Midge's Mind

Green 2 Magazine

2011-11-28T07:01:00.001-05:00

Green 2 Magazine, a dutch glossy featured my Smiley Necklace in their July/August issue:

page 22:

Thanks Floor, for the feature!

"The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie"

2011-11-25T07:01:00.001-05:00

I was recently published in the amazing book, The Good The Bad and The Barbie: a Doll's History and Her Impact on Us by Tanya Lee Stone, 2010.

I'm proud to say that my work has been published in a total of 12 books thus far, however this particular feature holds a very special place in my heart. To appear in a book about BARBIE is a crazy honor for me!

A photo of me in my studio along with my Busted Heart Neckpiece can be found on page 98 along with blurbs about me and my work, continuing onto pages 99 and 100. (click images to enlarge.)

On pages 54 and 55, I was quoted talking about how I used to cut the heels off of my Barbie doll's pumps when I was little…

And my Smiley Necklace also appears in full color on page 82:

Many, MANY thanks to Tanya for the opportunity to be included in this amazing book. It really is a must read for any Barbie lover -or hater. Available on amazon.

Swiss OPEN Magazine

2011-11-23T07:01:00.001-05:00

Open Magazine, Switzerland:

Many thanks to Hélène for the feature.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Subtle Set

2011-11-21T07:01:00.001-05:00

Gazing Eye Earrings

Kiss Me Brooch

Hand in Hand Necklace

These pieces were made for the Subtle Set Exhibition at Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle, WA this past August. It was a fun challenge for me to make several pieces of jewelry that all relate to one another. (I worked the romance angle!)

Life & Style Magazine

2011-11-18T07:01:00.000-05:00

Life & Style Magazine from Germany featured my work on page 56 of their April issue:

Thanks to Andreas for the feature!

Greek Metro

2011-11-16T07:01:00.000-05:00

My Smiley Necklace was featured on page 23 in the Fashion section of the Greek Metro Newspaper back in May:

Many thanks to Meti for the feature!

Popcorn Magazine

2011-11-14T07:01:00.000-05:00

My work got a full page spread in German teeny-bopper magazine Popcorn last May…

page 94

Thanks Katrin for the feature.

Catching up…

2011-11-11T19:35:00.003-05:00

I'm pretty darn behind on sharing some of my press news, so coming up on the blog next week I'll be posting magazine features as well as two recent books my work has been published in.

First up, a trendy magazine out from Germany, uMag:

Page 8

Many thanks to Ellen for the interview!

Welcome to the world… Hazel Lange Balogh!

2011-10-10T14:02:00.004-04:00

OK seriously, how do they go from this…

to this…

…so darn quickly?!

Hazel Lange Balogh
Born September 2, 2011
7lbs 11oz
21.5" long

She is simply amazing. Dave and I are soaking up every second with her. I'm still thoroughly enjoying my self-appointed maternity leave so I'm not sure when I'll return to the studio just yet. However my etsy shop has re-opened for business if you're interested! Happy Autumn everybody. My absolute favorite time of year!

life changes

2011-08-02T08:52:00.004-04:00

I've been such a no-show on the blog for so long now, I'm sure some of you have been wondering what the heck is going on with me! Well… that is not a ball under my dress folks. Dave and I are expecting our first child this month!! I don't know why I waited this long to announce it on here, I guess I've just been SUPER busy doing other things… between working on our new house, preparing for the baby and studio work, I just haven't had a lot of free time for blogging. Anyway, we are extremely excited and can't wait to meet our little baby girl. Yup, it's a girl!!!

I'll be taking even more of a break from the blog for a while after our tiny makes her appearance. But don't worry, it's not forever. Thanks for your patience and check back for some obligatory baby photo cuteness later this month.

My new ventilation system

2011-05-25T07:01:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, my father-in-law and hubby helped install my rockin' new ventilation system!

I ordered the "Place-a-Vent Model #FE-500" from this company out of Buffalo NY.

It's a massive looking unit, but it's definitely a much more efficient means of exhausting fumes than the in/out window fan I've been using for the past ten years!

My father-in-law cut a circle out of a piece of plywood and mounted it securely into the basement window frame. Then they attached a section of flexible hose going from that to the blower unit which rests on a support bracket attached to the wall.

I also ordered the "Gooseneck Arm with Magnetic Base" so I could mount the hood at the right height above my soldering tray and also be able to move it as needed. I use a stainless steel Ikea table top for my soldering table and the magnetic arm did stick to the surface OK, however, I added a square of thin mild steel that I had lying around just to insure the magnet had an extra strong bond in case my table shakes or moves at all (since its actually rather lightweight.)

After a trial run giving it a good shove, the arm did break free of it's magnetic bond so I may even add a strap to the wall that can be easily unhooked as needed, just for extra added support. I definitely don't want the thing to come crashing down onto my torches!

We kept the heat resistant flexible hose (aka: the gigantic elephant trunk) a bit loose/long so that it could easily move from above my soldering station over to the table on the left where my resin station is located.

I placed another sheet of mild steel on that table for the magnetic gooseneck arm to adhere to.

After giving the unit a proper test run, I have to say, this baby really SUCKS! (which is exactly what it's supposed to do of course) Haha, but seriously though, if any of you metalsmiths out there are looking for an all-inclusive exhaust system to buy for your studio because you're too lazy to spend the time and energy DIY-ing one for yourself like I was, this unit is for you. It's awesome. It comes with everything you need (minus the gooseneck arm) and ready to install. Here's to good health and insuring clean air in my studio for the remainder of my jewelry career!

My new studio!

2011-05-19T17:48:00.013-04:00

It took almost a month, but my studio in our new house is finally set up and work-ready. Today I'll be taking you on the official tour!

The studio is located in the basement of our new house. What it lacks in natural lighting it makes up for in size, as it's more than TWICE the amount of space my last studio occupied.

There's ample room for Barbie storage, that's for sure.

When you walk down the stairs, past the Barbie bins, straight ahead is what I call my "sorting & cutting area" this is where the dolls are sorted and organized and the station where I'll eventually be cutting out the various doll parts I need (once I get a stool tall enough to sit here that is.)

This is an overview of my fabrication/bench area…

Midge sits atop my flex shaft, as she's done in all my studios.

To the right of my bench is the "resin station" where all my epoxy magic happens.

And to the right of that area is my soldering station. (my bulletin/inspiration board is a little empty at the moment, but that will change)

You can't tell from this photo, but there's a basement window to the left of this area which is where I'll be setting up the new fume exhaust unit I just purchased. Hooray for finally having a proper ventilation system!

Looking back towards the stairs again, this countertop area is a sort-of "miscellaneous task zone" right now. It has my tumbler, my ultrasonic and various storage items.

And of course Charlie gets a comfy spot on this counter for his visits…

Just to the right of that, sits my antique pharmacists cabinet. This beauty has 96 drawers in it and the whole unit rotates!

I can't even begin to express my love for this piece. It was my grandfathers who was a pharmacist in Lake George, NY where it served him and his pharmacy for decades until eventually making it's way to my parents basement where it sat in storage for years.

It was promised to me a while back and I'm thrilled to finally have the space for it! It's the heaviest thing ever and admittedly was a huge pain in the a** to move from my parents house to here but will be SO worth it once it's all cleaned up and usable again.

I'm also fortunate to have a slop sink downstairs which is HUGELY convenient (situated right between the washer and dryer so I can get laundry done while I work… bonus!)

This new space will be great and I'm certain will serve me well for a few years at the very least. However, one of the biggest perks in buying this house is sitting detached from the house just outside our backyard…

…a HUGE 3 car garage! Someday (soon-ish we hope) it will be converted into "My Dream Studio!" The studio I've been fantasizing about, scheming and planning for since I graduated college. Two of the three bays will be converted into my studio, and the third will be kept as a regular garage door for our car/storage (we're a one-car family anyway so it's perfect.) It will be insulated/heated, with lots of windows and maybe even a skylight or two! We have some other house projects that will need to come first, but this will truly be a dream come true for me when it happens.

So that's the tour! I'm hoping to get back to a more regular posting schedule here on the blog now that we're settling in so stay tuned. I have lots of custom orders underway right now… I'll share images of those soon!

Recent Press: Gloss Magazine

2011-05-16T07:01:00.001-04:00

Gloss Magazine from Brazil featured my work on page 28 of their April edition.

Many thanks to Clara and Gloss for their interest in my work.

ABeCeDarian

2011-05-13T07:01:00.001-04:00

ABeCeDarian opens at Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle, WA May 18th and will be on view until June 4th. The exhibition features the work of 26 artists each producing a piece that corresponds with a letter of the alphabet.

