Contemporary jewelry with a rustic and industrial edge, designed for unique style, and made by me.
I first discovered Metalsmithing and Art Jewelry at Humboldt State University where I studied Studio Art and Botany. I graduated in 2007, but I was so hooked that I continued to take Metals courses at the university over the next year and continue to take workshops whenever I can. I opened a shop here on Etsy at the end of 2008 and have enjoyed every minute of the experience. It's wonderful to be part of a community of makers and to share my craft with the world.
Nature, science, mythology, and history have a strong influence on my work. I'm captivated by humanity and our obsession with discovery and creation as well as our relationships with each other and the world around us. I enjoy working in metal because it has a sense of permanence. It is my hope that that permanence paired with the intimate and personal nature of jewelry results in pieces that can be passed from generation to generation. While I enjoy working with traditional materials, found objects and rich textures also excite me, so I'm always looking for new ways to pull together unusual techniques and materials.
In 2015 I took on a creative challenge, Earring A Day, which had artists creating one single earring every day for an entire year. Introduced by Victoria Takahashi, with over 20 jewelry artists here on Etsy participating. Take a look at all of the asymmetric earrings available, and mix and match your way to the perfect pair, by typing EAD2015 into the Etsy search bar or visit the single earrings I've created in the Asymmetric Earring section of my shop and click on any of them for a list of participating artists. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ErinAustin?section_id=16556204&ref=shopsection_leftnav_4
For a look at the 2014 creative challnge, 3xR(reduce, recycle, reuse), head over to my blog: http://metalmusing.blogspot.com/p/flickr-3xr-challenge.html
Visit my website at www.erinaustindesign.com
For updates on current work find me on Instagram @metalmusing