Elegant Jewelry for your Wild Side
Okay, my bio.
I started in jewelry in 1989. I was a musician in a garage band
at the time, and I started by making bracelets out of broken bass
strings, and turning guitar picks into earrings. My work was much
more popular than I ever expected, I was selling it before and after
gigs. I continued in this vein for about a year.
Then I started working with beads, trying unusual color combinations
and patterns. I converted my old bass case into a jewelry case,
and went out to the streets of Deep Ellum. I did very well, and
I sold my work out there every Friday and Saturday night, right
across from Club Dada. I started taking myself a little more seriously,
and I changed my major to Arts at North Texas. I've focused on 3D art and
life drawing.
After that, I started talking to galleries. I think Southwest gallery
was the first one I approached; I'd set my sights pretty high.
They liked my work, but they couldn't take in anything that didn't
have sterling silver for the findings. So, I set up a bench in
my parent's garage, got a basic torch, and started working with
silver. My first work was very rough, but apparently it had enough
appeal; Southwest let me in. This was about 1992, I think.
I started working with another artist, who later became my husband.
We founded a company, The Morpheus Company. We did shows and many
other galleries (including Millennium, Babylon, the Four Corners
Gallery, Another Path and The Olde Moon.) a list of which is on
http://www.dare2dream.com/vitae/shows/index.htm
and in magazine articles, a list of which is on
http://www.dare2dream.com/vitae/press/index.htm
and has links to the actual articles. The articles I recommend
reading are
http://www.dare2dream.com/vitae/press/expose.htm
and
http://www.dare2dream.com/vitae/press/maveric.htm
The others are mostly fluff. Anyway, we were in many galleries in Louisiana
and Texas.
I'm sure what you are really interested in for that time period
is highlighted on those pages. To sum up, I worked a day job and
worked in my studio, while my ex, Russ, was working full time in
the jewelry. We were both full time for the company by 1998. At
the height of the business, we had 16 galleries and shows every
quarter. It would probably be fair to say the success of the company
and the success of the marriage were inter-linked. I left Morpheus in April
2001.
Once I was out on my own, I started rebuilding. I founded Tawanda!
Jewelry as my own cry of independence. In six months, I’d replaced
my original equipment, and I was working as contract labor for different
jewelry stores. I specialize in pearl restringing, costume jewelry
restoration, and unusual jewelry repairs, as well as original jewelry
design. I work in precious and semi-precious stone beads, sterling
silver, and 14kt gold. I also do my own torch work (metal fabrication).
I went back to an original concept that I'd had when I'd first started,
but had abandoned with my Morpheus period...that each piece should
have a name. When I put together a piece, it speaks to me about
how it wants to look and feel. Each one has a different voice,
and I ignore that voice at my own artistic peril. Creating a necklace
is like giving birth; I cannot speed up the creative process. It
has it's own time, and each creation will come out when it's good
and ready. Sometimes the end result is so beautiful I can't believe
it ever came out of me. I hope to continue to create amazing pieces for several
years to come.
I hope this is enough, Michael. If you need more details, or a
different tack...email me. I thought I'd get this off quickly so
you’d have time to go over it.
Thanks,
Caroline
Caroline Crawford 5930-E Royal Lane #140
Dallas, TX 75230
972.392.2698
carolinedesign@lycos.com
