“Hands on” Art as Jewelry workshop lead by Nicky Ruxton with Ruxton Designs.

 Art as Jewelry workshop

February 2^nd the Haute Couture Societe of Stockton, a wearable arts community (www.hautecoutureca.org) hosted instructor Nicky Ruxton,  creator of Mixed-Media Industrial Artwear Jewelry for an afternoon workshop.  She brought many of her designs to show and share (some for sale too). 

Her things are very well made from fabric and felt with top stitching and added ribbon, embellishments.  We looked her line over closely and after lunch had some individual time to ask the artist questions and discuss projects.

Instructor Nicky Ruxton’s formal education came from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD.  Her degree is in Graphic Design. She has also studied calligraphy, sculpture, painting, and 2 &3D design. Later she attended the California College of the Arts in Oakland, CA where she studied book making, typography, print making and photography.

Nicky’s jewelry really is her passion, thus “Ruxton Designs” was birthed to support this endeavor.  Her one-of-a-kind limited edition pieces integrate her interest in architecture and the arts, with an industrial aesthetic that uniquely brands her work.

She shared shared with us that morning how her work lies in the intersection of where her graphic design background and passion for mixed-media collage converge. Nicky’s work employs clean lines, simple designs, restrained colors and texture in layering. (see part one Mixed-Media Industrial Artwear - Nicky Ruxton with Ruxton Designs) http://jotraveler.blogspot.com/#!/2013/02/mixed-media-industrial-artwear-nicky.html

 

I learned more about Nicky’s art from her Bio:

“Using new and re-purposed materials combined in a fresh new ways, Nicky creates bold, edgy and strong designs with an undercurrent of thoughtful, contemporary wear-ability  Nicky’s work is Wearable Art for those with a discerning eye. It’s designed for drawing attention and making a statement without question. When she isn’t out scavenging metal findings she resides in Mountain View, CA and an ever growing collection of used treasures.”

 

 

Nicky Ruxton’s Contact information can be found: http://www.RuxtonDesigns.com

 

Nicky spoke to our class sharing her use of fabric & found objects to make jewelry. This was the focus of the four hour workshop. Nicky supplied the fabrics from FabMo

 

Check it out

 

 

Website

http://www.fabmo.org

https://www.facebook.com/FabMo

2423 Middlefield Way, Suite C, Mountain View, CA 94042

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My mom Marlene Heinz and I started working on the fabric embellished bracelets enjoying the process of mixing trims, ribbon, buttons and more.  Some of the wearable art bracelets that were started in class and finished at home are to the left:

 

 

 

 This piece started out with this wonderful ceramic leaf, and the covered buttons were added to bring out the colors in the leaf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here it is up close:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This design  Marlene is doing a series of statement bracelets using laminated photos,  This is the first in the series, stayed turned and I'll add more photos later.

 

 UP close you can see the special trim used and the extra large snap to hold the bracelet in place on your arm.

 This piece is fun and shows off one's special interests.  In this case it highlights shoes!

 

For this fun design Marlene is doing a series of "statement" bracelets using laminated photos of shoes and words. This is the first in what will be a series so stayed turned and I'll add more photos as she completes them.

 

We have more bracelets in the works, so I will post some more photos next week.  And after Marlene made the bracelets, she decided a few rings were in order.  What do you think?  I like them!

^  Here are some rings Marlene made from buttons in her antique button collection. They are very comfortable to wear,  I already "borrowed" the navy and gold one that is second from the right.  I love it!!  Here it is on my hand to the right. --->  I'm going to see if I can get my model'esque daughter to put these on when she visits next and I'll try photographing everything again.

Nicky sold kits with unusual objects suitable for the workshop and brought many of her fabulous one of a kind designs to show.  Each attendee brought basic sewing kit items and a few of our own “found objects” and interesting fabrics to use.

 

Included in the basic sewing kit:

pins,needles, scissors, thread, ribbon, fabric, glue gun, etc.

She left us with the inspiring words: “It is a necessity to get to your creative side, embrace it.”

To learn more about Nicky Ruxton with Ruxton Designs – and her Mixed-Media Industrial Artwear  “Like” her on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RuxtonDesigns and sign up for her email newsletter.

She participates in Artists Open Houses and lists shows she will be attending in the newsletter.

See more designs by Nicky Ruxton at http://ruxtondesigns.com/