Arcadian Edge is just me, Jess Ess, and my miniature dog, Kyzr - living and working on Noongar boodja, in the Perth suburbs, close to the city, but never far from the beach, the hills, the parks and the coffee shops. I love the native flora and fauna of my neighbourhood and surrounds, and get excited when a new bird visits my native courtyard garden. I have a day job, working for a Perth office and Arcadian Edge is my creative outlet.
I have been wearing colourful jewellery since I was nineteen, working in a costume jewellery store (do you remember Kleins?) where I had access to the occasional enamel butterfly brooch. The world has changed dramatically since those days! When I discovered acrylic and resin jewellery later in life, lightweight colourful accessories became limitless! I have always been a creator - drawing, sewing, printing and pottering about, working out how things are made and recreating things for myself.
During a work hiatus in 2018, I began designing and making my own quirky brooches and earrings, using laser cut acrylic as the medium. After learning how to use the vector graphic design software and acrylic glues, my unique style has emerged. Inspired by those birds in my garden, I produced simple geometric interpretations in recognisable bold colours.
In 2021 I saw a YouTube video of some guys melting household plastics on a panini press and instantly thought - this could be jewellery! The process was not quite as simple as they made it appear, but after many, many months of melting, squishing, cutting and shaping, I developed a process that I was happy to introduce to Arcadian Edge.
Everyone is aware of the need to reduce plastic waste. My recycled plastic earrings highlight the abundance of plastic lids that are not easily accepted for recycling by local authorities (yet). I also like to highlight the importance and beauty of plastic. It is the perfect fabric for bright, quirky jewellery, but it is also vital to a lot of industries - we need plastic and it should be valued! We need to make wise and informed decisions about the manufacture, use and disposal of this necessary material... while looking good and having fun!
I have been wearing colourful jewellery since I was nineteen, working in a costume jewellery store (do you remember Kleins?) where I had access to the occasional enamel butterfly brooch. The world has changed dramatically since those days! When I discovered acrylic and resin jewellery later in life, lightweight colourful accessories became limitless! I have always been a creator - drawing, sewing, printing and pottering about, working out how things are made and recreating things for myself.
During a work hiatus in 2018, I began designing and making my own quirky brooches and earrings, using laser cut acrylic as the medium. After learning how to use the vector graphic design software and acrylic glues, my unique style has emerged. Inspired by those birds in my garden, I produced simple geometric interpretations in recognisable bold colours.
In 2021 I saw a YouTube video of some guys melting household plastics on a panini press and instantly thought - this could be jewellery! The process was not quite as simple as they made it appear, but after many, many months of melting, squishing, cutting and shaping, I developed a process that I was happy to introduce to Arcadian Edge.
Everyone is aware of the need to reduce plastic waste. My recycled plastic earrings highlight the abundance of plastic lids that are not easily accepted for recycling by local authorities (yet). I also like to highlight the importance and beauty of plastic. It is the perfect fabric for bright, quirky jewellery, but it is also vital to a lot of industries - we need plastic and it should be valued! We need to make wise and informed decisions about the manufacture, use and disposal of this necessary material... while looking good and having fun!
I acknowledge and respect the Original Custodians of the land on which I live and work, the Whajuk people of the Noongar nation. Land that was never ceded.
Copyright Arcadian Edge 2023