October 2008: Katy Jane & Patrick Conlin, Moonbox Studio
I'll begin this month's story at the beginning, at least the beginning that starts at Market. There were two jewelers that started selling at Market last year, and they knew each other because one (Katy Jane) had taken jewelry making classes from the other (Patrick Conlin) at LCC. And then they would set up next to each other sometimes, and then some more times, and they got to know each other in those hours of sitting at Market in booths next to each other, and, well, Market can be a pretty romantic place...
So now they are married and they share a Market booth that is filled with the work of not one, but two people who love each other and love working with metal, which really just multiplies how beautiful the work is.
Patrick is mostly self-taught as a metal smith, which is just amazing to me. His technique is so beautiful! His work makes great use of spirals and swirls, and has a definite Celtic feeling. I love the hand forged copper pots. One of them is the centerpiece of this year's Holiday Market poster, and has inspired its design.
Katy's jewelry is frequently inspired by floral shapes, and she has a wonderful sense of how to combine semi-precious stone beads and silver into jewelry with a specific and unique sense of style.
Along with loving the work that's displayed, I also really like the display itself. The simple, unfinished wood shelves compliment the copper vessels, and the simple, rustic wooden necklace and ring displays highlight the casual elegance of the jewelry. The space is inviting to step into and spend time in. It's an easy place to spend time, there is so much fine detail to take in...
You can find Katy and Patrick in space T29 near the south west corner of the west Park Block.
