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Open Studio: Susan Alexandra

By Caitlin Petreycik
  • 'You Know Too' bangle, $160; 'Virgen de Guadalupe' cuff, $285; 'Too Much of a Good Thing' cuff, $285; 'Universe' cuff, $285; 'Eye See' bracelet, $97
  • Left Hand: 'Dark Angel' bracelet, $230; 'Eye' and 'Lip' rings, $85
    Right Hand: 'Eye am Love' ring, $215; 'Baby Hold On' ring, $150; 'Theanine' bangle,
  • “I absorb so much through osmosis. I’ve always been obsessed with Frida Kahlo and flowers and Mexico and India. When I sit down and paint it’s not in my head, my hands just move.”
  • “It takes three hours minimum to paint a bracelet. I use baby paintbrushes and enamel. It’s hard to compare myself to others because no one really paints their jewelry. It’s not as serious. But colors and flowers and little worlds are me.”
  • "I was watching The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and then some of my pieces came out very ‘60s mod. Everything is sort of a reaction to what’s going on my life."
  • 'Rosebud' bangle, $97; 'Black Heart' bangle, $85; 'Cherry' and 'Bexley' bracelets, $245
  • “I’ve always drawn eyes without thinking. They symbolize intuition to me. And in all different cultures they’re protective.”
  • “I want everything to be affordable. Maybe you have to save up a little, but it’s attainable. I love doing it. It’s a work of love. Maybe if I was miserable I’d be like ‘someone should be paying me more for this.’”
  • 'Eye' and 'Lip' rings $85; Custom 'Carmen Miranda' phone case, $215
  • 'Peony' bangle, $130
  • 'Good Energy' cuff $285; 'Now 'N Then' bangle, $185
  • 'Boob!' bangle, $95
  • “Metalsmithing versus painting is like baking versus cooking. I don’t do precision. I don’t read maps. If I make something from Ikea it’s going to be missing a handle.”
  • 'Universe' cuff, $285; 'Vintage Eye' bangle, $115; 'Eye See' bangle, $97
  • 'Mermaid' collar, $210
  • “The winter was so dark and long and the angel designs just became this idea of, ‘everything is going to be okay.’”

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