Facéré produced a book to celebrate the show which features an image of each of the 26 art jewelry items.

My letter was K… for Knees!

If you'll be in Seattle for the 2011 SNAG conference, be sure to stop in and check it out! More info about this exhibition can be found on their website.

Lady Parts Week 10

2011-05-10T15:54:00.004-04:00

This is the final week of Lady Parts - the online exhibition (sniff…sniff) Many thanks to Stella Padnos-Shea for this delightful collaboration and for her incredible writing talents.

Week 10

This week's poem:
Real Barbie

Read this week's poem and if you missed any of them, you can catch up on the other nine poems in the exhibit HERE. Thanks to those who've been following along!

Recent Press: HET Magazine

2011-05-10T15:14:00.008-04:00

Dutch lifestyle Magazine Home Entertainment Today (HET) featured my
Winged Arm Neckpiece on page 18 of their April edition.

Many thanks to Remco and HET Magazine for the press!

Lady Parts Week 9

2011-05-04T08:07:00.003-04:00

Week 9

Lady Parts

This week's poem:

Intimate Strangers

"She brings the blizzard inside. Her phone number is the weather phone and she plans her forgetting accordingly."

Read the rest of the poem and reflect on it's corresponding image here.

Where have I been?

2011-04-28T07:01:00.003-04:00

**random side note, before I begin… the title of my post reminded me of this awesome Liz Phair song from back in the day (before she started to suck) and now it's stuck in my head.

Well folks… its been a crazy couple of weeks! I don't think I've ever felt quite so disconnected from my email, my blog, Facebook and the internet in general as I have been lately. On the one hand, it's been refreshing to take a break. On the other, it's been discombobulating to be so far away from my normal routines.

The big news, and reason for my absence, is that my husband Dave and I BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE!!!!!!!!! (yes that sentence deserves that many exclamation points and screaming caps!) It's been what can only be described as a long and arduous process but we found our dream home here in Beacon, NY - the town we've fallen for - and finally closed on Friday April 15th!

The house is a lovely American Four Square built in 1930. It has GREAT bones, but is definitely in need of a lot of cosmetic updates (aka: lots of love and elbow grease.) In the two weeks since we moved in we've made quite a lot of progress already. Our AMAZING family came down to help us move in and start some of our home improvement projects and we literally could not have done it without their help. They are truly The Best. Ever.

The first order of business was to conquer and destroy the fugly faux wood paneling smothering our living room walls…

Exhibit A:

(the plants add a bit of life to this otherwise lifeless den of dated grossness, but not much)

While the fam packed and unpacked the uhaul, my father-in-law (talented builder and model train afficiando) immediately got to work ripping down the paneling, patching, sanding, and repairing the original plaster walls unearthed below…

He and Dave made a lot of progress on that over the weekend and Dave took over solo wall repairing duties after everybody left.

I've been working hard on transforming the original moldings, trim and built-ins which have 2 coats of primer thus far, and are now ready for their third and final coat of white paint.

OH MY GOD what a long process that has been, but it will be so worth it. Just look what a difference it makes in this side by side view of those lovely windows above the built ins…

White trim really brightens it up, no? We also plan to paint the fireplace bricks white to better blend with the built-ins. You can't tell by these pics, but the previous owners did a horrible faux-brick paint finish on them which looks awful up close, so believe me, we're definitely not destroying anything precious by painting them white (for all you brick purists out there!)

The walls have now been primed and are ready for color! We also painted the ceiling - which desperately needed some brightening after years of woodstove usage (yup that's a working woodstove. We're thrilled about this, though we don't intend to use it as our primary heating source like the last owners did.)

Here's a close up of the beautiful glass doors that go on the built-ins. I've been painting them white as well. There are four doors, and the front and back of each gets 3 coats of paint - talk about time consuming…

…but again, totally worth it. We love our new house and know it will be a labor of love for many years to come. I'll try my best to keep you all updated as we go, but for now, I'd better get back to my paintbrush!

Lady Parts Week 8

2011-04-27T15:45:00.003-04:00

Week 8

Lady Parts

This week's poem:
Mary

"This world is one thorny halo. She pries it with thinned fingers, but the burden keeps her alive."

Read the rest of the poem and see it's corresponding image here.

Lady Parts Week 7

2011-04-20T07:01:00.000-04:00

Week 7

Lady Parts

This week's poem:
Swollen

Please stop by to check out this online exhibition, we are very proud of it.

NEW Polka Dot Necklaces for Spring

2011-04-14T07:01:00.000-04:00

Now available for sale in my etsy shop!

Lady Parts Week 6

2011-04-13T09:30:00.002-04:00

Week 6 of our online exhibition

Lady Parts

This week's poem:
Tuesday, Dream Home

If you feel so inclined, Stella and I would love to hear your thoughts!

Mounds II - Custom Variation

2011-04-08T16:18:00.003-04:00

This is a re-creation of my Mounds Necklace for a custom client completed last week…

Mounds II
© Margaux Lange 2011
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll parts, resin.

26 Barbie boobies in various sizes/hues encased in sterling silver with oxidized finishing and hand-hammered chain detail. I'm happier with this necklace than I was with the original version because I was able to tweak the design to function even better this time around. Sometimes it can be incredibly satisfying to revisit an idea in an attempt to perfect it.

Here's a shot of the back of the piece:

Detail of handmade chain with hammer textured links:

And on the dress form so you can have a sense of the scale and how the piece hangs:

Lady Parts Week 5

2011-04-06T08:53:00.003-04:00

We've reached the half way mark, it is now Week 5 of our online exhibition!

Lady Parts

This week's poem:
Groundswell

(featuring one of my favorite poems that Stella has written and a favorite necklace of mine!)

Please leave us a comment and tell us what you think about this pairing of jewelry and words.

Lady Parts Week 4

2011-03-30T08:35:00.003-04:00

Week 4 of our online exhibition:

Lady Parts

This is an on-going collaboration between myself and writer Stella Padnos-Shea. A photo of a piece of my jewelry is paired each week with a poem Stella has written.

This week's poem: Mama

Check it out and tell us what you think about this pairing of images and words!

Lady Parts Week 3

2011-03-23T08:40:00.002-04:00

Week 3 of our online exhibition:

Lady Parts

a collaboration between myself and writer Stella Padnos-Shea. A new image of my jewelry is paired each week with a poem Stella has written.

This week's poem: Autopsy of the Wedding Gown

We'd love to hear what you think!

Lady Parts Week 2

2011-03-16T08:01:00.000-04:00

Please check out Week 2 of our online exhibition:

Lady Parts

a collaboration between myself and writer Stella Padnos-Shea. A new image of my jewelry is paired each week with a poem Stella has written. It is the "…effort of two women to splay open Barbie’s hypnotic contradictions that have held them in their sway for their lifetimes, and beyond."

We would love for you to stop by the site, and please feel free to leave a comment to let us know what you think!

Lotta Legs Lately

2011-03-14T07:01:00.002-04:00

Leg Lapel Pin
© Margaux Lange 2011
sterling silver, nickel silver, plastic Barbie doll leg, resin.

Leg Lapel Pin was a custom order created for an eccentric gentleman who wanted a BOLD statement piece for his lapel.

The knee can be bent at an angle or worn straight so he has styling options (personally I like it best at 90º) The shoe is a solid silver casting of an amazing Barbie doll heel. I've used it once before on a previous project. I regret I did not get any photographs of this piece worn on an actual lapel before I shipped it off to London… but oh well. Many thanks to Mike for the custom order!

Your Chance To Be Charming

2011-03-11T07:01:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that the Charmed II is still going strong at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh. Your chance to purchase handmade, one-of-a-kind art jewelry charms (like my Breast Friends Charming Heart Set below) is just a click away… you can purchase directly through their website!

Lady Parts

2011-03-09T07:01:00.002-05:00

Today I'm very excited to announce the reveal of a collaboration that has been in the works for some time now. A pairing of poet and artist, word and image…

The Poet: Stella Padnos-Shea, writer from Brooklyn.

The Artwork: yours truly

The Project: Lady Parts

In honor of Barbie's birthday today, our online exhibition opens at 9am with an introductory post about the project. At 10am the first pairing in the exhibition will go live. There will be a new pairing revealed 1x a week for the next ten weeks. I hope you will take a moment to check it out and let us know what you think!

Cross-legged

2011-03-07T07:01:00.003-05:00

Cross-legged Brooch

The knees articulate, so she can do a bit of a can-can routine if desired…

This brooch was completed for the upcoming ABeCeDarian Exhibition at Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle opening May 18, 2011. The exhibit will be on display during this year's SNAG conference.

