Hey there, I'm Alice. I also answer to Alicia. And you read that right, my last name really, really is Istanbul. No, I'm not from Turkey (and I was never Constantinople).
I am, however, a Toronto-born Canadian living in the USA. I'm a marathon
runner who loves to travel and has lived all over the world. French is
one of the six languages I speak and the one that I taught for four
years before retiring. My family is in Canada, and my life and friends
are in the US, but my heart will always be in Paris.
I'm a passionate person of open heart and mind, and art has always been a part of my life. I began my love affair with jewelry in a beading and wire wrapping class in 2004. But it wasn't enough. Since then, I've developed a passion for the various challenges of metalsmithing and have created a complete studio in my basement, where my daughter plays while I hammer away.
My work is inspired by many periods from Medieval to Celtic to late 19th century. I am particularly moved by the organic and feminine qualities that Art Nouveau embodies and many of my pieces are inspired by the work of Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha, and their contemporaries. Their artwork has the ability to cross the centuries and capture the dreamy, elusive embodiment of femininity and power.
My work begins in my head and then flows from pen to paper. All the images featured in my jewelry are my original hand drawn artwork. I translate my designs into gold and sterling silver using traditional metalsmithing techniques such as etching, forging, piercing, and casting. That's right-- I face acid, fire, saws, and hot molten metal, just for you. Striving for a vintage and timeless feel, I focus on texture, layering, and contrast to craft eclectic styles that call to the wearer from another time and place.
My pieces become artifacts, talismans imbued with my dreams. And, hopefully, yours.