Xenia |
Meet local jewelry designer, Xenia Mara,
our featured designer for April.
What kind of products do you create and where can people find them?
I design and hand-produce one-of-a-kind jewelry recycling vintage chains,
charms, glass, crystals and other objects along with semi-precious gemstones.
My jewelry can be purchased directly from me at my website. Currently, you can find my work at Hitchcock, Burnt Sugar, Clover House, Last
Waltz, Andaluz and Polux Fleuriste. |
What inspired you to start doing what you do? As a former apparel designer, I had traveled to many countries and always found
myself picking up interesting gemstones, beads and vintage items abroad,
though I did not know how to make jewelry yet and didn’t have a clue what I
might do with all these things. I just stored them away. When I decided to quit
the rat-race and work for myself, I took some jewelry making classes and
discovered I loved this form of expression!
What's your background and have you always been creative? Are there other
artistic endeavors you're involved in? I’ve been sewing & drawing for as long as I can remember, so that naturally lead
to a profession in apparel. Another creative passion I have is gardening and I
have done work as a landscape designer as well.
Where do you get your ideas for your designs? I find inspiration from old movies and print media in addition to new fashion and I
try to meld the two for fresh ideas that I strive to make classic and timeless.
What type of equipment do you use? Do you make all of your pieces yourself? My hands, my pliers, wires and occasionally a fusing torch are all that is at work
with me (plus iTunes) as I make all the jewelry myself at home.
How do you see expanding your line in the near future? Since my pieces are all one-of-a-kind, it’s not such a simple question to
answer...hopefully, I am always expanding the line in different directions &
moods, because of the current vintage discoveries I’ve made.
Whose work do you admire? Miriam Haskell - a jewelry designer who got started in the 1920’s and continued
to design for many decades. She was quite prolific.
What advice would you offer new designers entering the market? Believe in yourself and your unique aesthetic. It may take awhile to find your
customer, but once you do, always keep her in mind as you work.
What is your vision for your business and where would you like to be in five
years? I hope to continue to grow my business at a comfortable pace. It would certainly
be nice to continue to see more of my work appear in print and I’d love to find a
necklace or bracelet show up in a movie or two.
Any other area of fashion you'd like to delve into? I’ve always wondered what it would be like to design shoes. Since I’ve done
men’s, women’s and infant apparel already, why not try to clothe the feet next.
What current trend would you like to see go away? Pants falling off boys butts. What the heck is up with having your “drawers”
around your ankles. That will never be sexy ... just weird.
If you could have one item, new or vintage, what would it be?
Affordable healthcare ... or maybe just a working farm.
What item did you wear to shreds growing up?
Saltwater sandals every summer ...
Which designer(s) has really inspired you? There are so many I’ve followed at various times. Right now, I’m always
fascinated to see what Alexander McQueen is up to.
Any advice for new designers? Follow your bliss and do it NOW!
Anything extra you’d like to share with us? I’m very lucky to have an understanding husband, Kevin, who believes in all my
endeavors and always gives me encouragement to strike out on a new venture.
That’s a huge part of my success!
FUN
FACTS:
What's your favorite color?
Depends on the context: in the sky, well, sunny blue of course; on the ground,
verdant green; in the water, turquoise; in the stones, whatever color sparkles :-)
If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Travel more! I’d also invest a good portion of it in a farm to grow more than
enough food for me, my family, friends and neighbors.
Pet of choice?
We have a cat, a pond full of fish and a very old frog. But I love dogs too.
What makes you laugh every time?
All the various poses & places that my cat finds to curl up and sleep in - what a
contortionist!
What are you embarrassed to admit you can't live without?
A car for long distances. Though if it came down to it, I could & would do it by
foot or bike or bus.
What do you listen to over and over again on your iPod?
Joni Mitchell’s Blue album, India Arie’s Acoustic Soul & Voyage to India, plus
Sara K.’s Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’
Paper, plastic or re-useable shopping bag?
Re-usuable shopping bag of course. Well, re-usable everything! We try to re-use in some fashion, every plastic bag that enters the house at least twice more
before it’s tossed in the recycle bin.
What's your favorite movie of all time?
Tough question! Musicals: Singing in the Rain and Moulin Rouge. Comedy:
Austin Powers (only the first one). Drama: where would I start the list??? It is
impossible ...
Who/what are you currently obsessed with?
Growing my own food year round! Everyone should read Michael Pollan’s book,“The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and then think very hard about the choices they make
when feeding themselves and their family & friends.
Favorite food?
Any of my home-grown vegetables and fruits.
What was your favorite band growing up?
Heart - go girls, go local, yeah!
If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would it be?
Another tough question - there are any number of fascinating dead people it
would be great to meet & dine with. But, as of November 4, 2008, I’d have to
answer Barack Obama, simply because if he heard me on one small thing that
concerns me and my neighborhood, just possibly it could make a huge
difference. Who could pass up that chance to make a difference?
What's your favorite guilty pleasure?
Sauterne and chocolate.
What is something most people don’t know?
I’ve never had a pedicure - LOL!
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Archive
of Past Featured Designers:
Miyuki Ott - August 2007
Seed Clothing - September
2007
Moxie & Oliver - October 2007
MishMash - November 2007
Tarah Prater Designs - December 2007
Effie's Heart - January 2008
Organik - February 2008
Red Delicious - March 2008
Marlo M Jewelry - April 2008
Ugly Baby - May 2008
Like a Rock Star - June 2008
Da-a tis - July 2008
Birna Jewelry - August 2008
Lucia Apparel - September 2008
Revival Ink - October 2008
Adorn Jewelry - November 2008
Sam Trout - December 2008
Lady Konnyaku Clothing - January 2009
Sabrina Love Handbags- February 2009
Sawatou - March 2009 |
