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click on any of the images above to visit so-charmed and see the Subversive collection! |
Crafty is still vacationing somewhere in Belize, so this month we have a guest interviewer - the fabulous monkey from hi monkey! monkey had a little chat with Jodi Bloom of so-charmed. Not only is Jodi an old pal of ours here at Subversive, but she saw to it that we finally got around to collaborating after all these years. This month, Jodi introduced three styles of large Victorian charms with our designs encased in resin. They're available both as necklaces and pins at Jodi's site now, and look for another Subversive twist toward the year's end. Take it away, monkey! monkey: Years ago, when Jodi Bloom told me that she loved the movie Life Aquatic because it had all of her favorite Bowie tunes sung in Portuguese, I knew that she and I were cut from the same fabric. Imagine my surprise to find out that she is not terrycloth! Always full of surprises and up for a good adventure, Jodi infuses her jewelry delights with wit and wisdom. I couldn’t turn down Crafty Query’s offer to interview the proprietress of So Charmed and find out just what makes her so charming. m: Jodi, thank you for inviting me into the secret subterranean caverns that house your extensive collection of beads and trinkets. It's remarkably cozy. Jodi: Yes, can you believe this was once a damp moldy garage with green fuzz growing on everything? Now it’s my lovely workspace, bright and clean enough for making jewelry and entertaining the occasional robot, monkey… whoever stops by. m: I loved your welcoming interpretive dance to Prince's "Sometimes it Snows In April." Is it difficult dancing in only beads and tulle? Jodi: Not at all! Beads and tulle are truly all that a 21st century girl needs for ANY activity. Including (but not limited to) dancing, making dinner, getting homework done or wrestling with kittens. m: Or wrestling with your muse. Having a muse seems to have gone out of fashion. Many people don't have one and if they do, they are some icon or ideal that they worship from afar. How did you acquire Molly Bess, your muse? Jodi: If muses are out of fashion, I must be a very unfashionable critter. Molly Bess--Main Muse--came into my life on September 11, 1998, when she was just 9 months old! What an auspicious day that turned out to be. Little Molly traveled all the way from Korea to come home to her parents in America. She and I have a relationship unlike any other; it’s truly magical, very creative, and endlessly sweet. m: What's the correct protocol with a muse, do you tip? Does she get a salary or is knowing that she has inspired you to creative greatness enough satisfaction for her? Jodi: Well, yes, these little modern-day muses can be terribly expensive. In addition to her $4 per week allowance, she charges a walloping 25 cents per uttered swear word (although she will let you buy a prepaid card from which she will deduct your charges). Also, these younger muses grow too quickly. I am nearly always broke just keeping her in shoes that fit. And don’t get me started on their technology “needs”… m: There was a time when every little girl had a charm bracelet and spent the rest of her life collecting trinkets for her personal portable time capsule. What do you think has caused that tradition to fade? Jodi: Well, although charms and charm bracelets have been around for a very long time, they really enjoyed a heyday in the 1950’s. And, as with so many things from that era, when feminism was born, women rejected their mother’s sensibilities, fashions, and crafts as part of the much-needed push for equality in the workforce, politically, etc. When you look at the resurgence of traditionally stay-at-home “women’s work” crafts, such as cross stitching and knitting (for example), you can see that modern feminist girls of all ages are taking back these wonderful arts, often subverting them, politicizing them, and using them for true self-expression, or just simply enjoying these activities for fun. I think charm bracelets are part of that resurgence. It’s great that feminists can be girlie again! m: I think there's a little girlie in everyone. Are your collections carefully planned out beforehand or are they are spontaneous manifestations of jewelry joy? Jodi: There’s very little careful planning at So Charmed. When orders are all filled and there’s time to play, I just open the little bead boxes and get busy. Sometimes things happen immediately, but more often the things I make evolve over a period of time, until they feel just right. I also jot down ideas and notes and make little drawings when I’m away from the studio and feeling inspired. m: So, given the infinite possible combinations of goodies from your treasure trove of tchatchkes, how do you decide what elements go into each piece? Jodi: Well, I’m a designer in my daytime life so I spend my days thinking about color, texture, typography, images, and -- most importantly -- ideas and concepts. While my work is very visual, there is generally an underlying story going on that drives