Susan Dorling.
SD: When did you start designing jewelry?Elaine Haydon: I've only been designing jewelry for about 2 1/2 years now. It sort of started as a challenge. My mom went to Paris and fell in love with a necklace that she saw there. When she got back, she regretted not buying it. She said to me "I bet you could make it for me." So, I walked into a bead shop for the first time, bought stones & materials & just started experimenting. I found that I absolutely loved it. It was almost addictive for me. The necklace that resulted from that ended up being really different and unique & she was thrilled.
SD: What inspires your jewelry designs?
Elaine Haydon: I have to say that I am inspired by a lot of different things. Fashion is definitely an inspiration. It is ever-changing & provides an endless source of inspiration and possibilities. I will say, however, that I generally tend to buy stones & metals that I love (whether for the color or just the uniqueness of a particular stone). The stones themselves are the most inspiration for me. I do sketch out designs occasionally, but I find that when I sit down to work with the stones, they sometimes lead the design in a different direction.
SD: What is your background-where were you born-when did you come to Orange County?
Elaine Haydon: I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1972. I moved to Santa Cruz, CA at the age of 16. I did floral design for a few years. I studied Fashion Merchandising & worked in the Fashion industry for about 11 years. My job, naturally, took me to Los Angeles. I moved to Orange County in September of 2001. My husband and I were just starting our family & decided that South Orange County would be a great place to raise children.
SD: What are your other interests and hobbies?
Elaine Haydon: I am an artist at heart. My medium of choice, when I'm not designing jewelry, is pastels. It's really great because you can just dive in and get your hands dirty. The more you blend and manipulate the pastels on the paper the better the outcome. I also love spending time with my 2 children ages 7 and 3. Whether it's at the latest baseball or football game that my son is playing or in the pool with my daughter. They keep me on my toes and keep things in perspective. It's all about having fun and enjoying your life. They constantly keep things fun.
SD: Were you creative as a child?
Elaine Haydon: I would have to say yes. I have always had a creative streak. I've always loved art & entered several art contests in my early teens. I also loved fashion & remember playing dress up for hours in my mom's closet & trying on all of her shoes and jewelry.
SD: Why have you chosen jewelry design as one means to express your creativity?
Elaine Haydon: Aside from how fun it is to just design a piece and see it realized, I love the gratification of seeing someone try on a piece of jewelry that I made and have them fall in love with it. Jewelry is one of those things that always has a way of making you feel good. The right piece of jewelry can transform an outfit in a way that nothing else can.
SD: Do you have a following-collectors of Elaine Haydon Jewelry?
Elaine Haydon: I do. It's great. I do home jewelry parties for most of those women & have gotten to know many of them personally. I love that they take so much pleasure out of something that I put my heart and soul into creating. It gives me reassurance that I am going in the right direction with my designs.
SD: What is your favorite jewelry material to work with and why? Do you have a favorite gemstone or precious metal?
Elaine Haydon: It really changes from season to season for me. I love working with lots of different materials. Most of my designs are in Sterling Silver, but I have been branching out more into vermeil and gold-fill. As far as a favorite gemstone, right now my favorite stone is probably praisiolite or green amethyst. I love the cool, pale green color of that stone. I am also really attracted to aquamarine as well. Both stones are really great with summer fashions. I also absolutely love working with pearls. There is something about pearls that lights up a woman's face. I will say, however, that next week I will probably have a new favorite. I'm fickle that way.
SD: Describe for us one of your favorite pieces of jewelry.
Elaine Haydon: One of my favorite necklaces right now is a statement piece consisting of several strands of Aquamarine and Freshwater pearls in all shapes and sizes. I love the organic feel of the stones and pearls. I am really loving big chunky necklaces and this one definitely fits that description.
SD: Do you do custom work?
Elaine Haydon: Absolutely. I love working one on one with a customer and designing something specifically for her. I just finished a beautiful coral and gold necklace for someone with 25 year old coral that she brought back from the Dead Sea. It was really a lot of fun creating that piece for her as the coral was very special to her. It will definitely be one of those heirloom pieces as it has sentimental value.
SD: Upon placing an order, how long before delivery?
Elaine Haydon: If it is an item that is in stock, it is shipped out within 24-48 hours. It will usually take about 4-7 business days for the customer to receive the piece. If it is a special order, it can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks depending on the complexity of the piece and the availability of the materials.
SD: Where can people see your jewelry?
Elaine Haydon: They can see my jewelry at my online store at http://www.elainehaydonjewelry.com
Read more articles featuring Elaine Haydon Jewelry:
