Jackie Highway "Here I Am" Music Video Features YazBerry Cuff

My friend and talented composer/violinist/singer/dancer/creative wonder woman Jackie Highway just released this amazing music video. It's a lot of fun and fresh sounding, perfect to add to your summer playlist. Best of all, she is wearing a custom YazBerry Fashion hand cut leather lace cuff I made her in some of the scenes. Watch for a shiny, silver leather cuff on her left wrist while you enjoy the tunes and colorful video. Keep an eye out for her new album dropping soon; it's awesome!

The Hand Cut Leather Lace Process - Revisited

You may recall my post on my hand cut leather lace process a few years ago. I have been re-inspired by cut leather work recently and decided to film the making of a new necklace design to give you some more insight into my process and technique. The piece featured in this video is available on my facebook page for purchase. This design could also be made in bronze or silver foiled leather. I have a few other colors on hand too just let me know what you are looking for.

Giveaway Time - Handmade Autumn Earrings

The air is getting crisper and I haven't given away anything in a long time...so you are in luck. Complete the below Rafflecopter contest to enter the giveaway for these earrings:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A glimpse at my jewelry design process. It starts with an idea, in this case a suggestion from my Facebook fans to make "Fall" earrings. I pulled out some beads and elements in autumnal colors and started playing around with them.

Once I got the idea I move on to assembly. I cut tiny, fluttery leaves out of leather, salvaged some vintage bead components, and strung these all up on new brass finished hooks and wire. Enjoy!

The Hand Cut Leather Lace Process

LEATHER LACE

WHAT IS IT?

USA based Artist and Designer, Virginia E. Berry (Me) uses 100% Genuine Leather glove weight Lambskin in her precision, freehand cut and pierced leather jewelry and purses. This technique is referred to as leather lace. It is a play between positive and negative space; a 3-d rendering of a high contrast image.



THE INSPIRATION:

Mesmerized by a book on Asian Cut Art, Chinese Chung-hua and Japanese Kiri-e at my Grandmother’s, I taught herself to create cut paper art at a young age. I also finds inspiration in Mexican Papél Picado and cut paper art found in other cultures. My designs draw from traditional Asian motifs, Art Nouveau and Art Deco design.












THE PROCESS:

Leather lace requires the steady hand of a surgeon, one slip and the entire piece can be ruined. I draw out my design ideas on paper and use these to develop my pieces. Then, using the drawing as a visual reference guide, I use delicate knives and piercing utensils to freehand cut the design into leather. This is a careful, highly detailed process. Once the basic design in in place, I go back through with a close eye and makes sure all of the cut lines are crisp and smooth.

LEATHER LACE & YAZBERRY:

I started developing my hand cut leather lace technique in 2007. I've explored many tools and have sharpened my methods, always based on freehand cutting and freehand drawing. Leather lace is extremely lightweight and soft to wear. It is very flexible and amazingly durable. I have done durability testing and make sure my cut lines are thick enough so that you cannot tear them with your hands. Trust me, we've tried. To view my full leather lace collection (more to come in the next few weeks), visit yazberryfashion.etsy.com and view the bracelets & necklaces.

Hand Cut Leather Bracelets & Necklaces

YazBerry Hand Cut Copper Leather Bubbles Necklace, available here.

As seen in September's Issue of Vogue, and noted by my friend Stacy Prince, leather jewelry is a fall fashion look. I realize we are well into fall, however leather is timeless, can transition into winter easily and is such lightweight, comfortable jewelry to sport.

Amongst the leather jewelry featured in Vogue this September, were some necklaces & cuffs by Ports 1961 that have a strong resemblance to my hand cut, leather lace jewelry. My gut response was, I bet their designers search Etsy for ideas and then make versions that cost 6x that of meticulously hand crafted cut leather work. Needless to say, cut leather is lovely and compliments and adds to so many looks. With metallic finishes, leather offers a lightweight metal alternative.

My friend, Juli Lederhaus, General Manager of the lovely Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, MA, shared this article published November 3rd on AOL with me, as she is familiar with my cut leather work. "Daily Dose of Style: Leather Bracelets" by Genevieve Cruz. Cruz highlights many styles of leather bracelets, mostly studded, however the top left bracelet bears a striking resemblance to a style I've been making for several years. YazBerry Stacked Bracelet Illusion Hand Cut Silver Leather Cuff available here. My design is nearly half the price of the Linea Pelle Collection bracelet, and is carefully hand "sliced" by me, in my studio in the USA. I've done a few variations on the multi-bracelet illusion cuffs. Here is an example: available here.

Coming up next: insight into the hand cut leather lace process. I've developed this highly technical, specialized leather working technique on my own, based on skills I've applied from Chinese & Japanese paper cutting. Many hours of freehand, surgeon level cutting goes into each leather YazBerry piece of jewelry.

For more of my leather work, check out my bracelets & necklaces on my Etsy store front, yazberryfashion.etsy.com

Win a Hand Cut Leather Cuff

Be sure to visit BlueprintForStyle Blog this week to read an interview on me and YazBerry Fashion and to enter to win a free hand cut leather cuff from my collection!

Keep the rain drops off your wrist with this Japanese style umbrella. Super detailed lace-like look and feel. Very light weight and elegant. Hand cut using the Japanese Paper Cut-Art techniques. This is a very delicate careful process.