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For Your Ears: Holiday in the Desert

Where abouts are you headed this holiday season? Why not come with me (sonically, at least) as I head to Phoenix, and lounge fireside in the Sonoran Desert. I’ve got a soundscape to bring you there, that’s giving modern latin ambiance, midcentury flute and contemporary jazz, atmospheric psych, and just a small dash of campy Christmas songs to set the vibe. Happy holidays!

Field Trip: LA

The centerpiece of “Queen Califia’s Magical Circle” by artist Niki de Saint Phalle - Queen Califia herself atop her griffin.

This October I had the opportunity to spend some time in Los Angeles - a town that was at one time my home, many moons ago. The trip was equal parts vacation, inspiration, and work. Joined by a couple of my besties who live in the area, I made the most of my 9 days there with a busy schedule of art, beach, nature hikes, architecture, music and more.

Among many things, I had the chance to view the opening of my friend Tomashi Jackson’s art show “Minute by Minute” at Night Gallery, which incorporated hand-embroidered and tatted textiles made by my own grandmother, Carrie Barcus, which I had gifted to the artist. Truly a special moment to see these complex, multi-layered (quite literally and figuratively), collaged works in person - they are POWERFUL! I could feel my grandmother’s utter awe and delight raining down on that gallery as well. You can read more about Tomashi’s show in this wonderful LA Times interview.

A piece from Tomashi Jackson’s “Minute by Minute,” which incorporated hand embroidery by my grandmother as the foundation for her canvas

Detail of hand tatting done by my grandmother Carrie Barcus, used in Tomashi Jackson’s piece

Another work by Tomashi Jackson in “Minute by Minute” at Night Gallery. This incorporates Carrie’s embroidery, as well as Tomashi’s mother’s photography, and the shapes of redlined districts in LA.

Tomashi Jackson’s piece, incorporating photography from her mother, and my grandmother’s embroidery at the bottom edge.

There is a wildly coincidental story from the day when I gifted Tomashi this textile… as we were chatting about my goldsmithing work and Tomashi’s collection of gold chains, we noticed that the edge of this pillowcase read “Cloth of Gold.” Funny how life works! I love that Tomashi then incorporated gold paint into the piece, as well as another piece that utilized Grandma Carrie’s handiwork.

Tomashi in the midst of performance art at Night Gallery

I also made a pilgrimage with my dear friend Tamara, to see my hero Niki de Saint Phalle’s installation “Queen Califia’s Magical Circle” in Escondido - one of the few existing sites of her art in the US. Magical indeed! I cannot even fathom the amount of time it took to cover this entire area in mosaics - much of which was made from semiprecious gemstones! The docent at the site told us that Niki and her team went to the Tucson gem show to buy the stones. I imagine they must have cleared out a lot of dealers’ bins to make this work!

A view of Queen Califia’s Magical Circle

Fragmented selfie at Queen Califia’s Magical Circle

Detail from Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, with mosaic malachite and what looks to be chrysoprase

There were so many details to discover around every turn at Queen Califia’s Magical Circle. Each one tells a story.

Back in LA proper, I had the chance to visit the Neutra VDL House in Silverlake with my friend Symantha. This onetime home and studio of architect Richard Neutra is a place I’ve long wanted to see in person, as a huge fan of mid-century modernism and Neutra in particular. Neutra shares a particular history with my mother’s lineage, who were Austrian Jews. While it may not seem so unusual today, the fact that the original structure for this building was made in 1932 is pretty mind-blowing.

Living room at the Neutra VDL House in Silverlake

Details at the Neutra VDL House - this color palette echoes my recent FW23 lookbook

Last but not least, the trip was capped off by a trunk show at the beautiful Kinship Station boutique in Topanga. I loved hanging with the shop staff, and getting to know their customers more. They’ve got such a gorgeous curation of decor, clothing and jewelry - definitely worth a visit.

Talisman jewels at Kinship Station in Topanga

Symantha and her mug at Kinship Station - a beautifully curated boutique of decor, clothing, jewelry and more

Shopgirl Nadia dons the Ra Signet at the Kinship Station trunk show

That’s a wrap! Until next time LA <3

For Your Ears: Talisman FW23 Playlist

Coming in hot with a little taste of the latest and greatest in music that I’ve been jamming out to while I work in the studio this season… In the true spirit of fall, this playlist is a little moodier, and a little more introverted - perfect for a cozy night in, or a chilly, bundled-up evening out. As per usual, a mashup of rock, synth pop, shoegaze, and electronic, along with some purely vibey, instrumental tracks thrown in. Enjoy!