Each artist was assigned a letter of the alphabet and asked to create a piece inspired by that letter. My letter was K… for knees! I'm really happy with how this piece turned out. It's sassy, silly, sexy and fun. What do you all think?

Recent Press

2011-03-04T07:01:00.000-05:00

Creative International Magazine, a German based trade magazine for Home Design, Lifestyle, Kids and DIY (also published in English) interviewed me for a two page spread in their January issue!

Many thanks to Sarah for the press!

Custom Smooch

2011-03-02T07:01:00.000-05:00

Smooch Necklace
© Margaux Lange 2011

Another custom order recently completed: Smooch Necklace with adjustable chain.
Many thanks to Marlene!

Custom work for my Australian friend!

2011-03-01T07:01:00.003-05:00

Here are some more recent custom items completed for my friend Tanya from Australia

Smile & Eye Pull Thru Earrings
© Margaux Lange 2011

Polka-dot Eye Ring with adjustable band
© Margaux Lange 2011

This photo was taken when Tanya was visiting NYC and made the trek up to Beacon for a day visit this past Fall (due to some unfortunate camera events, this shot of us was taken with a point and shoot disposable film camera - hence the old skool grainy look!) It was great to meet Tanya face to face, show her my studio full of Barbie dolls, and talk with her about my work. We had a wonderful visit. Thanks again Tanya!

Recent Custom

2011-02-28T07:01:00.000-05:00

Bust Heart in Turquoise and Plum
© Margaux Lange 2011

Silver Ear Blossoms
© Margaux Lange 2011

This necklace and pair of earrings were recent custom orders for a wonderful client located in Australia (she is also the woman who proudly sports this tattoo) I'm really pleased with how they turned out. Many thanks to Claire, for giving me creative freedom with the design of these pieces!

The heart necklace reminds me a bit of a flaming heart milagro (turned upside down) which is making me consider creating some milagro-inspired works… might be interesting, no?

Charlie and the doll

2011-02-25T07:01:00.001-05:00

Our cat Charlie likes to take advantage of (rare) opportunities to sneak into my studio, dig through open bins of Barbie dolls, and dart off with a hairy blonde or two stuck between his teeth. Usually I have to chase him down before he damages my precious materials! However, this time since it wasn't an actual Barbie doll he nabbed, I told him he could keep his new friend. To say he loves it would be an understatement… happy friday everyone!

Charmed II opens today!

2011-02-10T08:47:00.002-05:00

Charmed II at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, PA opens today and all of the charms from the exhibition are now online and for sale directly through their website.

Psst! one of my charms already sold (yippeeee!) so if you're interested in buying, you better not delay www.contemporarycraft.org

I'm a Quitter!

2011-02-04T07:01:00.001-05:00

I've been giving a lot of thought to de-cluttering my life lately and one of the things at the top of my list is twitter. I've finally decided after a year (or two) of hemming and hawing over it, to officially become a twitter-quitter.

I've been on the fence about twitter from the day I joined the site. Initially I thought I should give it a shot just to see what the fuss was about, but I now know it's not for me.

It feels very much like people shouting for attention in an over-crowded cafeteria, all noise. I haven't found it particularly helpful to me or my career and more often than not, it just makes me feel frustrated or annoyed, and that's not useful. Perhaps I'm using it wrong, I don't know… but frankly I just don't care.

If there's one thing being involved with social media has taught me, its that you don't HAVE to be active on every single possible social networking site out there to maintain a successful internet presence. I quit Linked In for much the same reasons two years ago. It's important to try things out of course, but sometimes you just have to let go of what doesn't work for you and instead focus on what does, so you're better able to thrive at it. Concentrating on what works for me makes more sense than spreading myself too thin and trying to keep up with everything, and everyone all the time.

I debated my decision to quit because I felt unsure about losing my "followers." However there are several other ways for people to keep up and interact with me about my work. By following this blog for instance, my facebook fan page, or by signing up for my new and improved newsletter [which you can easily sign up for at the top right hand side of this blog.] I'm hopeful that my followers will be interested enough to continue on with me in these other formats.

So, so long twitter! Its been… well, it's just, been.

If you're considering ending it all… check out this website. Too funny.

Charmed 2011

2011-02-01T07:01:00.003-05:00

I was invited to participate once again in the 2nd annual Charmed Exhibition at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, PA. The exhibit opens Thursday, February 10th and closes on April 1st so if you're in the Pittsburgh area, be sure to go check it out! Other amazing artists who also made charms for this show include:

Bob Ebendorf
Caitie Sellers
Sue Amendolara
Jillian Moore
Lynette Andreasen
Marlene True
Karen Paust
Vina Rust
Sarah Abramson
Adrienne M Grafton
Becky McDonah
Tedd McDonah
Ken Bova
Betty McKim
Renee Zettle-Sterling
Angela Bubash
Gabriel Craig
Susanne Matsche
Dan DiCaprio
Stacy Rodgers

If you would like more information or are interested in purchasing any of my charms, please feel free to contact the SCC for more information:

Society for Contemporary Craft
Sharon Massey - store manager
2100 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.261.7003 | Mon—Sat, 10 am-5 pm

This Breast Friends Heart Charm Set is perfect to share with your breast-est friend!

Breast Friends Heart Charm Set
© Margaux Lange 2011

Everyone remembers those best friend heart charm sets from childhood… well this unique version was inspired by that idea. It celebrates that one special friend who made growing up playing with Barbie dolls that much more awesome. One for you, one for her!

Stamped into the silver, the back of the charms read:

Bre ast
Fri ends

I'm pretty excited about these! What do you guys think?

Green Eyed Charm
© Margaux Lange 2011

Blue Eyed Charm
© Margaux Lange 2011

Ruby Rhinestone Ring, Hand Charm
© Margaux Lange 2011

Her Charming Smile
© Margaux Lange 2011

When I posted a preview of the charms on my Facebook jewelry page yesterday, a couple of fans suggested I start selling these in my etsy shop as an affordable option for buyers to begin collecting my work. It's an interesting idea… what do you all think? All the charms in this collection range in price from $110 - $220 and each one is entirely hand-made from start to finish (of course.) I'd love to hear your feedback on this.

NEW in my etsy shop

2011-01-26T08:24:00.003-05:00

In case you missed it: over the weekend I added a few new listings to my etsy shop. Several items were scooped up immediately so if you're looking for that perfect Valentine's Day gift, you had better hurry up www.margauxlange.etsy.com

Quote Bubble Necklace in Pink

Smile and Eye Bracelet
© Margaux Lange

Smile and Eye pull-thru earrings
© Margaux Lange

recent press

2011-01-12T10:39:00.008-05:00

PAGE, a design magazine from Germany, featured my jewelry in their January issue on page 8.

I was also recently featured in the Belgian newspaper L'Echo:

This article appeared in a weekend magazine edition inside the newspaper entitled Sabato. A custom client brought this bit of press to my attention. Many thanks to Nathan for scanning the article for me!

Back from the holidays

2011-01-07T10:40:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! I must say, this vacation was a lovely, MUCH needed break; full of rest, relaxation and of course lots of wii playing (I'm currently obsessed with Just Dance 2… omg SO fun.)

I thought today I would share some images of recent custom works completed for the holidays…

Handcuffs
© Margaux Lange
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll hands, resin.

Remember this lovely glitter bust I blogged about a while back…???

…she became a custom Have-a-Heart Bust Ring!

Have-a-Heart Glitter Bust Ring
© Margaux Lange
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll bust, resin.

This customer wanted her Quote Bubble Ring to be a little more rock n' roll…

So custom piercings were added! This is the first ring in the Quote/Thought Bubble Series I've made. I think it turned out great and I look forward to making more of them (with or without the piercings ;-)

Quote Bubble Ring with custom piercings
© Margaux Lange
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll, pigmented resin.

Green Teardrop Necklace
© Margaux Lange
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll eye, pigmented resin.

In One Ear and Out the Other Earrings
© Margaux Lange
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll ears, resin.

Smile Cufflinks
© Margaux Lange
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll smiles, pigmented resin.

Hot Pink Polka Dot Eye Ring
© Margaux Lange
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll eye, pigmented resin.

For those of you who inquired about a custom order that I had to turn down while I was in the throws of Holiday madness, my apologies. However, good news! I'm now accepting custom orders again from now through the end of the winter, so email me if you're interested: margauxlange [at] gmail.com

Holiday

2010-12-19T16:56:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!

image from plan59

I'll be taking a blogging break until after the New Year.
Thanks again for your support this year… see you in 2011!

And The Winner Is…

2010-12-16T13:01:00.001-05:00

…"Collin" with a guess of 361!

CONGRATULATIONS COLLIN!

