I love the one-of-a-kind dramatically elegant jewelry pieces from Katherine Babin of dejarnette new orleans. Katherine creates her designs from vintage & found materials including glass beads, lockets and brooches, semi-precious stones, metals, textiles and timber that she mostly discovers in her hometown of New Orleans. Each time I visit dejarnette, I am struck by her cretivity. Katherine never ceases to come up with fresh new pieces to surprise visitors—pieces like the ruffled plie and the fatastical blowing bubbles. Head on over and take a look for yourself, you’ll see what I mean.
With an unconventional name (Dejarnette is Katherine’s middle name for which she was named after her grandfather) and such a distinctive style, I’m very happy to share my interview with Katherine today for Indie Artist Fixx.
1. What’s the name of your business and what do create and sell?
The name of my business is dejarnette new orleans (dejarnette is my middle name-I was named after my grandfather) I create and sell handcrafted jewelry.
2. Tell us how you got started with your indie business.
I’ve been designing jewelry for myself and close friends for many years. I began selling my pieces at local boutiques in 2004. I then decided to launch a website and offer my jewelry to those outside of the New Orleans area in May 2006.
3. What are your inspirations in your art and in life?
My family, old movies, books, music and my home, New Orleans.
4. What’s the creative process like for you?
I am constantly brainstorming, I can’t turn it off! Even when I’m working on a new collection, I find myself already thinking of the next collection. I have piles of post-it notes and sketches waiting to be created. Writing my ideas down and tucking them away in an “ideas” file is the only way I can keep from getting too distracted.
5. What’s been your biggest accomplishment so far?
(in regard to my business) being able to work on my jewelry designs and business full time
6. Tell us one funny/goofy/silly thing about yourself.
I’m addicted to snoballs, not snocones, snoballs. A snoball is finely shaved ice that comes in a cup and your choice of syrup on top. My favorite is a Hansen’s nectar cream snoball, it is so delicious and the prettiest shade of pink!
7. What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst?
Best: I get to do something I love everyday, I feel very lucky! Every so often I will get an email from a customer thanking me and telling me how much they like their purchase, it’s the best feeling!
Worst: paperwork and taxes
8. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?
Blogs: I have a very lengthy list but some of my favs are Creature Comforts, Decor8, Design*sponge, Oh Joy and of course IndieFixx!
Mags: Lucky, Martha Stewart Living, Domino and Real Simple
Shops: Anthropologie, Paper-Source, Etsy and local antique shops
9. If a genie came along and granted you one wish, what would it be?
For more wishes! Okay, assuming I can’t do that, it would be that my family always be healthy and happy!
10. What does indie mean to you? You can give a literal definition, choose to be a little esoteric or a combination of both 😉
To me indie means not part of the mainstream, unique, special, innovative and hard working. (and Maggie Gyllenhaal pre The Dark Knight)
11. What are you reading, watching and listening to?
Reading: The Boss of You and my grandfather’s journals
Watching: The Olympics, Mad Men and Project Runway
Listening: The White Stripes, Simon and Garfunkel, The Dresden Dolls, The Strokes and a little JT (hehe)
12. What’s one thing you’ve learned as an adult that you wish you knew when you were a kid?
To not worry so much and that I REALLY will appreciate my red hair when I get older!
13. What’s new? Any new plans or products that you want to share?
I just launched the neckLACE collection. This collection is composed of hand selected pieces of vintage lace. I have cut each piece very carefully by hand and put the lace through a tedious process that hardens and protects the lace. I’ve combined these lace pendants with little vintage charms, lockets and vintage chain.
I am currently working on a collection which is a modern interpretation of the Elizabethan period. I’m really excited about it and I plan to launch this line in time for the holidays.