Pop-Up Holiday Market at Cherry Hills Country Club

Hard to believe it’s already “that time of year” again, but here we are, first snowstorm and all! I’m thrilled to be participating in a Holiday Pop-Up Market at the Cherry Hills Country Club, hosted by Helm Weaver Helm, benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association. This market will have a wide assortment of giftable, artisan goods, including handmade heirloom jewels from yours truly. 10% of our sales will go to Alzheimer’s research. Details are as follows:

Wednesday, November 29th

1-6pm

Free and open to all - not just members of the club!

Please help spread the word, and invite friends… I hope to see all my Denver folks there! Please also note there is a dress code at the country club, and no blue jeans are permitted.

XX,

Vanessa

Custom Work: Engagement Rings for Matthew and Orlando

Nearly finished rings, just before I added a brushed texture

Custom work is a big part of what I do here at Talisman Fine Jewelry. And there are few things that are quite so special as making commitment rings for a couple… something they’ll wear for a lifetime, day in and day out. It’s always an honor when someone asks me to create such a piece. So suffice it to say, when my friend Matthew asked if I would help make dual engagement rings for he and his partner, I was over the moon. I also personally love the idea that both partners should get to wear an engagement ring… why not?? It’s 2023, and we can make our own rules!

On a personal note - Matthew and I have a long history of friendship, stemming from when we were backstage together at many a fashion show, where I would be doing wardrobe styling, while Matthew and his team did hair and makeup. Such fun memories. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Matthew’s partner Orlando a bit more since they became a couple, and couldn’t have been more overjoyed to hear that Matthew wanted to take it to the next level. What a wonderful duo they are!

So after much deliberating with Matthew on just what these important rings would look like (Traditional? Modern? We ran through the whole gamut of options…), funny enough, when Matthew slyly got Orlando’s thoughts on ring designs, we came full circle to the wabi sabi, organic look and feel that is really my specialty. Perfect.

Just after casting - the raw rings in sterling silver

I then got started creating the two rings in wax, which is indeed how much of my work begins. Each ring was one-of-a-kind, distinctly for its wearer, and yet definitely a pair. Then from there the rings went into casting - sterling silver, in this case. (Yes, I will do silver too upon request!)

After casting comes the intensive process of hand-sawing and grinding off any nubs and “sprues," and my (definitely neurotic) 10-step sanding and polishing process (after which we then brought them back to a brushed, “satin” finish). Voila!

Honestly, one of the hardest parts of this whole project was sitting on this major secret, waiting for Matthew to propose! It was such a treat to finally see the proposal online, while the couple was down in Santa Fe. Pure magic. I wish them all the love and blessings on their union <3

BTS at the Talisman FW23 Lookbook Photoshoot: The Evans School

An open, and mostly vacant, stairway at the Evans School building in Denver. Currently home to artists and creatives, for now.

Photographer Matt Nager and model Vanessa Luka getting a close-up ear shot at the Evans School studio of Sam Grabowska and Erin McAllister

Deciding on the location for Talisman’s next lookbook photoshoot is always an exciting creative challenge. Each season the look and feel of the brand is greatly influenced by our campaign concept, composition and color palette, and thus, by extension, where that campaign was shot. For FW23, the idea struck me to ask some artist friends about taking over their studio space at the Evans School in Denver for an afternoon… I had spent some time in this incredibly special, once-abandoned school building, and was immediately struck by the energy of the place. Having only recently been offered to a handful of artists for use as studio rentals, this glorious building - full of tall windows and insanely intricate copper railings - sat empty since the 1970s, quietly falling into decay just across the street from the Denver Art Museum. These days, however, the vibe at the Evans School is something else. Sculptors, painters, photographers and the like are using the classrooms - heck, even the old auditorium - to ideate, create and collaborate with one another. Tiny DIY galleries have popped up to showcase the work of folks making art next door. In my estimation, one of the most beautiful things about this space, aside from the building itself, seems to be the fact that there is a definite ambiance of - dare I use the cliched word - synergy and co-inspiration happening among the artists at work there.

Utilizing raw materials from artist Sam Grabowska’s sculpture work as a backdrop for Talisman’s new FW23 designs

None of the residents know how long this gem will last… word has it that the building may be purchased by developers to be remade into a luxury hotel in the near future. And, as sad as that may be (although it has the makings for a beautiful hotel, no doubt), somehow the limited-time aspect of the whole scene - this permeating feeling of uncertainty - lends it a bit of Chelsea Hotel-type magic. Something that is at once almost outside of time and space itself, and yet is entirely ephemeral. To be certain, it is a Time and a Place, in Denver, Colorado, 2023.

Knowing that the opportunity to do something in this magical space might be limited, then, it seemed that the time was right for a photoshoot there. The goal for the shoot, as far as I could see it, was simply to capture some of the magic that is happening behind closed doors at 1115 Acoma Street, and by extension, to delve into the raw materials and processes of some of the artists at play there. A statement, if you will, about how creative imagination can turn raw, even seemingly strange objects into entire worlds of beauty.

