SD: What inspires your jewelry design?ALEXA HIRST: I take inspiration from a few things that are reflected in the jewelry I design.
First, the environment that surrounded me as I was growing up in the Southwest is mirrored in the shapes and minimalist style of my designs and my preference for natural colors. I also like using and mixing natural materials, like leather and stone. Often, I will start a piece around a particular stone or shape that inspires me.
Second, my maternal grandmother had a fantastic collection of costume jewelry, which I inherited when I was young. Some of the rhinestone pins and earrings are big and colorful. I like the bold, unique statement they make. I try to create pieces that stand out and that the wearer can use to express her personality— though maybe in a slightly more subtle way than those of the pieces I inherited.
Finally, I've always been a big reader. I love literature and the books that I've read really evoke strong feelings in me. In the same way, as I think about the design for a piece that I'm going to create, I think about what its elements symbolize to me, or how they remind me of a novel I've read ... I especially gravitate toward those with strong female heroines.
SD: Why have you chosen jewelry design as a means to express your creativity? ALEXA HIRST: I enjoy the artistry of jewelry. It has so many different forms and is a very flexible medium. I like the fact that jewelry is something that works well on anyone. Regardless of size, shape, or age, it's something that you can use to enhance your self-image and express yourself. Ever since I can remember, I've loved wearing jewelry myself because the right pieces can completely transform your look.
SD: What is your favorite jewelry material to work with and why?
ALEXA HIRST: Natural materials like leather and stone are some of my favorites to work with. I find a lot of beauty in the imperfections and uniqueness of natural materials.
SD: Do you have any favorites from your collection?
ALEXA HIRST: My favorite pieces that are currently available on Loopy Monkey are: Sophisticate earrings, Calyx earrings, Corolla necklace, Minister in a Maze necklace, and Icicles bracelet. Sophisticate, Calyx, and Corolla all feature leather-wrapped silver in combination with delicate stones. I like these because they contain a lot of detail and texture that you may not even notice until you take a close look. I like Minister in a Maze because of its simplicity – I find the design and the monochromatic colors very soothing.
Finally, I just love Icicles because it can give any outfit a little flash, but at the same time, it is very classic.
SD: How long does it take to design a piece of jewelry from conception to finished product?
ALEXA HIRST: I think a lot about a design before I actually create the finished product, but I tend to work on a design straight through from start to finish. So, depending on how involved the design is and how busy I am - perhaps a day or two. Sometimes, I draw my concept out on paper, but I am usually so antsy to get started on it that I leave the drawing half-finished. Other times, I start by planning around materials that I could use together or am inspired by the shape of an everyday object and try to create something based on that. Of course, once I start creating it, the piece may go in an entirely different direction. But that's what I love about the creative process. 