many of the decisions. So, I tell the stories by choosing or making the right bits and pieces (I will drill a hole in anything!), but also by seeing how those pieces look together. Sometimes I’m going for a delicate and pleasing balance, other times it’s all about a chaotic tension, with things out of scale and out of whack. m: Let's talk atmosphere - are you one of those who lives in the moment with the serenity of a Zen monk as you create or do you crank up Suffragette City and sing at the top of your lungs? Jodi: I have two basic modes. There are times that my studio looks like a bomb went off, a big mess of beads and things, and papers, and everything. That’s when I’m creating new work… and yes, there is usually music. Currently, James Brown is a favorite, as is anything by the White Stripes. Generally though, I’m a very persnickety neatnik (the Muse, btw, HATES this charming quality!), and I do spend hours and hours cleaning up, filing each bead back into its color-coded compartment… so I can start all over again making a mess. m: Unchecked, your creativity could add pounds to your pieces and potential injuries to their wearers. Just how do you know when a piece is as good as it gets? Jodi: The pieces let me know by shouting: I’m done, go away, and go do something else! Otherwise, you are so right; I could add and add and add until they each weighed 20 pounds! And of course, overdoing it is part of my aesthetic at times. m: That's a custom piece by Her Royal Stitchiness, Julie Jackson, gracing your studio here at So Charmed International Headquarters, isn't it? Jodi: Ahh, yes. Miss Busy Fingers herself has been a Comrade in Subversion since the beginning! Our businesses started the same year (2003) and we’ve been threatening collaboration since then. m: When did you gals decide that the world was ready for a collaborative effort? Jodi: I had started working with this resin material, which opened up a galaxy of possibilities for containing imagistic elements. It was the perfect thing for Julie’s work. I started out making them smaller and precious, but the texture of the cross stitch fabric, which was super important to retain, did better scanned in this larger size. The big Victorian frame charms, which have a built-in primness, are just so funny combined with Julie’s special brand of subversion! I love the idea of a wearable cross stitch, don’t you? m: Yes, and I imagine every proper Victorian woman would secretly lust after one! Do you have any secret rituals you indulge in before sending your creations to their new homes? Jodi: Can you believe this… I actually say goodbye to many of the pieces, especially the one-of-a-kind’s. I love them so much; they are like children! Parting with them is this weird mix of joy and sadness. I know, it sounds sick, doesn’t it? I do become very attached to them. I have photos of everything though. m: I noticed them in frames on the piano. Nice looking group. Anything you'd like to shamelessly plug? Celebrities you'd like to pander to? Jodi: I’d love it if Jack would buy something for Meg! Or if Keith Richards would delve into my Pirates collection! m: Have we seen your creations dolling up any of the Beautiful People who grace the stage, screen and tabloids? Jodi: I’ve made a lot of jewelry for Ray Liotta’s ex-wife, actress Michelle Grace. And a wonderful blues singer, Candye Kane. I did a custom charm bracelet for romance novelist Jenny Crusie, which was loads of fun. My clients are really a very diverse group… punks, pirates, and princesses! m: And of course, everyone on the planet knows that they can drop by www.so-charmed.com to ogle your goods, but, what if someone wants to fondle your pieces or delicately drape them across their appendages? Can we find them in any hip boutiques or artsy shops? Jodi: Visit a shop in Philly called Omoielle to see some of my favorite goodies. And, if you live in the DC Metro area, please come by for tea! m: Any thoughts of collaborating with a small charming terrycloth primate? Jodi: I’d love that! What fun we could have! I would be honored, so let’s cook something up, ok? I especially love your Art Isn’t Just for Humans series with Frida and Andy. We could make little charms of those images with that slogan! Because art truly is for everyone, big and small, terrycloth… and, not. m: These petit fours are delicious! Did you make them yourself? Jodi: I can’t cook (or bake) worth a dang. Wait, Monkey, those are charms you’ve been eating! I hope you won’t have digestive problems. I’m sooooo sorry. m: They seem so lifelike. I'll make the snacks next time. Do you think this earring looks good on me or is it too Captain Jack Sparrow? Jodi: You can never be too Captain Jack Sparrow, you know? m: I draw the line at gold teeth. Any idea what you want to be when you grow up? Jodi: I’m avoiding that grown-up thing like the plague. My mom calls me Peter Pan. That’s a story that’s always been dear to my heart. No, I don’t wanna grow up! m: That explains the green tights. Thanks for letting me drop by and hang out. It's been charming! |
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