Matt Nager shoots a still life scene on Sam Grabowska’s desk. Styling and creative direction by myself, Vanessa Barcus.

Thankfully for Talisman, my dear friend Erin McAllister and her Evans School studio mate, Sam Grabowska, were happy to oblige. So my trusty photog Matt Nager and I were given access to their studio, and all of its gloriously weird objects and supplies. Erin is a fiber and textile artist who also paints on occasion. Her work is as vibrant and colorful and explosive as she is. Sam is a sculptor and multi-media artist whose highly-conceptual work speaks to themes of creating space, in both a literal and psychological sense, as well as themes of safety, trauma healing, and care. Through both artists we found a rich assortment of tactile, textural raw materials to use as a backdrop for Talisman’s latest designs. Another friend, Vanessa Luka, graciously lent her beautiful ears and hands to be photographed in what was otherwise a mostly still-life shoot.

Take a peek behind the scenes here of our day at the Evans School… In the near future, you may just see the scraps and materials we used in our photos come together in one of these two artists’ upcoming work.

Artist Erin McAllister shows us around the studio

XX,

Vanessa

Trunk Show with Kinship Station Topanga

Calling all LA friends!

Talisman will be saddling up with our friends at Kinship Station - a stunning boutique of decor, jewelry and other curiosities - for a trunk show in Topanga, CA.

Join us from 1-6pm on Saturday, October 7th at the shop: 106 S Topanga Canyon Blvd.

I’ll have a select assortment of stock you can take home with you, as well as the entire FW23 sample set to place orders from. Don’t miss this opportunity to have a peek at the jewels IRL, and say hello! Free hugs also offered upon request ;)

See Talisman at The Found Collective on Saturday

It’s that time of year again… the fall Found Collective market is happening in Boulder on Saturday, September 9th at the Dairy Arts Center. As per usual, I’m super excited not only to hang with so many of my friends in one place - who also happen to be some of the most talented designers and artisans in Colorado, no less - but I also can’t wait to finally unveil some of the new fall pieces I’ve been hard at work on. Come see me and scope out designs like my brand new, entirely handmade Anchored Chain, the Orbit Collar and Orbit Bracelet, the wonderfully chunky new Conjunct Cigar Band and its pair the Conjunct Ring, and so much more. Entry is $5, but is SO worth it, between the amazing food, music, and the best curation of vendors this side of the front range. See you there!

Sneak Peek at Fall/Winter 2023

July and August are the months in which I’m busy dreaming up new designs to be unveiled in the fall. What begins as a sketch, and then a wax carving, slowly morphs into solid gold. You’ll have to use your imagination to picture these rough models as the final product in glistening 14k, but I still thought it might be fun to give my clients a little sneak peek into what I’ve been working on. This is by no means a comprehensive group… there are a few more tricks up my sleeve that will be released when they’re ready, for the record.

The Conjunct Cigar Band and Conjunct Ring are designed to pair together, but can just as easily be worn separately. I’m absolutely in love with them… it took a bit of trial and error to get the asymmetry and leaning angles just right.

This season I found myself increasingly called to create more streamlined, simple shapes that felt like the daily essentials that the collection was missing. Really, I was just getting back to the core of what Talisman Fine Jewelry is all about - everyday heirloom jewelry that still feels sacred and sculptural. Ok, maybe with a wilder piece or two mixed in, because I’m still an artist and I have to express myself as such. Scroll on for a taste of what’s to come.

More views of the Conjunct Cigar Band and Conjunct Ring in wax, before casting into solid, recycled 14k gold.

The conjunction of the Conjunct Cigar Band and Conjunct Ring, hehe

A very pudgy Delphi Ear Cuff. I imagined this as something the Oracle of Delphi would wear while she divinates for her patrons.

Soon to be a hoop… a pair for the Helix Ring.

This piece is artful and a little wild, called the Central Sun Ring… it’s a piece that’s been a long time coming, swimming in my head as a possibility for a year or more. She pairs with the Central Sun Earrings.

Almost finished… these are the Orbit Collar and the Orbit Bracelet, getting ready for final polishing. They’re truly everyday, heirloom pieces. Add charms if you desire, or just wear them alone for a minimalist statement in solid 14k gold. The hooks click shut when you put them on - a sound that I find to be very satisfying.

Field Trip: Orisons

Marguerite Humeau’s wind flute, a part of the larger Orisons earthwork installation, with the Sangre de Cristo mountains and the Great Sand Dunes as a backdrop.

