Apollo Suns cuff project

As an emerging artist I am always trying to think of ways to reach out and connect my work and design ideas with people. It happened just by chance that I created a mans ring and posted it on Instagram I always put a hashtag to drive viewship, and it was those hashtags that connected me with Ed Durocher the band leader of Apollo Suns out of Manitoba. He inquired about my rings and possible cuff ideas. So I did some research into his band and chose an image from his logo. I wasn't commissioned to make a piece for him, I just wanted to make something and present it to him later. That's exactly what happened. 

At the same time I wanted to make a piece for the South Bend Museum of Art faculty/student show. I had taken the sunburst idea from the "o" on his logo and designed it and started the process. There it is, my project and my goal. I made the piece and entered it, then I posted it on Instagram. Ed and I talked about it and of course he loved it, but he wanted to have a traditional shaped cuff as opposed to the hollow construction piece I had made. That is a good thing as there were a couple isues with the cuff made for the show: the size would be way too small for him, and there were seam issues on the edge. So I sent him a quick video on how to measure his wrist, and got to work on cuff #2. 

One thing I learned from Ed, connection is so important. He is amazing at connecting to his band following and I feel like we have become friends. Making a piece for someone you know is the most rewarding thing as a jeweler. You get inside their head a little bit and the heart and soul that I put into is gets to be enjoyed by that person. 

Once I sent it off to Canada ( yikes!) and he received it he instantly shouted me out on his post on Instagram! What a sweet gesture! I can't wait to meet him on his tour this year.

It has been an honor to create this cuff for him!