Please email me at margauxlange[at]gmail.com asap so we can arrange shipment of your prize. Big thanks to everyone for playing along! I hope you had as much fun with the contest as I did.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

4th Annual Holiday Contest

2010-12-10T16:08:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again… my annual holiday contest starts TODAY!

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN:

Step 1. First: you must either already be a newsletter subscriber, or sign up now (fill out the form at the top right hand side of my blog that says "sign up for Margaux Lange Art Jewelry News") Rest assured, this will NEVER be abused. Your subscription will simply allow me to better keep in touch with exciting news about my work! Emails are sent no more than twice a month.

Step 2. Next: take a guess… how many Barbie arms do you think are inside the container in the photo below:

Pick a number, any number!

Step 3. Leave your guess in a comment on this blog post.

PLEASE NOTE:

* The person who guesses the number first -or closest to the number- WINS!

* Contest closes on Thursday, December 16th at 7:01 am. No more guesses will be accepted after that.

* The winner will be notified here on the blog on Thursday so don't forget to check back!

* This should go without saying, but… only one guess per person please.

* There are plenty of numbers to go around… it is wise to check the comments and see what other people have guessed before choosing your number! It would be a shame if someone else picked the same number first and won the prize.

AND SPEAKING OF PRIZE…

…the winner will receive this lovely Smile Necklace!

© Margaux Lange
Made of: sterling silver, salvaged red lipstick Barbie doll smile and pigmented black resin.
Oxidized finishing, 18" sterling silver cable chain with lobster clasp closure.
Pendant Measures approx. 1" in diameter. Signed by yours truly!

This contest is always fun for me, and it's my opportunity to give back to YOU, to let you know how much I appreciate your continued support. So… happy holidays and happy guessing!

Alex Heller

2010-12-08T07:01:00.001-05:00

This short film is by a seventeen year old named Alex Heller. It's one of the most hauntingly beautiful, creepy, heart wrenching things I've seen in a long time (or perhaps I'm just feeling a bit sensitive these days?) Either way, you should watch. I'd love to hear what you guys think. I haven't been able to shake it for days. Thanks to Tod Pardon for the link.

Creep (Radiohead) - Scala & Kolacny Brothers from Alex Heller on Vimeo.

The film is comprised of over 1500 still images shot on a Nikon D60. The song used is a cover of Radiohead's Creep performed by Belgium’s Scala & Kolacny Brothers.

Interview on Hannah Zakari

2010-12-06T07:01:00.000-05:00

Retailer Hannah Zakari of Edinburgh interviewed me for the debut of their new website!

You'll have to read the interview for my answers to questions such as… "what do you listen to while you work?" and "what was your proudest moment?" Check it out! Many thanks to Rachael and John for the opportunity. And while you're there, check out my jewelry in their online shop.

Freya Jobbins

2010-12-03T07:01:00.002-05:00

Doll Face © Freya Jobbins

Freya Jobbins is an Australian artist who contacted me recently because she thought I might be interested in checking out her work… and of course I was, VERY interested!

Morphie © Freya Jobbins

Dear Old Darth © Freya Jobbins

These busts, or "Morphies" as she calls them, are comprised of discarded dolls/plastic toys and re-assembled into 3D heads. Too fun! To learn more out Freya and meet her wonderful "Morphie" characters, check out her website: freyajobbins.com

Morphie © Freya Jobbins

Of her work Freya says, "They have been 'labeled' as PROVOCATIVE HUMOUROUS & DISTURBING - I love this description."

What do you guys think? Pretty cool right?

vintage Barbie commercials

2010-12-01T07:01:00.000-05:00

A wonderful customer of mine sent me this awesome Barbie commercial recently and I just had to share… thanks for thinking of me Nicole!

This one REALLY brings back memories for me…

Inspired by: Pierce Healy

2010-11-29T07:01:00.000-05:00

Memory Map 11 by Pierce Healy

Memory Map 11 (detail) by Pierce Healy

I was recently introduced to the work of Dublin jeweler Pierce Healy via Velvet Da Vinci Gallery's current exhibition of his work entitled: Memory Maps on view November 3 - November 30, 2010. The show features Healy's illustrative jewelry works which simply blew my mind.

Memory Map 4 by Pierce Healy

Healy creates intricate, narrative dream-scapes with a sophisticated graffiti quality. I love how they feel like hand-drawn, like free-form doodles, yet painstakingly rendered using time-intensive engraving techniques. I never really had a burning desire to learn how to engrave, but these works definitely make me want to try!

Memory Map 6 (detail) by Pierce Healy
Memory Map 6 by Pierce Healy

Along with each one-of-a-kind in the show, Healy also includes an intaglio printed image from the corresponding engraving. Oh my, how I would love to own one of these. What do you guys think? Are you drawn into these works as much as I am?

If you're interested in knowing more… below is a video about Pierce and his process (ps. who doesn't love an Irish accent?) Be sure to check out the full exhibition online at the Velvet Da Vinci website.

KameraKazi Shoots Pierce Healy (SNEAK PREVIEW!) from KameraKazi TV on Vimeo.

NEW! In my shop

2010-11-25T07:01:00.006-05:00

My etsy shop is re-stocked with all new work for the holidays. Be sure to scoop up your favorites before it's too late! And remember, all purchases automagically include my lovely holiday gift wrap.

Thought Bubble Necklace in black

Sweet Embrace Necklace

Quote Bubble Necklace in red

Smooch Necklace

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am so thankful for all of YOU; my loyal collectors, followers and fans! You enable me to continue to do what I love, day in and day out and for that I am forever grateful. Have a wonderful holiday!

NEW Holiday Work for Facéré Gallery

2010-11-23T07:01:00.003-05:00

Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle has some of my new work, just in time for the holidays!

I'm excited to introduce my new Thought Bubble Necklace…

Thought Bubble Necklace in berry
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll part, pigmented resin
© Margaux Lange 2010

(pensive counterpart to my Quote Bubble Necklaces - she thinks before she speaks) What do you guys think?!

Every year Facéré kicks off their holiday shopping season with an opening reception and annual Holiday Ornament Giveaway. Facéré artists are asked to create a small ornament for the event which are then given away by drawing names at the opening (you must be present to win.) This year I decided to make a festive Peppermint Pinwheel Shoe Ornament for the event!

Peppermint Pinwheel Shoe Ornament
plastic vintage Barbie doll shoes, sterling silver, ribbon
© Margaux Lange 2010

If you're in Seattle, I hope you'll attend the opening.

Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
5 -7 pm
RSVP to place your name in the drawing for ornaments
206.624.6768

Holiday Gift Wrap in Silver and Red

2010-11-22T07:01:00.002-05:00

Anyone who has ever purchased work from my etsy shop knows that I take a bit of pride in my gift wrap. Whether your purchase was a gift for someone else, or a gift for yourself, my feeling is: presentation matters. I want my buyers to feel like they're receiving something truly special from the moment the box gets delivered to their front door. This is what buying handmade is all about! Unique, beautifully hand-crafted items, with attention to every detail. Beautiful gift wrap should absolutely be a part of that experience.

My etsy shop has not been re-stocked with the new holiday work jussst yet, but fear not! It will be by this Wednesday at the very latest, so stay tuned!

New Retailer: Mary Woerner Fine Arts Gallery

2010-11-19T07:01:00.005-05:00

Mary Woerner Fine Arts Gallery in West Palm Beach, Florida is now carrying my Plastic Body Series production line. If you live in the sunshine state… go check it out!

Mary Woerner Fine Arts
3700 South Dixie Highway #6
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Website: marywoernerfinearts.com
Phone: 561.832.3233

Inspired by: Jennifer Davis

2010-11-18T07:01:00.001-05:00

Pair © Jennifer Davis 2010

Just when I think I couldn't possibly adore the work of Jennifer Davis any more than I already do, she comes out with something new.

I recently purchased this print of hers from tiny showcase, which of course I love, however, someday I WILL own an original painting.

I heart podcasts

2010-11-17T07:01:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite tweets came from Rachel of Red Prairie Press: "In my studio, time is measured by @ThisAmericanLife 's not hours."

So true. I've spent many-a-workday magically swept away into podcast-land, hunched over my jeweler's bench, only to look up and suddenly realize: it's gotten dark outside and whoa… I've just listened to 5 consecutive This American Life episodes in a row.

Today I thought it might be fun to share a listing of all the podcasts I like to measure my studio time with. (quick disclosure here: I'm an unabashed liberal and a bit of a public radio addict so a lot of these come from NPR and it's affiliates…)

1. This American Life: seriously, who doesn't listen to this one, right? Ira Glass makes my heart swoon.

2. Radiolab: a "life science" podcast for the every-man/woman. An exploration into life's big questions, ideas and science, always presented in an engaging manner. Really worth checking out if you haven't!

3. Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen: a closer look at pop culture and the Arts. An all-time fave of mine.

4. Wait Wait Don't Tell Me: Weekly NPR news quiz show. Always entertaining, hilarious and informative, another all-time fave.

5. 51 Percent: A podcast about women. Not didactic feminist propaganda, just solid information ranging from political issues, women's health, to women and money, etc.

6. Real Time with Bill Maher: Bill has always been my guilty pleasure.

7. The Moth: Features people telling stories live on stage without notes on a huge range of topics. Very entertaining!

8. The Media Project : A weekly discussion of news/media related content. Alan Chartock may be a bit pompous in his delivery, but I do often tend to side with his ideals.

9. The Health Show : A weekly discussion of all things health related.

10. Fresh Air : Host Terry Gross, favorite interviewer of all time. I love to catch this show via podcast so I can download just the interviews I'm really interested in listening to.

11. Planet Money: Making sense of our global economy, the information is presented in a way even I can understand (for the most part.)

12. TED Talks: Just as they say, "Ideas Worth Spreading." Recorded from annual TED conferences. Engaging and forward thinking individuals presenting a range of ideas on stage live.

13. Selected Shorts: short fiction read by actors. This one is hit or miss for me but I still give it a go every now and then.

14. WhaleyStudios: Jay Whaley interviews interesting metal artists/jewelers, "famous" amongst our little world of art jewelry.

You can subscribe to all of these podcasts via itunes. OK, now it's your turn! What podcasts are you listening to?

New Shoes

2010-11-16T07:01:00.000-05:00

These are two new custom shoe rings recently completed and shipped off to their proud new owners!

Pinwheel Vintage Shoe Ring in 14k gold vermeil
© Margaux Lange 2010
sterling silver, 14k gold.

Pinwheel Vintage Shoe Ring - white
© Margaux Lange 2010
sterling silver, plastic Barbie doll shoes.

Meet Kait!

2010-11-15T07:01:00.001-05:00

Kait is my fabulous new intern who has been working with me once a week to help me through the madness of the holiday season this year.

She's currently enrolled in the metals program at SUNY New Paltz (about 30 minutes from where I live in Beacon) but she's also an FIT graduate and was part of the crew that came out for my studio tour last month. Kait definitely knows her way around a jeweler's bench, and I couldn't be more pleased to have her help. Thanks Kait!

daydreaming about a backyard studio…

2010-11-13T07:01:00.006-05:00

My jewelry in Tasmania

2010-11-12T07:01:00.003-05:00

If I could go back in time and tell my 21 year old, fresh outta college self that one day my work would be for sale at a museum in Tasmania, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have believed it. (of course I'm pretty sure being on German television falls under the same category!)

MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, will be opening January 2011 in Tasmania {quick geography lesson here: Tasmania is an island off of the southern end of Australia.}

Last week I shipped off a large 26 piece order for the museum's new gift shop…

For more information about this exciting museum, check out their website: www.mona.net.au

Museum of Old and New Art
655 Main Road Berridale, Hobart Tasmania, Australia
Email: info@mona.net.au
and you can also find them on Facebook

German Television Feature

2010-11-10T07:01:00.004-05:00

A film crew from RTL German Television came out to my studio last week to shoot a TV feature for one of it's weekday morning shows. Most of it I can't understand unfortunately, but it's kind of fun to hear it all in German anyway. Many thanks to Silke Haas for the opportunity.

Alumni Press

2010-11-08T07:01:00.003-05:00

Juxtapositions is the alumni publication of the Maryland Institute College of Art (my alma mater) and the current issue features an article on wearable Art jewelry made by MICA alumnae.

Additionally, on the MICA website I'm featured in an extended interview, answering questions such as: "What are your thoughts about the idea that jewelry is wearable sculpture?" For the full feature and to read my interview visit: fyi.mica.edu

It feels nice to be recognized by my old college, however it's slightly disappointing that the concept and validity of jewelry as Art --with a capital A-- still requires explaining in this day and age (particularly to an Art school *sigh*)

Jewelry/metals unfortunately was not offered as a major at MICA, however there was an off-campus jewelry center, which always felt a bit like the red-headed stepchild of the school. The work that was created there was not given exhibition space in any of the main campus galleries and many students didn't even know the center existed. Alas, perhaps our alumni insights will shed some light on the world of Art jewelry for Juxtapositions readers and give the MICA jewelry Center the attention it deserves.

Renewal Notice Press

2010-11-05T09:34:00.011-04:00

Renewal Notice - the exhibition in West Virginia where I have two pieces of jewelry currently on exhibit - has been getting some great press!

American Craft has a blog post and slide show of it on their website…

As does Readymade…

And of course, Extreme Craft has a post up about the show as well (Garth Johnson is the show organizer after all.) About the exhibition, Garth says:

"Last year, I released my first book, 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse, which is a collection of 1000 images of jewelry, clothing, art, design and technological geekery. As a follow-up to the book, I was asked to curate an exhibition based on the book for the American Conservation Film Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia."

This is one of the photos taken at the installation of the show. (You can see my jewelry in the center frame on the back wall if you look close!) If you're near Sheperdstown and you're interested in checking out this exhibition I suggest you hurry up! It closes on November 7th. More info about the show and the film festival here.

Best of the Web

2010-11-04T07:01:00.000-04:00

On October 30th, my website was featured on the UK's Shopaholic blog series: Best of the Web. Many thanks to Mandy for the opportunity!

A belated Happy Halloween!

2010-11-03T07:01:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween weekend! I certainly did. My all-time favorite holiday always lifts my spirits and makes me feel like a kid again.

This year I went classic [read: easy] and dressed as a witch.

Dave and I went upstate to visit family and went trick-or-treating with our nieces and nephew around their neighborhood in Niskayuna. Here's a shot of our silly crew…

I'm definitely experiencing a bit of a candy-hangover. One of my biggest "treats" from the weekend however, was a garage sale in my sister's neighborhood where I was able to score 50+ Barbie dolls!

(note the one lone Ken in the bunch - lucky guy)

Celebrating 70 in Ornament Magazine

2010-11-02T07:01:00.007-04:00

There is a fabulous four page spread in the latest issue of Ornament Magazine (volume 33 No. 5) which features an article about Karen Lorene and this past summer's Celebrating 70 Exhibition at Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle, WA. A photo of each jewelry piece created by the 70 artists invited to participate in the exhibition (including yours truly) can be seen in the Ornament article. I was thrilled to discover that my piece, Breast to Breast Brooch: Homage to Ruth Handler received special mention closing out the end of the article. It reads:

"Margaux Lange distilled her idea for the year 2002 to seven pink plastic orbs buzzed into what appears to be an abstract brooch. The orbs actually are pink plastic Barbie doll breasts. Breast to Breast: Homage to Ruth Handler, commemorates the extraordinary careers of Ruth Handler (1916 - 2002), the woman who not only invented the Barbie doll, but who, after her own mastectomy, went on to found a company that made prosthetic breasts for cancer survivors. Lange wrote, "Handler made an immeasurable impact on the lives of younger girls and older women. I felt that was worth honoring."

Breast to Breast Brooch: Homage to Ruth Handler
© Margaux Lange 2010. photo by Cole Rodger

page 56

(Click on the images to enlarge)

page 57

Renewal Notice: Creative Reuse in Contemporary Art & Design

2010-11-01T07:01:00.004-04:00

Left Open Armlet
© Margaux Lange 2005

Renewal Notice: Creative Reuse in Contemporary Art and Design. An exhibition during this year's American Conservation Film Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia will be opening November 4, 2010 and on view through November 7, 2010. The show will be on display in a beautiful gallery next to film festival headquarters at The National Conservation Training Center.

The exhibition is a collaboration between film festival organizers and the artist, author and well known blogger Garth Johnson of Extreme Craft, who has been busy lecturing around the country with his latest book "1000 Ideas For Creative Reuse" of which I had the great pleasure of getting published in (pages: 114, 115.)

Garth contacted me to see if I would like to be a part of this exhibition and I said sure! I will have two pieces on display, my Left Open Armlet (as seen above) and my Half Moon Hand Necklace on Torque. If you'll be in Shepherdstown, West Virginia Nov. 4th-7th go check it out! For more information visit: The American Conservation Film Festival.

studio mess

2010-10-29T07:01:00.002-04:00

The river of Barbies flowing through my studio was O.O.C. last week - I felt compelled to document it. (thank goodness I had it cleaned up in time for the FIT studio tour! yikes)

Even though this may appear to be utter chaos, (and OK fine, it kind-of is) they're all actually sorted into groups and are awaiting organization into their appropriate bins/boxes on the shelving units.

recent aquisitions

2010-10-28T07:01:00.000-04:00

Sparkle Glitter Pink Have-a-Heart Bust Pendant anyone? I think I might just have to.