If you’ve ever spent time in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, then you know what I speak of when I say there is magic there. I’m not alone in believing it’s some kind of an energetic portal. As the largest alpine valley in the world, it’s also an incredible destination for natural beauty, and bountiful hot springs to soak your weary soul in too. So perhaps it’s no coincidence that artists over the decades have descended upon this valley, as a place to create and to find inspiration from the land. French sculptor Marguerite Humeau is one such artist, who, with the help of Black Cube Nomadic Museum and land offered from Jones Farms Organics, recently installed the largest earth-based work ever created by a female artist. Covering 160 acres of unproductive farmland, Orisons is comprised of 84 kinetic and interactive sculptures that pay homage to a land that is rapidly undergoing desertification - a bellwether of sorts for the rest of our climate change-plagued world. “Orisons means prayer,” states Humeau, but “it also sounds like ‘oree’ in French, which means ‘the cusp, the edge, the periphery.’ Orisons is about resilience, transience, life and death. Life as a gust of wind, the fragility of our existences.”

The repurposed theater marquee in Saguache, Colorado

I had the privilege of joining some friends for the opening of Orisons, and immediately felt the gravity of what her work was speaking to, as someone who also owns a generations-old farming business that’s been impacted by climate change (yep, that’s my other hustle folks). Along the way we also managed to dip in at our favorite of the valley’s hot springs, Valley View, made new friends in the town of Saguache, and connected with some other resident artists in the town of Center. All in all a pretty special trip, hence the need to document it for you here.

The VIEW from Valley View hot springs at sunset.

Taking in Humeau’s work is definitely something that will require another trip back in order to process everything; there is a complex framework of interrelated mythologies, ecologies, and imaginings at play here. Take, for instance, the highly-intentional siting of the sculptures, which pay tribute to different humans and animals who lived and died there - an attempt, the artist says, “to reconnect every form of life that has lived on it, is living on it, or will live on it in the future” (as divinated by the clairvoyant geomancers that Humeau brought on for the project, no less). Or there are the wind flutes that play the notes of the sandhill cranes who migrate to the valley each year - birds whose migratory patterns have been changing as of late. Heart-like shapes are also a recurring theme in the works, but don’t mistake those for the generic valentine variety - they’re actually a nod to the shape of a local medicinal plant seed, as well as an abstracted take on a sandhill crane’s face. There’s a lot there, but at the same time a palpable sense of peace on the land too. Humeau describes her work, in part, as an “attempt to perform acupuncture at the scale of the 160 acres of fallow circle.” In this sense, she considers the land itself as an artwork, and herself as a humble host whose role “was maybe to simply give it credit for who it is as an entity, celebrate it, elevate it, and care for it.” Humble, yet inspiring, to say the least.

Adam next to one of 84 sculptures by Marguerite Humeau. This one she described as wearing “earrings.”

Special thanks goes to Adam Gildar for playing tour guide (and for being an early catalyst of the whole project), to Max Gibson for hosting us, to Jones Farms Organics for allowing us on their land, and to the Frontier Drive Inn for the lovely opening reception. I will be back.

Turning Your Old Gold Into New Treasure

Custom 18k gold ring, handmade using the client’s own melted gold.

When three different clients approach you within a one month span, all asking if you can melt their old family jewelry down to make something new, you know it’s something you need to look into. While melting scrap gold might sound simple enough, in actuality it’s a little more complicated, and not all jewelers will do it. Most gold refiners won’t return you with the exact same gold you gave them - they’re far too busy for such “small” requests. And simply melting down aunt Judy’s ring in the crucible and throwing it into the new casting is both risky and very costly: not only can that metal become brittle and a little unpredictable, but when done this way, the jeweler needs to come up with enough gold to fill the entire “tree” and “sprue” in the casting (the lines through which the molten gold travels to get to your new ring)… aka that requires thousands of dollars more gold than is needed for the individual piece itself. Hence my earlier statement that many jewelers simply won’t do it.

Pre-casting, the ring is first carved in wax. I wanted this weighty cigar band to have a subtle asymmetry to it, playing on offset angles.

By happenstance, though, I discovered that I actually have a special connection to a gold refiner who WILL return your own precious family gold to you, in a chunk of solid, pure 24k. Luck? Coincidence? Maybe a bit of both. But all of this is to say, that after some time and research, I finally got the process down, and have been able to make these customers new gold jewelry that they’ll love and wear everyday, out of their old gold jewelry that, while heirloom, was wasting away in a box. So why not transform your old 10k, 14k and 18k gold pieces that you don’t love, into something that you do? Nothing more alchemical than that, I’d say. To inquire, just shoot me an email at vanessa@talismanfinejewelry.co.

Fresh out of casting, the ring still has bits of “sprues” attached to it that must be ground off, followed by multiple steps of sanding and polishing to get to the final product.

The finished product! Solid 18k refined heirloom gold. It will forever hold the energy of the client’s family heirlooms.

