Artist Feature: Lindsay Farrer of Simon and Ruby

An Interview with a Nashville Artist

Part of the goal of this blog is to highlight the talent and creativity of artists of all kinds- photographers, designers, painters, musicians, and, of course, sartorialists.  To that end I’m so excited to offer sartoriography’s first artist feature and interview!

Lindsay Black Farrer, the founder of the Etsy shop Simon and Ruby, certainly fits the bill for talented, creative artist.  Her jewelry designs are an elegant blend of form and function, drawing on the natural world for inspiration.  Saturated with rich, earthy colors and evoking a sense of  strong femininity, Lindsay’s jewelry is both delicate and daring.  She also sells her own paintings, which are reminiscent of cathedral stained glass.

Following is an interview with Lindsay.  Be sure to visit her site!

1: How did you become a jewelry designer?

I’ve always loved jewelry, in fact my first job was selling sterling silver jewelry. When I went off to school, I started making bracelets and selling them in the dorm for a little extra spending money. Looking back, my designs definitely have much more thought behind them now. I did that off and on throughout college, but took a 5 year hiatus after I graduated. In late 2006, I met a couple of really creative people who inspired me to combine my love affair with jewelry with my affection for mixing color and texture. Simon and Ruby was born.

2: What are your inspirations for your designs?

Oh dear, there are so many! Probably most often, I am influenced by places I travel, movies I watch, or people I meet. I find that after I return from a trip, my designs reflect the colors of the landscape, or the style of jewelry of that culture. Quite often, I read a book or see a movie and fall in love with one of the characters. For weeks, my designs remind me of something that particular person would wear. Currently, there are several movies and books that have been huge influences: The Brothers Bloom, Across the Universe, and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Oh how I love Alice.

3: Are there any fellow designers whose work you particularly respect?

There are tons of designers that I adore.

Alice Istanbul is a silversmith whose complete body of work I covet.  Words truly cannot describe her designs.  I haven’t invested in one of her pieces yet, but one day I will have one.

Another great source of respect would be those artists featured in the Sundance catalog.  Maybe one day I can be among them.

4: If you could have one person wear your jewlery- celebrity, historical person, whomever- who would it be?

You know, this is a really difficult one. It may sound silly, but I always adore the jewelry that Emily Deschanel wears on “Bones.” I would probably pass out if she wore my jewelry in an episode.

5: You give each of your pieces a name and a tiny backstory.  Tell us a bit more about that.

Since most of my designs are inspired by a person or a place, their names tend to relate. For instance, some of the jewelry is designed with a certain friend in mind, so it is named after them. Or, an artist or character that I’ve been reading about.

I feel like a piece of jewelry that you really love probably has a really great history, some wonderful anecdote about how you found it, the trip you were on where you stumbled upon this quaint little shop, or your eccentric great aunt that passed it on to you. I want each of my pieces to have that story, to evoke a visual image, a feeling. I just put into words what I envision the story to be for that piece.

6: How do the pieces you create relate to your personal style?  Do you wear your own jewelry?

My designs definitely reflect my personal style. I am always trying to push my comfort zone with my wardrobe, constantly mixing new items, wearing pieces I haven’t worn in a while, trying new things, while trying to keep my own style. I try this with my designs, as well. I do have a standard of how I like to mix color, or a certain layout I might prefer, but I don’t want to get mired down by it. The color schemes I work most with tend to be the ones that I am drawn to. I love turquoise, green, and burnt orange. These colors show up throughout my line, no matter the season. Metallics also are a constant. I love love love mixing metallic tones.

As far as wearing my own jewelry, of course! I am my best advertisement. I’ll be honest, I now have a hard time wearing anything I didn’t create. I do love vintage and antique jewelry, though. I adore most jewelry from the 1920s-1970′s. Sometimes I’ll mix mine in with a necklace that was my mother’s, or a great antique pocketwatch.

7: How does living in Nashville influence your creative process?  Have you noticed your designs changing since you relocated from Alabama?

You know, I always thought Nashville was mainly Country Music, with a little bit of Indie Rock thrown in. It is actually a much more eclectic city than I originally believed. I would say it is a positive influence creatively, I’ve found a couple of people here who are definitely kindred spirits. There is a level of creative encouragement that I can’t say I felt anywhere else, except for my years at college. I feel like I have support here, it is much more of a community.

It has been eleven years since I lived in Alabama, so it is a little difficult to compare my design since then. My ideas and creative process have evolved as I’ve grown up.

8: What are your favorite materials to work with?

Turquoise and Smoky Quartz. I’ll be honest, other than that, it changes with my mood. I do like a bronze metal or chain more than silver in most instances. It feels collected and old. I love old pocketwatches and keys, vintage beads from the 50′s and 60′s, and chandelier crystals.

9: Is there anything in particular people should know about SimonandRuby?  About your designs?

Oh! There is so much! Well, really I would just desire that they know how deeply invested I am in my designs. What I create is the real me. The part that I dwell on, I agonize over, it is the best outlet of expression that I have. My desire is to create that beloved piece, the one that you always want to wear, that makes you feel brighter, a bit sassier, and confident. Everyone has that one piece that they wish matched everything because they love it so much. I want to make that piece.

Since Simon and Ruby is influenced by the world around us, it is only fitting that we try to help make that world a better place. 5% of each sale goes to World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities providing emergency and hunger relief, long-term community development programs, agricultural development assistance and leadership training. More specifically, it goes to help the Gonave Hope project in Haiti.

Thanks so much to Lindsay for her wonderful interview and for helping sartoriography reach its goal of spotlighting true artistic talent!

Have an artist you’d like to see featured?  Send an e-mail with info to: sartoriography at gmail dot com.