We at I Heart Photography have a great love and appreciation for all things vintage, so that we love Pretty Penny Mae Jewelry will come as no surprise. We had a blast at the photo shoot, and have really been looking forward to sharing these photos on the blog.
Brooke on her style & inspiration: My pieces are somewhat vintage. So I guess you could say they are quasi-vintage. The majority of my jewelry will have a least one vintage element in them usually anywhere from the 1940s to the 1970s and can be a chain, charm, or piece of vintage ephemera. I like to take older, broken pieces of jewelry and use parts of them to make a new piece. My inspiration often comes from my grandmother. She has always had the most fantastic style and elaborate yet understated jewelry. I also get a lot of inspiration from vintage ephemera such as old children’s readers, story books, educational material, and instructional guides. The books and pamphlets from the mid 1950s are my favorite. The colors and illustrations are always so bright and detailed that you can’t help but to take a closer look, which is something that I strive for in my jewelry.
Where does the name Pretty Penny Mae comes from? I’ve called my jewelry business Pretty Penny Mae after my shelter dog Penny. I was fairly blue after moving back to Austin and desperately needed something to pick up my mood. I fell in love the moment I saw her. She’s the best thing that’s happen to me in a while so I wanted to name my business after something that brings me great joy.
Brooke on her background in art & jewelry-making: My background is in fine art object conservation/restoration with a specialization in natural history and skeletal material. The materials I worked with most often were human and animal bone which could range anywhere from wild boar to mammoth and ivory. I studied at a very small and wonderful art college, City and Guilds of London Art School in London, UK. The college tutors (who are all full time artists) teach using traditional artistic methods in the fine art painting, sculpture, wood/stone carving, and museum conservation courses. The conservation course was absolutely amazing and during my 4 years I fell in love with the city. Having some of the world’s most influential art and culture at my fingertips was truly amazing and unforgettable. Unfortunately, the museum industry was hit hard by the economic recession and I was unable to stay in London. I began my jewelry business when I moved back to Austin as I way to have an artistic outlet.
Where you can find Pretty Penny Mae Jewelry online:
Etsy Shop: www.prettypennymae.etsy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PrettyPennyMae
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PrettyPennyMae
Brooke on making unique and custom pieces: I am constantly making new pieces. I love to experiment with new materials and fabrics and do so quite a bit. Most of the time, I’ll make a new piece for myself and wear it to see how I feel about it then produce more for sale. I currently have several experimental pieces that I haven’t put up yet, but will soon. I also love to make custom orders! My most frequent requests are for customized photos in the frame necklaces. I can do family portraits, sonograms, pet portraits, vintage ephemera, etc. If someone has an image or an idea for a personalized piece, I am always up for it. I like to keep my jewelry affordable. My prices range from $3.00 to $40.00 depending on the piece. I also like to have frequent sales and will often have some sort of discount available.
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