About the Artist

 

Hi, I'm Brandi Fletcher. Let's just put it out there—I'm a 70's kid through and through. The 70s were the ultimate decade for music, leather purses, corduroys, peasant blouses, smiley faces, TV sitcoms, and of course, gorgeous turquoise jewelry. My childhood friend Marcy's dad, Julian, was a silversmith who created the most beautiful turquoise pieces in his home shop in Southern California. Though Julian is no longer with us, he and the memory of the pieces he made continue to inspire me.

My fascination with turquoise began early. I started beading and making necklaces for my parents' friends at 9 years old. I would use Puka shells and Heishi beads to create my pieces, relishing the feel of chunky turquoise and smooth coral beads between my fingers. My jewelry journey was momentarily paused when my uncle Bob gifted me the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album, which ignited my passion for music.

Fast forward to the 90s, I conquered my fear of singing in front of people (a long story) and joined a band where I met my wonderful, fun, and supportive musician husband. We've been married for 21 years and still play music locally.

Over the past 20 years, my creativity has led me to various artistic pursuits: musician, mosaic artist, painter, ceramicist, guitar string jewelry designer, magician (short-lived, but I LOVE magic), and finally, silversmithing. For a long time, I was intimidated by silversmithing, wondering how silversmiths achieved their craft. Eventually, I found a community class nearby and took lapidary and silversmithing courses for a year and a half. Once I learned the secrets, I felt like I had come home.

I create all my pieces intuitively, never drawing anything out. While this might be considered a bad habit in silversmithing, it works for me. My pieces guide me, telling me what they want to become, and I listen. Although I might get more done if I didn't sit and listen to my stones so often, this process makes each of my pieces truly unique. They essentially design themselves.

I name my pieces after incredible places I've been and the music I've loved along the way. It's a sweet tribute to the universe for encouraging me to do what I love. I make jewelry to make people feel good, powerful, pretty, loved, and remembered.

My inspiration comes from music, people, and places. Having lived in Joshua Tree, California (before it was hip!), I have a soft spot for dark desert highways, cholla bushes, and horny toads. The pine trees, boulders, and blooming cactus of beautiful Arizona, where we now call home, also inspire me. I'm moved by other artists' creativity—lovely guitar playing, a beautiful cake, a hand-painted dresser, a yummy cocktail in a beautiful glass, a healing massage, a gorgeous hand-woven fabric, a simple thrown-clay mug. I firmly believe there is room for everyone. Creativity is not a contest; it's a gift to share with the world.

I'm also inspired by the author Liz Gilbert, who says about creativity in her book BIG Magic, “The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them.”

Rock and Crow is the result of my years of digging.

May you be as inspired by my pieces as I am.

Keep digging.

--Brandi