And does anyone recognize this handsome fella?! Whoa, throw back to my childhood.

Studio Tour

2010-10-27T08:53:00.009-04:00

This past Sunday on October 24th, I hosted a studio tour at my house/studio for the FIT jewelry student club. The lovely Sarah Abramson organized the day trip event from NYC to Beacon. She asked if I would mind sharing my space with the students, talking to them about my work, my studio, and how this came to be my career… I was happy to do so!

Since my studio is located in a small bedroom on the 2nd floor of our home, I took the students upstairs in groups of 4 and talked with each for about 15 min or so. They asked wonderful questions. It was great to share my work with them and talk about how I run my business.

I had a wholesale order in-process that happened to be out on a tray so it was nice to be able to show them that as an example of how a typical production order is processed.

I also had several one-of-a-kind pieces on display downstairs for the groups that were waiting to come upstairs. And my wonderfully supportive husband Dave set up a slide show on the TV in our living room of images from my website as well.

I was particularly struck by the spirited enthusiasm of the students. Their positive energy definitely gave me a jolt, reminding me how much I love what I do. All in all it was a great day, and I feel like I benefited as much from the experience as (I hope) the students did.

It's funny, when you work alone at home - day in and day out - it's easy to forget how far you've come. We all start somewhere. Talking with the students reminded me how important it is to pay it forward and share my experience with others. Even if I haven't reached all of my goals just yet, I'm quite a ways from where I began which means I have insights I can share.

(group shot in the backyard - thanks Dave!)

In other exciting/related news… amongst the group that day there was a New Paltz student named Kait, who will soon be starting an internship with me to help me through the holiday season this year. SO exciting!!

One & Only Exhibition: John Michael Kohler Arts Center

2010-10-26T11:00:00.005-04:00

Can you even believe we are this close to the holiday season already? Amazing how time flies. Wasn't it JUST summer, like, a couple of weeks ago?! Crazy.

One & Only: Gifts Made by Hand is an annual exhibition held at the ARTspace Gallery at John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI. The exhibition features the work of 30+ nationally known artists and craftspeople working in a variety of media to create one-of-a-kind works. I was delighted to have been invited to participate in this wonderful holiday exhibition. The show will be on view from October 24, 2010 to January 9, 2011 so if you're in the Sheboygan WI area, go check it out! (ps. I really love pronouncing that out loud: "Sheboygan!")

These new quote bubble pieces are just a few of the works I sent for the exhibit. What's new about these is that the faces are set in profile this time, which I'm rather enjoying composition-wise…

For more information about ARTspace Gallery and the One & Only exhibition visit: www.jmkac.org

John Michael Kohler Arts Center
One & Only: Gifts Made by Hand
October 24, 2010 to January 9, 2011
ARTspace Gallery
725-G Woodlake Road, Kohler, WI
920.452.8602

Fantastic Plastic

2010-10-12T07:01:00.000-04:00

Brooch 259 by Karin Seufert

A blurb about The Plastic Show was featured on the Lark Books website on October 6th. Man, I wish I could go see this show in person at Velvet Da Vinci! It just looks SO incredible. I guess I'll have to settle for an online viewing instead. Seriously… you need to check it out online.

Here are a few of my favorites from the exhibit…

Palm 01 Brooch by Sun Kyoung Kim
Leaf Wings Brooch by Yuka Saito

Alpine Rose and Star Brooch by Jante Fleischhut

Brooch by Leslie Shershow

fruits of my labor

2010-10-11T17:09:00.003-04:00

A re-order for Russian boutique: Alice-n-Rabbit shipped off today…

And here's a pic of some recent custom Have-a-Hearts, a pin and a necklace. (There's been increased interest in the addition of "pasties" to the busts lately… quite interesting!)

playing

2010-10-08T10:07:00.003-04:00

This week in between finishing up more custom orders, and scrambling to complete work for an upcoming holiday show, I managed to (miraculously!) squeeze in some play time. I did some sketching of new ideas, and playing with arrangements for a larger quote bubble piece I've been imagining…

It's definitely not there yet, but I thought I'd share some of the process.

These new quote bubble pieces have the smiles in profile this time, instead of straight on, which I'm digging.

I'm imagining a "talking behind her back" storyline to this one:

this last arrangement feels sort of odd at the moment, but it has some potential I think…

stay tuned!

Autumn is my favorite time of year

2010-10-06T08:52:00.004-04:00

snuggled up kitty-kin in his buttercup:

homemade apple crisp… mmmmm

we saw this AMAZING sunset from our backyard last weekend:

Happy October everyone!

Eleanor White

2010-10-04T07:01:00.000-04:00

Last weekend the hubby and I attended the Beacon Open Studios event going on across town as a way to get out and connect with some local artists. It was a lot of fun and we met some great folks that I'm very much looking forward to connecting with again.

One artist that I was particularly curious about was Eleanor White. I had seen her work online before, so I was excited to get a chance to see it in person. Unfortunately, she was not in the studio at the time we were there, but we did get a chance to speak to her husband a bit.

Eleanor creates what she calls, "playing card drawings" which are assemblages/arrangements/alterations of playing cards. She draws on the cards, scratches away, or uses gold and silver leaf to affect the surface of the cards.

It was cool to learn that Eleanor received her MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art - my alma mater! She was also the recipient of a 2007 NYFA fellowship for drawing which is a huge honor.

I really responded to these works, particularly the circular pieces. Perhaps it's the patterning effect or their almost floral-like symmetry, but I immediately see the "wear-ability" of these works. Definitely inspirational for me! What do you guys think? …you like?

For more images and information about Eleanor White check out: http://eleanorwhite.blogspot.com/

As a curious side note… also on display in her studio was this gigantic hairball, collected and made out of her own hair…

I found this hilarious, because I too used to collect and make (smaller) hairballs out of my hair once upon a time…

(PS. I still have this piece I made back in college. I know! - shocking it never sold! hahaha)

one more reminder…

2010-10-01T07:01:00.001-04:00

The Plastic Show opens tonight at Velvet Da Vinci Gallery in San Francisco 6-8pm! Can't make it? Then click here to view all the images from the show.

The Plastic Show

2010-09-30T08:01:00.004-04:00

The Plastic Show, the exhibition that corresponds with this book opens tomorrow night at Velvet Da Vinci in San Francisco! I so wish I could attend the opening of course, but unfortunately… it's on the other coast.

Silver Shoes Bracelet, my piece that appears in the book is currently tied up in a different traveling exhibition at this time, so I couldn't send that one…

…however, my Busted Heart Pendant will proudly be on display!

From the gallery's website:

"Velvet da Vinci in San Francisco presents: The Plastic Show, an exhibition featuring work from the recently published Lark Jewelry Book 500 Plastic Jewelry Designs. The Plastic Show features work by 75 artists employing a variety of plastic materials such as resin, latex, rubber, epoxy, and thermoplastics, many of which are reused or recycled.

We live in a plastic age. Plastics make up our computers, cell phones, and clothing, and are a necessary material in contemporary life. It is infinitely formable and employs endless colors and textures but also has become a blight upon the earth; plastics degrade slowly and are often not recyclable. Having been embraced by artists and designers, these ubiquitous materials are being reused and refashioned and are firmly woven into the language of contemporary jewelry making. Used alone or in combination with traditional elements, these substances can, with certainty, be classified as precious. Thanks to the use of plastics, conventional components like silver, gold, platinum, and gemstones are now only part of the jewelry-making equation. The jewelry in this collection represents the best work being produced today by artists who use plastics as a foundational element in their pieces.

This exhibition opens October 1, with an artists’ reception on Friday, October 1 from 6 to 8 p.m."