Field Trip: Cote d'Azur

A sculpture by Germaine Richier is surrounded by sailboats outside of the Picasso Museum in Antibes, France.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of traveling to one of the most enchanting places I’ve seen on Earth (truly). It was a long-awaited trip, having been postponed several times during the pandemic. So when my mother and I finally set foot upon the stunning Cote d’Azur of France, to say that I was thrilled is an understatement. And y’all, it truly lived up to the hype. Every day I was blown away by the beauty in all directions, both in the natural landscape, as well as the architecture, art, and culture that surrounded me. I was hoping for a trip to really inspire and reset me, and I most certainly got just that.

The stunning medieval village of Eze, which sits upon a mountaintop between Nice and Monaco along the Mediterranean. The village is now home to many artists who sell their wares to tourists.

‘Has this turned into some kind of travel blog?’ you may ask? I’ll spare you the full details of my mother-daughter vacay, but I thought you, dear reader, might enjoy seeing a handful of the things that inspired me creatively on this sojourn. Because lo and behold, you may just see some of these influences come through as I begin working on new pieces for Fall/Winter 2023-2024…

A fisherman in the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a small village adjacent to Nice, who mends his net in the early morning sun before heading out to work. The bust at right is of surrealist artist Jean Cocteau, who was a onetime resident of the village.

Chapelle Saint-Pierre, a 13th century church in Villefranche-sur-Mer, re-imagined by Jean Cocteau in the 1950s.

A quick scan of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a 13th century (though settled since prehistoric times) village and fishing port adjacent to Nice. Also onetime home to Jean Cocteau and the Rolling Stones (Villa Nellcote, where Exile on Main Street was recorded, is located here, for those in the know)

The jewels taking a dip in Nice. Pictured here are the Shapeshifter Ring and the Rollo Band.

Late work by Pablo Picasso, at the Picasso Museum in Antibes. Picasso lived here briefly towards the latter part of his life, making works in a studio at a medieval castle that later became the Picasso Museum.

Sculpture work by Picasso. I found myself very drawn to his simplistic representation of faces.

Trekked to the infamous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes for a super-schmancy lunch. You don’t show up to this celeb-favorite spot without dressing the part (literally, they won’t let you in)… So we donned our finest summer attire and threw on some Talisman of course ;) I’m wearing the Alex Amulet Necklace and Linear Studs. Mom wears the Michael Amulet Necklace and Infinite Hoops.

Le Club 55 in Saint-Tropez… onetime play place of Brigitte Bardot, Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. Located on what was by far the best beach of the whole trip… those stunning turquoise waters refreshed my soul.

Fresh squeezed juices at Le Club 55 in Saint-Tropez, and the Wave Theory Ring.

Onwards to Nice, where I got to see works by one of my all-time favorite artists, Niki de Saint Phalle, at the MAMEC (Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain). This is an early example of one of her “Nanas,” which later became much more stylized with smooth, rounded bodies. Niki’s early feminism and depiction of women, particularly in such a patriarchal area of the world, is something I greatly admire.

Another work by Niki de Saint Phalle. This shirt belonged to a former lover. Wouldn’t want to be that guy ;)

Works by Yves Klein in my favorite blue at the MAMEC in Nice.

All smiles on this trip. I’m wearing the Held Necklace and the Flow Chain, along with the Aphrodite Hugs and the Linear Studs.

The gorgeous medieval village of Saint Paul de Vence. Yet another place where artists thrive to this day.

A contemporary sculpture of cast bronze and natural elements, found at a gallery in Saint Paul de Vence. Artist unknown but I certainly jived with it.

Small swath of the immense gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The Villa was built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild when, at age 40, she found herself divorced and longing for a dreamy place to call home. I can relate.

More gardens, this time of the “exotic” variety atop the medieval Eze village. I truly can’t get this enchanting place out of my head.

Spirals abounded on this trip… seen here in some ironwork on a doorway in ancient Eze.

Sailboats in the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Nautical themes were all around in these sleepy fishing towns, and I most certainly soaked it up (pun intended ha). Though I didn’t get a picture, I found myself very attracted to the anchor chain I saw connected to boats in the dock… More to come there.

Janet stands for a photo as we head back to our AirBnB in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

I’m one lucky chica to have been able to visit such an incredible place. If one word could encapsulate this trip, it would have to be “stunning.” Need I say more?

Parlez-vous Francais? A Playlist by Talisman Fine Jewelry

Parlez-vous Francais? I don’t, but I did make a playlist with some bangin French jams to listen to while I attempt to navigate the streets of Nice and Saint-Tropez. I figured I’d share the wealth with you here. It’s a mash up of ‘French touch’ house, mid century classics, psych rock, and a few other gems. Listen along and we can all pretend to be effortlessly cool French folks together. Profitez-vous bien!

