From leaves to jewellery
The story begins half-a-century ago in a garden. As little girl, I spent hours at the top of a huge cherry tree, hidden in the foliage, for reading, dreaming, imagining thousand things I would do later ...
Later came, I could realize a part of my projects and I still love trees. Finally, a "thirst" of creativity brought me to where I stand now : in my "atelier d'art modeste", my studio, where my jewellery-leaves come alive !
Since ever, I've been fascinated by the subtlety and the perfection of leaves : I contemplate them, I sniff them, I fondle them. In my purse, I carry a secateurs and I often come home with a bundles of leaves or a fallen branch.
I was seeking how to keep and preserve their beauty, to magnify and to wear them, I tried thousand materials and techniques. And finally I found...
Each leaf is as unique as a fingerprint. My jewellery are all one-of-a-kind pieces, moulded on fresh leaves, pigmented, glazed and mounted with natural materials. I deliberately renounced to use polyester, polymers and other plastics, undoubtedly less fragile, certainly, but not enough lively on my idea.
Leaves and insects are made of porcelain. The boxes, I make them with recycled materials, handmade paper, antique fabrics, old letters and document (at least centenary...). Driftwood, bark and forest-treasures become part of my compositions. Each object leaving my studio has a story to tell...
Everything is colored with natural pigments, plants, inks, spices, ash, wax or gold foil...
I like to use semi-precious stone beads, lava, shells, freshwater pearls... and the glass beads come from carefully disassembled vintage jewellery.
Well, for glazing, mounting, fastening (clasps, cable, wire, etc.), I use new supplies. Quand même !
