Black Dahlia Designs is a shop full of feminine delights - jewelry and accessories with a whimsical touch. Owner Amanda designs her creations from her home in California, weaving color, texture, and creativity into wearable (and often one-of-a-kind) pieces. Whether you're looking for adorable hair clips or trendy gemstones, you're likely to find something to fall in love with at Black Dahlia.
Want to know more about Amanda and her love of sparkly things? Read on in our interview with the artist, below.
Donations for Katie: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! First, why don't you tell us a little about yourself.
Black Dahlia: well, my name is Amanda. I am a jeweler, a soaper, and a novice hat maker. I live in a sleepy little town where horses outnumber vehicles (theres a horse-tie up at mcdonalds!) and I can fall asleep to the sound of frogs by the river. I basically live in a zoo: my siamese kitty named Liberace, a lizard, a turtle, a toad, 9 fish and my husband. Its a simple life and I love it :)
DfK: How did you get started in your craft?
BD: As long as I can remember, I was always creating something out of anything I found laying around. My mom was my Girl Scout leader so she was always collecting ribbons, pipecleaners, milkcartons, etc, that I would then claim as my own and create nonsense. That progressed into painting and a bit of leather work, ceramics, more painting. After visiting a gemshow and picking up a few items on impulse, I decided jewelry was the way to go.
DfK: What do you love most about your work?
BD: I believe what I love most about the pieces I create is wearing a necklace out somewhere and being complimented on it and the admiration when they find out I've made it myself. I had a cashier at Target buy a necklace right off my neck -- nothing beats that!
DfK: Where do you get your inspiration?
BD: My inspiration comes from everywhere. I know that is pretty cliche but I could see the wildflowers along the freeway and think of a great color combo, read a book and imagine the type of jewelry the character might wear, search for a tool in the garage to fix something and think of someway to apply that tool to my jewelry as well. I definitely have a random thinking brain.
DfK: What made you decide to support Katie through this auction?
BD: I decided to support Katie because I have had family members deal with cancer and I know how tough it is for everyone involved. My mother struggled with cervical cancer for about 2 1/2 years before it overcame her, and my grandfather has fought Lymphoma on and off his entire life.
DfK: Anything you'd like to say to Katie directly?
BD: I would just like to tell Katie not to give up no matter what. There are always people out there who can pick you up when you're down, and help you where they can. I found this quote in a magazine when my mom was sick and have kept it close ever since: "In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one an remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways." --Edith Wharton
You can check out more of Amanda's creations by visiting her shop!
~ Sneak Peek ~
Wondering what jewelry creations Black Dahlia Designs will be offering for acution next weekend? Check out this gorgeous vermeil necklace, just one of TWO lovely pieces donated by Amanda. The second piece has been created exclusively for Katie's auction; if you want to see it, come back on March 19th to place your bids!
Posts