Talisman at the Found Collective Boulder

Join me and a host of other noteworthy Colorado designers, artists, makers, florists, and vintage vendors for the Mother’s Day weekend installment of the Found Collective - a Boulder-based pop-up market that is not to be missed. Happening on Saturday, May 13 from 1-6pm at the Rembrandt Yard: 1301 Spruce Street.

Truly, I don’t participate in many group markets these days (TBH most of them are kind of “meh” if I’m being totally real with you), but this one is worth your time and the small $5 entry fee. Found Collective founder, Emmy Swenson, has impeccable taste and really curates the best of the best. Plus, if you haven’t thought about what you’re getting mom this year, the Found Collective is a one-stop-shop, with florals, tasteful gifts and more. Even better is that all sales will be matched and donated to three charities - Motherhouse Boulder, the Radical Waves Project, and Love for Lily. And I’ll have a BOATLOAD of new Talisman designs for you to see, which you can take home with you in my signature reusable gift packaging. Get your tix here ahead of time, and I’ll hope to see you there!

On Amulets and Talismans

Model Aleah Hyvonen wears the Michael Amulet Necklace, along with the Ra Signet Ring, Rollo Band, and Portal Bracelet. Photo by Chiara Garland.

I often get asked what on earth an amulet or a talisman is, let alone a sigil, so I figured it was high time I hopped on the blog and talked a little more about the woo-woo side of what I do. Don’t let my abstract, modernist sensibility fool you, Talisman is indeed called Talisman for a reason. I use this collection as a means of bridging my art and spiritual practice, in order to create a means of earning a living. Pretty neat, if you ask me.

In the simplest terms, an amulet is “an ornament or piece of jewelry believed to give protection against evil, danger or disease.” The term amulet or talisman can be used fairly interchangeably, as a talisman is considered “a small, portable object or piece of jewelry thought to possess spiritual or magical powers to protect, heal, or even harm individuals for whom they’re made.” In essence, they’re (usually) good luck charms. To be more specific, though, amulets and talismans are pieces of jewelry that can be imbued with a specific energy or intention by the maker, in order to achieve a specific goal for the wearer. Here is where I come in…

Model Sunshine Fox holds several Talisman pieces, including the Phoenix Amulet Necklace and the Protective Eye Y Necklace. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

Take for example, the Michael Amulet Necklace: this piece is made to carry the vibration of Archangel Michael, who is a protective guardian against evil for those who believe. Underneath the molten, abstract surface of this medallion, I’ve inscribed a symbol that is widely regarded as a magical sigil invoking Michael. What’s a sigil, you ask? A sigil is a written or drawn symbol that is considered to have magical power - often connected to the energy of a specific deity or spirit, though it also can be intuitively drawn as a symbolic representation of the magic practitioner’s own desired outcome. Whew, that got wordy! Long story short, I use sigil magic in my own spiritual practice, and many of Talisman’s pieces have secret sigils inscribed on them in order to bring you healing, protection, good luck, or other specific positive energies. The Michael Amulet and Phoenix Amulet are among those.

The Protective Eye Y Necklace on Sunshine. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

The the thing is, with these two pieces as well as the rest of the collection, my magic isn’t always obvious. That’s because I come from a background of melding two somewhat opposite worlds - fashion and spirituality. I’m a bridge person, residing at the threshold to connect people between those worlds. Fashion witch, if you will. With a love of modern art, and a background working in fashion for almost 20 years, though, I’m much more of a minimalist, abstract kind of girl. I want my pieces to be wearable and stand out as art objects, on their own. That’s why the magic behind them may not be so in-your-face to some. But trust me, it’s there.

Close up of the Michael Amulet Necklace and Solomon’s Seal Necklace. Photo by Chiara Garland.

Even for Talisman’s pieces that don’t have specific sigil inscriptions, like the Michael or Phoenix Amulets, or something so obvious as the Solomon’s Seal Necklace (which is a very powerful magical symbol that even predates its use in Judaica), magic and intention is always a part of my process. Before I even sit down at the bench, I begin each day with a meditation and channeling practice, along with some yoga movement and qigong to get my energy flowing. I focus a lot on my hands, and when I work on each piece, they’re usually vibrating with the energy that I am imbuing into the jewelry. Furthermore, when I work on custom pieces, I always have that end user’s needs and energy in mind as I’m working, so as to energetically charge that piece of jewelry with it.

The Yin Yang Necklace. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

Last but not least, I have an altar in my studio (Yes, I’m that woo guys. Are we really surprised at this point? Probably not LOL). This particular atar, if you care to know, is dedicated to Goddess energy, as embodied by deities such as Aphrodite, Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and a few others. That’s because those are some of my personal deities that I work with in my spiritual practice. So I set pieces on the altar for a time before they get shipped out to you, in order to receive some last blessings and cleansing.