I am honored to be in such great company for this show of course. Here's a list of all the participating artists:

Shana Astrachan, Anastasia Azure, Ela Bauer, Lea Marie Becker, Iris Bodemer, Sofia Björkman, Sigurd Bronger, Burcu Büyükünal, Ana Margarida Carvalho, Peter Chang, Joe Churchman, Jens A. Clausen, Barbara Cohen, Lisa and Scott Cylinder, Peter Deckers, Coco Dunmire, Janine Eisenhauer, Beate Eismann, Ute Eitzenhofer, Diane Falkenhagen, Jantje Fleischhut, Javier Moreno Frias, Velina Glass, Robly A. Glover, Suzanne Golden, Rebecca Hannon, Tamara Grüner, Ellen Himic, Eero Hintsanen, Kath Inglis, Jiro Kamata, Masumi Kataoka, Sun Kyoung Kim, Sarah King, Susanne Klemm, Jocelyn Kolb, Katja Korsawe, Birgit Laken, Margaux Lange, Carla Pennie McBride, Edward Lane McCartney, Karen McCreary, Charlene Modena, Masako Onedera, Niala Orsmond, emiko oye, Seainin Passi, Mary Hallam Pearse, Ruudt Peters, Natalya Pinchuk, Katja Prins, Yuka Saito, Karin Seufert, Leslie Shershow, Susan Kasson Sloan, Anika Smulovitz, Lin Stanionis, Rebecca Strzelec, Donna Mason Sweigart, Anthony Tammaro, Billie Jean Theide, Carolyn Tillie, Cynthia Toops, Silke Trekel, Jacomijn van der Donk, Christel van der Laan, Mona Wallstrom, Kathryn Wardill, Emily Watson, Karla Way, Josephine Winther, Sayumi Yokouchi, Lily Yung, Sandra Zilker

Personae Magazine, Norway

2010-09-29T07:01:00.000-04:00

Personae is a Norwegian "cultural and analytical fashion and Art magazine." My Yes Neckpiece was featured on page 7 of the March 2010 issue.

Mine Magazine, Belgium

2010-09-28T07:01:00.000-04:00

Belgian Youth Magazine: Mine, featured a two page lifestyle spread dedicated to 'Upcycling & Recycling' in their September 2010 edition. My Bubblegum Pop Neckpiece and Smiley Neckpiece can be seen on page 33:

(friend and colleague Kate Cusack's zipper jewelry is also featured in the spread!)

just start.

2010-09-27T07:01:00.000-04:00

They say "starting is the hardest part." Well, it's definitely been hard to start back up again with regular blogging these days, and I apologize for my extended vacation! In the past when my blog has fallen into a funk, I've found the simplest solution is to just start. Somewhere, anywhere. So here I am, with renewed effort! It's not that there's been a lack of news to share, just a simple lack of motivation to put in the time. However, I know it's worth doing, so no more stalling… here we go!

Firstly, I just want to say thanks to those of you who commented about our wedding in my last post. It truly was an AMAZING day! I feel happier than I've ever been, and I'm so thankful to have such an amazing husband and family. I am indeed a lucky gal. I'll be sharing a few photos of our special day here on the blog once they're ready so stay tuned for that.

Secondly, I'd like to share news of an exciting exhibition opening I'll be attending this Friday, October 1st. The exhibition includes the work of some of my amazingly talented jewelry friends so I wanted to help spread the work and encourage you all to come out and see the show. Salon: Inventive Art-Jewelry Exhibition in an Inventable Space will be taking place at Metropolitan Green (439 Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg Bklyn) opening: 7pm - 10pm October 1st. The show is the brain child of Mia Hebib (of Oblik Atelier) who curated the exhibit as a way to share some of the amazing art jewelry currently being made in studios across nyc. Participating artists include: Sarah Abramson, Gregory Grigoriev, Thersa Dahl, Kate Cusack, Mia Hebib, Seohee Koh, and Kristi Sword. For more information about the exhibition visit http://www.salon-nyc.com/ Hope to see you there on Friday!

Blogging Break…

2010-08-14T07:01:00.001-04:00

I'll be taking an official blogging break/vacation August 15th - 29th…

…off to marry the man I love! ♥

Here's a little peek into where we're having the ceremony & reception - outside at my grandparents house in upstate NY!

The next time you hear from me, I'll be a married woman… woohoo!
Have a wonderful, happy August!

Eyes Wide Shutter Photography by Mar Noonan

2010-08-13T07:01:00.002-04:00

The single digit countdown to our wedding day has begun and I am TOTALLY distracted by the excitement of it all! It's hard to believe it's just around the corner now. Because I can't seem to get my mind off All Things Wedding, I thought I'd share a few photos from the incredibly talented photographer who will be shooting our special day: Mar Noonan, of Eyes Wide Shutter Photography. (Mar just so happens to be a dear old friend of ours as well.) With her permission, I share with you today a few examples from her immense portfolio for a taste of her delightful photographic vision…

Mar specializes in capturing emotion in her work, and elevating moments from the ordinary to the sublime.

To see more of her photography or to inquire about booking her for your upcoming wedding, senior portrait, pregancy, boudoir, infant or family photo shoot visit: eyeswideshutter.com

(I just had to include the shot with the Barbie of course!)

The Portait Gallery Store

2010-08-12T12:24:00.002-04:00

The Portrait Gallery Store in Canberra, Australia just received their latest re-stock of my jewelry. They sent me a photo of some of the work on display. If you happen to be on that continent, I hope you'll go check it out in person! :)

A happy customer

2010-08-10T08:39:00.004-04:00

My gorgeous friend Jean McNamara sent me photos of herself wearing the custom brooch I made for her a while back and I'm SO excited to finally see the piece on! It looks incredible with her red hair, fair skin and freckles, don't you think?

Jean is a very talented actress who recently moved from NYC to London in pursuit of her acting dreams and new adventures across the pond. You can check out her blog documenting it all… A Redhead in London.

Many thanks for the photos Jean, and all the best to you in Londontown! ♥

How cute is this shop?!

2010-08-09T08:01:00.001-04:00

After spending years as a unique independent online retailer, Rachael Lamb, the amazing force behind Hannah Zakari in the UK finally took the plunge and opened a brick and mortar boutique in Edinburgh. I just had to share these adorable pics Rachael recently posted on her blog.

Looks super duper! I'm so happy to have my work there and hope one day I'll be able to visit in person.

For a visit…

Hannah Zakari
43 Candlemaker Row
Edinburgh
EH1 2QB
UK

Reasons to be Pretty

2010-08-06T12:39:00.002-04:00

A designer for the Tempe, AZ theatre company, Stray Cat Theatre contacted me recently about using a photo of my Smile & Eye Bracelet for their seasonal postcard announcing Reasons to be Pretty a play by Neil LaBute, directed by April Miller. I was more than happy to provide the image. (You never know what an unlikely connection/opportunity could lead to!) An ad for my website will also be appearing in the playbill.

From the Stray Cat Theatre website:

"A love story about the near impossibility of love, REASONS TO BE PRETTY introduces us to Greg, who really, truly adores his girlfriend, Steph. Unfortunately, he also thinks she has a few physical imperfections, and when he casually mentions them, all hell breaks loose. A hopelessly romantic drama about the hopelessness of romance, REASONS TO BE PRETTY has been celebrated as some of the freshest and most illuminating American dialogue to be heard anywhere these days… a fresh take on the eternal matter of achieving adulthood."

My interest in this play has been officially peaked. Have you gone to see this play? If so, I'd love to hear what you thought of it! Many thanks to Cameo Hill and Stray Cat Theatre for the opportunity.

In One Ear and Out the Other…

2010-08-05T22:14:00.002-04:00

In One Ear and Out the Other Earrings

DAM jewelry

2010-08-03T08:34:00.002-04:00

The wonderful Alyson Stanfield of artbizcoach.com was recently visiting the Denver Art Museum when she encountered some of my production jewelry in their gift shop. It was the first time she had seen my work in person and Alyson said she and her fellow museum-goers had a lot of fun checking it all out.

Alyson thought I might like to see some photos of the display and she was right, (so thoughtful - thanks Alyson!) it's always interesting to see how a shop/gallery displays my work once it has left my studio!

For information about the museum or it's gift shop visit: denverartmuseum.org

NEW in my etsy shop!

2010-07-30T12:08:00.003-04:00

Pink, pink and more pink!

Mattel orders shipped!

2010-07-27T16:03:00.002-04:00

Pinwheel Vintage Shoe Ring

Today I shipped off round one of the orders from my Mattel collaboration, the Pinwheel Vintage Shoe Rings. Feels soooo good to have met my deadline!

The rings were available in red, black and white. I've sold out of the red, however, I still have a few white and black if anyone is interested in purchasing (feel free to email me: margauxlange[at]gmail[dot]com)

Hannah Zakari Boutique in Edinburgh

2010-07-26T08:29:00.004-04:00

I've been busy-as-a-bee filling wholesale orders these days, one of which is this large re-stock of items for retailer Hannah Zakari in the UK which recently opened a new brick and mortar boutique in Edinburgh this summer!

Here's a little peek into the new storefront:

Hannah Zakari
43 Candlemaker Row
Edinburgh
EH1 2QB
UK

Check out the Hannah Zakari website here and their blog for important news here.

