quisnam

Unique handmade bohemian and rustic tribal jewelry

Melbourne, Australia On Etsy since 2011

976 Sales | 5 out of 5 stars

quisnam

Unique handmade bohemian and rustic tribal jewelry

Melbourne, Australia | 976 Sales

5 out of 5 stars

Shop owner

Contact

Contact shop owner
976 Sales
5155 Admirers
 

All Items

Kate

Contact shop owner

Kate

Announcement    Impact of COVID-19 (Coronovirus)
The effects of COVID-19 are being felt around the world so, most importantly, I do hope you are safe and well.

A number of countries are experiencing delays to international shipping. If your country is on Australia Post's list of countries experiencing delays I will contact you before shipping your item to advise you of the situation and give you the opportunity to cancel your order and receive a refund.

Most of us are tightening our belts in these uncertain times, so spending money on 'non-essential' items is the last thing on our minds. But, if there is a Quisnam piece that really speaks to you, please know that I am very happy to set up scheduled payments (lay-away).

Stay safe. Stay well. We will navigate this difficult journey together because together we are stronger.

Best,
Kate

Announcement

Last updated on Mar 25, 2020

Impact of COVID-19 (Coronovirus)
The effects of COVID-19 are being felt around the world so, most importantly, I do hope you are safe and well.

A number of countries are experiencing delays to international shipping. If your country is on Australia Post's list of countries experiencing delays I will contact you before shipping your item to advise you of the situation and give you the opportunity to cancel your order and receive a refund.

Most of us are tightening our belts in these uncertain times, so spending money on 'non-essential' items is the last thing on our minds. But, if there is a Quisnam piece that really speaks to you, please know that I am very happy to set up scheduled payments (lay-away).

Stay safe. Stay well. We will navigate this difficult journey together because together we are stronger.

Best,
Kate

Reviews

Average item review
5 out of 5 stars
(513)
See reviews that mention:
quality 33 shipping 76 customer service 31

About quisnam

Sales 976
On Etsy since 2011
  • assembling tools and supplies for a leather cuff
  • cutting the leather (I've ruined a few pairs of scissors doing this)
  • adding the red coral (choosing the materials and objects to use is the most important aspect of my work)
  • adding more dangles (movement and sound are as important as color and texture)
  • almost finished!

My Process

Art is experiential. Our emotional, instinctive response to art is the keystone to experiencing it. Research shows that the neurological processes which underpin our perception of art differ from those used in standard object recognition. We use the bits of the brain involved in the experience of emotion when we see art.

Similarly, for many artists and artisans (and certainly for me) the experience of creating is emotional and instinctive. When I sit down at my bench to work on a piece I have, in my mind, a visual image of what it is I am setting out to create. Oftentimes, the finished piece differs as my process is organic, constantly shifting as I re-shape the piece as it evolves. My work is purposefully raw. My solder joins, hammer or tool marks are often visible on the finished piece. For me, these are beautiful because they reflect the processes and techniques used in creation and are signposts to the journey a piece has taken with me.

I select my materials using this same emotional process. Stones are chosen not for the usual measures of their worth (grade, clarity, colour, cut) but more instinctively. I imagine, if you hooked me up to brain-scanner, the regions of my brain involved in emotion would be firing as I select my materials. My response to a particular material (stone, fiber, metal) is more important, to me, than that material's name, perceived value or the qualities that someone else has ascribed to it. That is not to say that I do not assess for certain characteristics - strength, robustness, cost. How a material will work in jewelry is, or course, vastly important. Jewelry and adornment has a purpose and it is very important that my pieces fulfil this purpose.

Is jewelry art? I don't really know the answer to this. I do know and believe that art is not an outcome but is a process. For this reason, I consider myself an artist.

Shop members

  • Kate Buxton

    Owner

    I'm a jewelry artist with an endless fascination for the meaning and power we give to objects; talismans and amulets are as old as humanity itself. In addition to Quisnam, I assist my son with his vintage watch shop, tempusantiquus.

Shop policies

More information

Last updated on Mar 6, 2020
Frequently asked questions
Wow, Australia is a long way from me. How long will it take for my item to get here?

I find items shipped from Australia to most places in the world arrive within Australia Post's designated shipping time of 10 business days. It can, occasionally, take longer but I am only a convo/email away if you have any questions or concerns. I ship with tracking as standard so you can keep an eye on your purchase as it wings its way to you.

In the hundreds items I have shipped within Australia and around the world, I have only had one or two go astray. Regardless, I guarantee a 100% refund in the event that a piece does not reach its destination, so you can purchase with absolute confidence no matter where you live.

Domestic items are shipped via Australia Post and should reach you in 2-5 days.

Do you wrap your items?

All my items are securely packaged and wrapped in new and clean recycled packaging.

I try to keep my environmental footprint as light as possible so I use ephemera (vintage sewing pattern tissue, old unwanted books and Atlases) in my wrapping.

Can I return my purchase for a refund?

Absolutely. What's the point of jewelry you aren't going to wear! Shopping online is convenient, but sometimes you need to see a thing up-close and and in-person to know how you really feel about it. If you'd like to return your item, just let me know within 14 days of delivery (please note: purchasers are responsible for return postage costs but I will issue a refund upon proof of postage, so you don't have to wait).

What's your aesthetic and your pricing philsophy?

My work is purposefully raw. I use natural stones, crystals and salvaged materials, as these hold more meaning than shiny new things. My aesthetic celebrates the signposts; stitches, tool marks, natural texture and patina - these tell the story of a pieces' journey with me. I love that one of my customers described my work as 'beautifully broken' because there is great beauty in what some consider to be imperfection.

Pricing is one of the hardest things for an artist. I try to keep my prices accessible, whilst reflecting the time and materials that have gone into creating. When you purchase one of my pieces you are getting something that is unique and which has taken many hours to create.

Custom and personalized orders

My process is very organic and personal so, the short answer is no, I don't generally take custom orders. However, please feel free to reach out to me if you have something in mind. I've worked with several of my regular customers to create a piece that uses a material or object that holds a special meaning for them.