Sunshine holds the Mary Pendant on the Metanoia Chain. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

So hopefully that gives some clarity for any of you who were a little unclear about just what an amulet, talisman or sigil is. And therefore probably not totally sure what I do, beyond making pretty jewelry. But hey, that’s a-ok if that’s all you think I do too ;)

TFJ Spring 2023 Playlist

Album artwork from Chancha Via Circuito’s album Bienaventuranza.

Does music - like really really good music - give you tingles down your spine? Personally, while I may lack a natural talent with musical instruments, music is still my muse… it inspires me every day; it is my refuge. Enough so that last year, for my 40th birthday, I bought myself a DJ controller. I mean, what better time than to launch one’s nascent DJ career than at midlife, no? Daytime tea parties only though, no requests please.

My proto-DJ self made a little playlist for you. It’s full of things I’ve been jamming to all day while I work on my golden goodies… Some soul, synthy dream pop, rock, hip hop, world beats, electronica, even a little jungle (!) to smooth you out and then lift you off before touching you back down (again and again). Perfect for these early Spring days where we’re creeping out of winter, but not quite in the full heat of Summer just yet. I hope you enjoy <3

BTS: Talisman Fine Jewelry SS23 Lookbook Shoot with Matt Nager

Photographer Matt Nager with model Samantha Joseph

Coming out of the holiday season, after a nice week or two of R&R, I quickly hit the ground running for SS23… That included, as in recent years, a marathon of finishing the new pieces, concepting/creative directing and producing the lookbook shoot, and getting every item shot for web. It’s a lot, but it’s all a true labor of love and a joy to do.

Matt gets the high angle with River Wharton.

This season, I was so happy to work with a longtime friend to photograph our lookbook: Matt Nager and I have known each other since high school, and I have long admired his career trajectory, which has included work for publications like Time, Travel & Leisure, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal… the list goes on. But Matt also has so much more to offer on a fine arts level, and so we melted our minds to come up with what became Close To Home (the name here partly inspired by the fact that our location was in our hometown of Boulder, and really felt like a homecoming of sorts).

The concept: a lonely woman, Samantha, is trapped in a decadent yet time-faded home on a hillside, with no one to keep her company but her imaginary friend River. That and plenty of fabulous jewelry of course. Our models Samantha Joseph, from Wolves Management, and River Wharton, were decked out in wardrobe provided by several dear friends - including Kate Towers, Salihah Moore (who also provided her amazing yellow telephone), Laurs Kemp, and a bit of my own wardrobe, which came from Max boutique and Assembly NY. Styling was by yours truly, as per usual (my other work/love, as you may know), with makeup by my friend Lillian Marsh. A shout out is also due to Kristina Foley, for hand-felting and botanically dyeing a sheep fur throw to match my color specifications, and to Laura Morningstar for allowing me to use her ceramic “lil papa” as a prop. Oh, and thank you also to Dad Grass, whose CBD joints were a surprise star of the shoot as well ;) And last but not least, a huge thank you is also due to Brian Schwartz for our location.

Continue on to see some behind-the-scenes pics of the magic we made, and then hop over here to see the finished product!

Talisman World Tour 2022 Recap

It’s Wednesday, January 11th, and I am sitting in my studio on this snowy day in Colorado, still thanking my lucky stars for what a beautiful year 2022 ended up being. In particular, getting to tour around to showcase my wares in some amazing destinations, along with good friends and plenty of good food, was a real treat. Thought you all might enjoy a little photo recap of said travels - specifically to Mexico City, and then rounding out the year in Austin. Enjoy!

The Carla Fernandez flagship store in Colonia Juarez, CDMX

Our first stop on Talisman Fine Jewelry’s World Tour 2022 was Mexico City, where we were joined by a group of friends (shout out to Bianca, Anthony and Bonnie!), as well as designers/artists Salihah Moore, Animal Handmade, Young in the Mountains, and Mario Zoots for a special pop-up shop at the flagship store of noteworthy Mexican designer Carla Fernandez. There’s no way I could possibly recap here all of the amazing food, art, architecture and cultural experiences we had while on this journey, but below are some highlights…

Checking out Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela with (from left) Bianca Parra, Anthony Duran and Bonnie Gregory.

A vendor with an authentic indigenous Tigre mask from the Guerrero region of Mexico

An artisan at work on gilded wooden crafts at La Ciudadela

Anthony and Bianca at Tacos Orinoco… we pretty much bee-lined there from the flight. IYKYK!

Cannot rave enough about the mish-mash of art deco, modernist, and colonial architecture that is Mexico City. This image was taken in La Condesa.

Bonnie peeping the Talisman Fine Jewelry setup at the Carla Fernandez pop-up event

The pop-up crew, including (from left): Salihah Moore, host Carla Fernandez, myself, Bianca Parra, Anthony Duran, Bonnie Gregory, and Hana from Young in the Mountains.

One of my favorite aspects of CDMX architecture was the creative use of formed concrete blocks, and their many textures.

A quick popover to Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo was definitely worth the journey

Diego Rivera’s personal collection of traditional Mexican cartonerias - including Judas, alebrijes, and other papier-mache figures.

Our group enjoyed many incredible meals… among them: this lunch at neighboring Masala y Maiz.

Even the public library in CDMX was awe-inspiring

A street vendor of delicious tlacoyos, just up the street from Carla’s shop… thanks to Ben from Hoja in Denver for the recco :)

Next (final) stop last year was Austin, Texas, for a trunk show with Talisman stockist Good Company. Can I just say, I love these ladies so much?! We had a great time hanging, and I even managed to sneak in some more wonderful meals, a concert, and some explorations along S. Congress Ave.

All ways welcome in Austin! Gotta love the vibe at the Austin Motel, just down the road from Good Company’s S. Congress location.

Stockist Good Company’s South Congress Avenue location

Some of the Talisman wares at Good Company

Good Company’s oh-so-adorable Meredith Marker wearing the Plane Earrings and Mirror Eye Chain

Boss-lady Chandler Hedequist’s Talisman neck stack, including the Skinny Flow Chain, Linked Chain, and the Linear Y Necklace <3

Xmas in Austin

That’s all folks! Cheers to the new year… let’s see where 2023 brings me…

The GRATEFUL Sale

Alright, I admit it, this is becoming an annual thing… As much as I dislike pushing consumerism on people at this time of year (ironic, I know), I also enjoy the opportunity to give back. Community means everything to me, so this year we’re going big…

Take 25% off EVERYTHING on the website, PLUS 10% of your sale will be donated to the Lavender Rights Project, through Tuesday with code GRATEFUL.

In light of the recent violence towards the LGBTQIA+ community here in Colorado, I chose the Lavender Rights Project as the recipient of this year’s GRATEFUL sale donation. They’re doing important work, offering legal and social services for Black and Indigenous gender diverse folx who are disproportionately affected by poverty, housing disparities, and gender-based violence. I am grateful for them <3

Cheers!

Talisman and Friends Are Mexico City Bound with Carla Fernandez

The Carla Fernandez flagship store in Colonia Juarez, CDMX. Image via Conde Nast Traveler.

Join Talisman Fine Jewelry and friends Animal Handmade, Salihah Moore, Young in the Mountains and Mario Zoots as we travel south of the border, for an extra special pop-up shop at the Carla Fernandez flagship store in Mexico City! Happening November 18-20 here.

Carla Fernandez flagship boutique on Calle Marsella in CDMX. Image courtesy of the designer.

As a longtime fan of Carla Fernandez’s work in fashion, including not only her incredible handmade garments, but also her forward-thinking ideas for the industry, memorialized in her Manifesto of Fashion as Resistance, I couldn’t be more thrilled.

So how did this opportunity come about? Thanks to the Denver Art Museum’s recent exhibit and my dear friend Jane Burke, a curator there, I had the opportunity to meet and work with the inimitable designer during a trunk show that was held in conjunction with the exhibition opening in May. Carla, ever gracious and down to earth, was incredibly warm and welcoming, and invited Talisman to come do a trunk show at her shop. Little did she know how readily I’d jump on that offer ;) Plus, I figured, why not invite some other artist friends to join us, and turn the whole thing into a CDMX-meets-Denver pop-up celebration for the books… Once in a lifetime, right?

Designer Carla Fernandez. Photo via Culture Trip.

So mark your calendar, because this is one that is not to be missed. Truly, you’re all invited… friends, clients, family, and anyone else who is looking for a little adventure. Fun will undoubtedly be had by all. Plus, it’s a fabulous excuse to visit one of the best cities on earth with some like-minded design folk :)

Curious about the other designers attending?

Animal Handmade. Image via the designer.

Animal Handmade’s hand-stamped leather bags and goods incorporate mystical, mythological motifs that not only tell a story, but are also an unbelievably cool addition to any wardrobe

Works by Salihah Moore. Image via the designer.

Salihah Moore’s painstakingly hand-beaded jewelry and garments play with geometry and come in unexpected shapes, offering both a visual and sensory experience for the wearer

A diamond and turquoise ring by Young in the Mountains. Image via the designer.

Young in the Mountains makes hand-forged, stunning inlay rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets that nod to traditional artisans of the Southwest, yet are decidedly a look all their own

Mario Zoots installing his collage work. Image via the artist.

Artist Mario Zoots began his journey painting trains as a graffiti hooligan. These days he transforms images, colors and shapes into immersive collage works that are powerfully transportive.