Celebrating 70

2010-07-09T14:04:00.004-04:00

Breast to Breast Brooch: Homage to Ruth Handler
© Margaux Lange 2010
2.25" x 2.25" x .5"
stering silver, plastic Barbie doll parts, resin
photo by Cole Rodger

This brooch was created for an exhibition entitled:

Celebrating 70
Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery
Seattle, WA
August 19, 2010 - September 5, 2010
Lecture: Thursday, August 19 at 4:00 PM
Reception: Thursday, August 19 at 5:00 PM

The exhibition is in celebration of the 70th birthday of gallery owner Karen Lorene. It also marks the 38th anniversary of Facéré Jewelry Art Gallery. Each of the 70 invited artists were assigned a year and asked to create a work inspired by, representing or relating to that year (from 1940 - 2010.)

My assigned year was 2002. So for my piece, I decided to honor Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel and the woman who invented the Barbie doll, who sadly passed away in 2002.

After her own mastectomy in 1970, Mrs. Handler left Mattel and went on to start a company that made prosthetic breasts for cancer survivors. In talking about her two distinct careers, Mrs. Handler said, “I've lived my life from breast to breast.”

Ruth Handler was frequently adorned with a strand of pearls, so I used that as part of the inspiration for this brooch. However instead of using actual pearls of course, I chose to use pearly white Barbie doll breasts (string of pearls/string of breasts) Seven breasts to represent each decade of the Celebrating 70 show. I initially had intended to make a "pearl" necklace out of the breasts, however there were size constraints placed on the participating artists so I opted to make a brooch instead. However I'm very pleased with how this piece turned out, and I hope it's a hit at the show!

photo by Cole Rodger

This exhibition has an amazing line-up of art jewelers participating and it's an honor to be included. Here is the full artist list:

Boris Bally, Davide Bigazzi, Nancy Bonnema, Ken Bova, Jana Brevick, Jessica Calderwood, Virginia Causey, Liaung Chung-Yen, Jude Clarke, Andy Cooperman, Nancy Mēgan Corwin, Kevin Crane, Peg Fetter, Lisa Fidler, Steven Ford & David Forlano, Suzan Gallup, Laurie Hall, Joan Hammond, Trudee Hill, Tom Hill, Ron Ho, Sarah Hood, Judith Hoyt, Mary Lee Hu, Lezlie Jane, Charra Jarosz, Yeonmi Kang, Deb Karash, Nadine Kariya, Linda Kindler Priest, Margaux Lange, Micki Lippe, Eve Llyndorah, Kristin Lora, Marty Lovins, Leslie MacInnes, Jane Martin, Karen McCreary, Marcia Meyers, Alisa Miller, Rika Mouw, emiko oye, Gina Pankowski, Seth Papac, Rosemary Pham, Lee Phillips, Maria Phillips, Todd Pownell, Gail Rappa, Jayne Redman, Todd Reed, Kait Rhoads, Biba Schutz, Barbara Seidenath, Kiff Slemmons, Jan Smith, Julie Speidel, Alex Stanyon, Suzanne Stern, Cindy Sumner, Patricia Telesco, Cappy Thompson, Cynthia Toops & Dan Adams, Carmen Valdes, Veronica von Allworden, Hiroshi Watanabe, Sarah J. G. Wauzynski, Roberta & David Williamson, Nancy Worden, and Kristi Zevenbergen.

For more information and for a preview of the exhibition visit: facerejewelryart.com

bad bad blogger

2010-07-08T08:42:00.007-04:00

I've been bad. I know. I've been neglecting you dear readers. But… BUT! I have an excuse I swear! Well, not an excuse really, but an explanation… you see, I've moved. From our dear old neighborhood in Greenpoint, Brooklyn north of the city to Beacon, NY. I've been busy adjusting to my new surroundings, setting up our new house, keeping up with a bigger than average jewelry workload (hello, Mattel collaboration) and with preparations for our upcoming wedding (happening next month!) This has officially been The Busiest Summer Ever.

But you know what? It's also been one of the happiest. I'm loving our new home here in Beacon so far. Here's a just a small list of the many things I'm enjoying…

• farmer's markets with friendly vendors, on Thursdays and Sundays
• quiet trail systems through the woods and along the Hudson river for my morning runs
• blue jays that visit our backyard:

• the quiet calm
• gardening
• having a washer/dryer
• having a bathtub
• cool summer evenings and the smell of summer nights
• bike rides to town
• proximity to family
• no upstairs neighbors! (we have the whole house to ourselves!)
• being able to see the stars in the sky at night
• DIA art museum
• having a studio inside my house again (there are pluses and minuses to this one)
• the smell of fresh cut grass
• sunsets on the Hudson
• exploring the area, discovering new places every day

To be fair, here are a few of the things that I miss about NYC…

• our friends!!!!
• the restaurants… oh, the restaurants… sigh
• access to everything and anything one could ever want/need
• the feeling of being in "the middle of it all"
• public transportation/subway access/not having to drive everywhere
• the style - new york is where it's at for people watching, hands down
• Greenpoint, hearing people speak polish around me daily
• McGolrick Park
• Smith Street/Carroll Gardens
• having a studio outside my home (as I said, pluses and minuses to this one)
• our friends! (this one bears repeating)

Luckily Beacon is just a short (80 min) metro north train ride away when I need my city fix! I'll try to be better about blogging this month but I can't make any promises for August as that will surely be wedding madness. (I still have to make our wedding rings… yikes) Hope everyone is having a lovely summer so far and thanks for reading.

Shoe Ring in 14k gold vermeil

2010-06-16T07:04:00.002-04:00

This was a custom order for a client, but I want one of my own now really, really bad!

staples, push pins and packaging tape

2010-06-09T17:43:00.007-04:00

© Baptiste Debombourg

Have you guys seen these yet? My friend sent me these links and I just had to share. They absolutely amaze me (made entirely out of staples!)

The artist, Baptiste Debombourg, has a breadth of great work on his website, so go check it out.

Push pins more your style? The artist Eric Daigh has you covered. One part George Seurat, one part Chuck Close, one part office supply store awesomeness…

And lastly, packaging tape on backlit panels by artist Mark Khaisman. SO beautiful! I really enjoyed reading the FAQ's on his website, you should too.

My collaboration with Mattel continues!

2010-06-03T09:24:00.008-04:00

My collaboration with Mattel™ continues! 6 exclusive made-to-order Margaux Lange jewelry designs are now available through the BarbieCollector.com web shop (some in limited editions - so if you're interested in purchasing, I suggest you order ASAP!)

(I'm particularly excited about the cast sterling silver Pinwheel Shoe Rings! $480)

In other BIG news…
I've moved! From Brooklyn, New York 60 miles north to the city of Beacon; a sweet Hudson river town with an artistic edge. I'm a bit behind on my emails as a result of this BIG life change so if you've tried to contact me recently, I apologize for the delay in my response and I appreciate your patience as I get back on track with everything again. If you need my new mailing address please let me know and I'd be happy to provide it. As always, thanks for your support and for reading!

Custom Order: Bridesmaids Gifts

2010-05-24T07:01:00.001-04:00

Further evidence that I'm not the only one with a 'spring green' color obsession! This collection of custom Smile Necklaces was made for a wonderful client getting married later this month. She commissioned them as gifts for each of her bridesmaids. In her initial email to me, she mentioned she already owned a necklace of mine that was quite special to her…

"When my fiance and I first started dating we saw your work at CraftyBastards in Adams Morgan (DC) I loved it, he surprised me with it a few weeks later, and its really the one gift I always smile at from him."

I feel honored to have been chosen to contribute to their special day! The first step in the custom design process is picking out the Barbie elements. So I picked out a bunch of red lip Barbie doll grins from my stash and emailed a photo of them to the client so she could personally choose which ones she wanted to use.

Next we chose the resin. Her bridesmaids will be wearing dresses in various shades of red (pomegranate, poppy, watermelon, etc) and "new growth green" is a part of her wedding palette as well, so she requested spring green resin surrounds to really pop off the red dress colors. I think they turned out lovely… hopefully she and all her gals will think so too!

Are you interested in a unique custom bridal party order for your own upcoming nuptials? Feel free to shoot me an email for more info!

Custom Brooch complete!

2010-05-20T16:13:00.003-04:00

I have to admit, this piece is going to be REAL hard to part with. I'm thrilled with how it turned out and tempted to keep it for myself! Oh well, at least it will be going to a fellow redhead (I know the greens will look fantastic with her hair!) This piece was SO much fun to make. I love it when clients give me the creative freedom to run wild with an idea. Many thanks to Jean for the custom commission!

Brilho Magazine from Brazil

2010-05-14T09:46:00.003-04:00

Brilho fashion jewelry magazine from Brazil featured my jewelry in the April/May issue: