Designer Bio: Odette

I am very excited to bring you this Designer Bio with Jennifer Sarkilahti of the beautiful jewelry line, Odette. As you've probably noticed before, Jennifer is a very talented designer with an equally lovely blog to boot! And this interview is just in time for the gift giving season as any Odette piece would make any girl wildly happy! Enjoy...


Roberta Jane: Tell us a little about yourself.

Jennifer: I'm a former art student who fell into jewelry making five years ago. I grew up in the suburbs of northern Virginia but I currently live in Brooklyn where I share a studio space in Greenpoint with two other designers, Jenny Gordy of the clothing line, Wiksten, and Shannon South of the recycled handbag line, Remade USA. I love our little studio community, it's a very inspiring and productive place to work.


Roberta Jane: When and Why did you start your line Odette?

Jennifer: Years ago, I finished my degree in painting and moved to New York City. I thought I would do something in the art world but I soon found it to be the wrong fit. I started making jewelry as a hobby, probably to fill some creative need I missed from not painting. I was just assembling parts then but as soon as I learned about the lost wax process for making jewelry, I totally fell head over heels. The process is like making tiny sculptures and every little detail comes across in the metal. It feels like an extension of myself as an artist and allows me to merge art and craft with commerce so that I can make a business out of it. I started my line in 2006 and currently have over 75 styles in the line. My newest collection, The Fells, is inspired by glacier hikes, fjords and Scandinavian mountain ranges.  


Roberta Jane: What are the 3 biggest inspirations for your designs?

Jennifer:
~ Nature. Just perfect and awe-inspiring. A glacier hike on a recent trip to New Zealand was an inspiration for some of the natural forms in The Fells.
~ Historical references. I love old things with a sense of history. Most things that are made these days are so bland and mass-produced, I love objects that are a little quirky or that have a story to them.
~ Art. It's where I started out so I think it always takes a part in my design process.

Roberta Jane: As a blogger yourself, what are your current top 5 favorite blogs?

Jennifer: I really do enjoy blogs, a few on heavy rotation right now: wikstenmade and reMade (my studio mates blogs), lena corwin, jeana sohn, nicomade.


Roberta Jane: Random Bonus Question: Lipstick or Lipgloss? What is your favorite brand?

Jennifer: I’m definitely more into a matte lip over a glossy one these days. Or maybe just chapstick. I love Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, I rotate between Dragon Girl and Red Square depending on my mood. That and Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment.