Ten Minutes with Jewelry Designer Emily Miranda
January 26, 2010
It may seem like an oxymoron, but many of the otherworldly pieces by Emily Miranda Studio are crafted using materials from the natural world that’s all around us. Consider, for example, the showstopping cuff coaxed from freshwater pearls, rhinestones, silk cord, and seashells. The truly daring can draw a crowd with the claw earrings featuring herk diamonds, pyrite, gold leaf, and alligator claws. Emily’s work also gives homage to other artistic traditions with pieces such as the leafy Matisse necklace and the origami-ish folded ring. She claims to “not get out much,” but wearing Emily Miranda jewelry is sure to get you through more than a few fashionably festive doors.
Oligoville: In five words or less, Emily Miranda Studio is. . .
Emily: A wearable, fanciful sculpture venture.
Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?
Emily: Bold, discerning, intelligent, curious.
Oligoville: How’d you end up as a designer?
Emily: By way of painting, by way of sculpture, by way of cakes.
Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?
Emily: About a year ago, through spending way too much time working alone, superlative family and friends, and an ongoing series of fortunate accidents.
Oligoville: How do cakes fit into your design life?
Emily: For me they were the gateway drug to jewelry design.
Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?
Emily: Birds, animals, insects, bivalves, aberrant conchology, folded paper, line drawings.
Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?
Emily: Coffee, email, studio, studio, studio, sleep, repeat.
Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?
Emily: A lutz & patmos cashmere track suit under French plumber’s coveralls, and a suede apron with lightning bolts sewn on it. No kidding. Cashmere socks and clogs.
Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?
Emily: I’m trying to limit everything to coat pockets at the moment.
Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.
Emily: Tons of rookie mistakes. Too many to name. I keep a quote by Winston Churchill nearby: “Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?
Emily: To make exactly what I like and have other people like it too.
Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.
Emily: Bigger, better, faster, stronger. I’d also be thrilled if I could pay my mortgage on time.
Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Emily: If someone tells you “it can’t be done,” please note that they have never tried it themselves.
Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?
Emily: Lots of NPR and audiobooks. When its time to rock out, The Stooges. I chill to Philip Glass.
Giveaway #22 – Winner Sara M. from Cleveland, OH
November 30, 2009
How to Win:
- Log In or Register if you haven’t already!
- Leave us a comment on this posting below.
Oligoville has partnered with Stone and Honey, to bring you another great giveaway! Enter for your chance to win a Hadley Necklace from Stone and Honey.
Hadley necklace features a hand cut silver feather riveted to a slab of brilliant brazilian agate. Choose between a deep purple or jade green stone measuring about 3 by 1.75 inches at widest points. Sterling silver feather has a brushed finish. 16 inches of sterling silver chain, closes with a toggle clasp.
Please note: each of our agate necklaces are handmade and one of a kind. because no two stones are exactly alike, the agate used for each necklace will vary slightly from one pictured.
Care: silver can be cleaned with any standard silver cleaner, or silver polishing cloth. Our agate necklaces should not be worn in chlorinated swimming pools, as chlorine may damage or discolor the stone.
A Little About Stone and Honey
Stone and Honey is the latest project from Smallthings jewelry designer Teresa Robinson. Hand-cut sterling silver combined with brazilian agate, crystals, feathers, and other ephemera, make for a collection that is modern, ethereal, and truly one of a kind.
Registration for this giveaway closes on Monday Dec 07, 2009 at 12:00 AM (CST). The winner will be randomly selected and announced in our next round of newsletters along with information to our next great giveaway. Please note, you must be living within the United States to qualify for this giveaway.
For designers who would like to participate in our Oligo Giveaway events, please email product information to our fashion editor at 
.
