Q&A With Cabrina Channing of Cabrina Channing Silverworks
I’m happy to introduce this talented local designer for our Maker Q&A this week: Cabrina Channing Silverworks. CCS Jewelry is inspired by a myriad of cultural influences with a mythical and fairytale quality that is unique to Channing’s work. She kindly shared some of her thoughts on design and travel, below. Enjoy!
1. Q. What do you love most about living in Nevada City and how many NCCF's have you participated in? A. I love that Nevada City is a thriving haven for all types of artistic people as well as those that appreciate handmade art. Nevada City is welcoming, quaint, and the perfect place to remain inspired to make all types of interesting jewelry. I have been participating in the NCCF since the very first one. Ive actually lost count at how many that is but I always try to be a part of this gem of an event both in the winter and the summer.
2. Q. What does a creative day in the life of Cabrina Channing Silverworks look like? A. A creative day for me starts bright and early in the studio designing and sketching jewelry pieces for the day while listening to music and drinking a hot cup of tea. My days build up in the studio like a crescendo starting slow as I work up into an intense creative flow. My ideas usually start with a specific stone i’m excited to work with or an inspiring image or a tiny little idea that blossoms into a finished piece. My studio is my ultimate happy place and I spend as much time there as I can.
3. Q. You've mentioned you love traveling. Which place have you enjoyed most and why? A. I love traveling to places that are the most unlike the US. I am a fan of extreme culture shock. I am so fascinated by the middle east and Asia. Lately I’ve made 2 trips to the UAE and have fallen in love with the people, architecture, and culture there. Each time I travel, I bring home another facet to my artwork, new inspirations, and directions with my work. I try to dedicate bits of time to focus on the metalworkers and jewelers in other countries to witness how truly vast this craft is. Jewelry- making is an ancient craft that has branched and changed vastly over thousands of years and it’s so fascinating to see how varied the techniques are.
4. Q. Which designs are you most excited about making recently? A. My jeweler’s saw is my favorite tool in the studio and sawing the most intricate cutouts is my zen. The more silver dust I collect, the more detailed the piece becomes, and I seem to fall deeper in love with the individual piece as well as my craft. I love working with stones that have colors that shift with the light like moonstone, labradorite, and rainbow obsidian. I also have been integrating imagery from european gothic architecture and cathedral window designs into the piece. The powerful imagery of those long standing buildings is an inspiration to me.
