have been learning a lot about techniques and more ways of doing things. It’s really fun, exciting and I feel like a sponge. I listen. And then it all brews and my head, and hopefully, as by magic, a collection will come out of it :o)

Keep you posted,
Keren

I have recently (as in a few days ago) finally began working on my new jewelry collection. I have been thinking about it for a white and at last I am doing something about it.

A couple of weeks ago I went and got me a rolling mill which I have been wanting for soooooooo long. A rolling mill is like a big pasta machine with two wheels (see below a link to one on Amazon). Imagine a pasta machine that you put the dough through and you get Fettuccini or Ravioli etc. So in my case, I put sheets on metal in there, along with anything that would create a texture such as paper, lace, fabric, crushed nuts or seeds or even leaves!

(I just have to watch out not to get my fingers in there. when I was setting it up there were a couple of close calls with dropping the thing on my toes! Fortunately those were close calls, so I’m fine :o) )

This allows me to play around with different textures on metal, and then turn the textured sheets into jewelry We’ll see what I come up with! So far I have had a few fun tries with sheets of brass, copper and silver nickel.

Stay tuned!
Keren

You know that yummy, creamy foam that we find in our lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolates and such?

Well what can I say, I admit it, I am a foam lover. One foam lover jewelry designer - that’s me. Turns out they have a name for drinks for people like me, they call it “dry”. It makes no sense (can someone explain it please???) but if I ask for a “dry” latte at Starbucks or wherever, they understand I want extra foam in my drink.

Naturally, as such a big foam lover I have been making foam at home as well. So, I have been searching the globe for the best foam makers out there.

There are the ones with little spinning handles that do nothing. I also have never managed to work the steam part of an espresso machine - I guess I am just not talented in that way…

A couple of years ago I found this foam maker that was one of those with two wheels that you put on the stove to heat up the milk and then pump the wheels for a few minutes to make foam. That worked great.

Now, however, that contraption seems completely primitive compared with my latest find. It’s unbelievable. This thing makes foam like no other - the “Froth Au Lait”. Got it on Amazon. I am in heaven!!! And you don’t have to pump anything, you put your cold milk in there and it does the work. It heats it up and spins at the same time. Unbelievable!!!

On top of that it seems to work best with non-fat milk. It’s very strange, but hey - if it works it works!! Just one thing- make sure that you clean it well, as milk tends to get stuck to the bottom and might burn.

What do I put my foam on? Not sure if I have mentioned it before - I am a tea drinker, and not so much of a coffee drinker. I have no coffee in the house, I only drink coffee when I go out. Today I made a wonderful Vanilla Almond black tea from the Republic of Tea with foam on top and a bit of agave sprinkled on top. Yum!

So - I make my morning tea- usually some kind of black tea or Oolong, and add my foam to it and Guallaw! One awesome tea latte to start the morning!

Bonjour,
Keren