Melissa De La Fuente is the first person I met on the first morning of Alt Design Summit 2012. I was in line getting coffee with the rest of the striped shirts when I saw Melissa’s warm, friendly smile. Unlike some of the other people I met face-to-face for the very first time, Melissa and I hadn’t been chatting on Twitter or through our blogs before the conference. But after talking to her for the first time, I knew I wanted to keep in touch with this radiant woman.
Take a look at the gorgeous jewelry she’s been making and learn more about the person behind the metal.
What is your Creative Mix? Tell us about all the creative things you do.
Well…..I think my main way of expressing myself creatively is the way I decorate my space or home. Though my style has changed over the years, I think I have always been this way. I took a lot of pride in how my room looked when I was little; always made my bed, was very deliberate about where things were and how they looked aesthetically. I would move my furniture around all the time. Very much aware, without realizing it, that my room was an environment I could control. It just came naturally to me, to invest a lot of time and energy into it.
My style is very personal and isn’t for everyone, but it makes me very happy. The other way I express myself is through my jewelry. I have loved jewelry my whole life. A friend of mine pointed out that it was my version of tattoos, meaning it has always been extremely personal, choosing to wear things that mean something to me or remind me of things that are important to me – talisman or good luck charms, though not obvious ones, necessarily. Going back to school to become a metal smith was the fulfillment of a long term dream of mine. Now I can create the pieces I want to wear. It means so much to me.
When I look at photographs or paintings or graphic design in the pages of magazines, I can imagine the process for creating it. I understand the steps that go into it. When I learn that someone makes beautiful jewelry, I’m totally in awe. How??? How do you do it? Can you take one of your beautiful pieces and walk us through some of the major steps that go into creating it from design conception to finished product?
Oh, that’s such an interesting question….I always think that too, when I see something I love that was created by hand. Well, with this piece, which is the most time-consuming piece I make, it started with learning how to make something that was layered metal.
- I start by Measuring and cutting out the metal that will serve as the base piece, with a jeweler’s saw.
- Measure and cut out the top piece.
- Sand both of them down at the ends, slightly shaping the corners into a rounded shape,
- Measure off and mark where the positive signs are going to be.
- Drill small holes into the metal in those spots.
- Insert the blade of the saw into the holes, one by one, and cut out the positive shapes.
- Go back in to each one and flesh out the positive signs a little more.
- Check and make sure if I am happy with the way everything is shaping up.
- Sand and refine the shape of each positive sign.
- Sweat solder the smaller top piece onto the bigger base piece.
- Check the soldering to make sure it is solid all the way across.
- Put the piece in a solution called “pickle” that cleans off residue from soldering.
- Sand, sand, file, sand and file some more! This is the part that can often take the longest, as I am aiming for the two pieces to appear to be one on the sides, with no visible seam. It helps if your lines are very, very straight when you do the initial cutting but, I am not that great at cutting straight lines! :)
- Put the straight piece on the bracelet mandrel and hammer it into the cuff shape.
- Smooth out any rough edges, polish and finish the piece with my flex shaft (sort of like a drill, with many different heads that you can change, depending on what you are trying to do to the piece).
- Clean it and triple check that I am happy with the way it turned out
- Package it up and send it on to it’s lovely new owner :)
You went to Juilliard and worked as an actress for a while. What kind of roles did you do, and do you ever miss it? How has that type of creative experience contributed to your writing and other interests?
That was my passion for most of my younger life, going to arts schools from junior high on up. Juilliard was the only place I really wanted to go for college and was so happy when I got in. I worked as an actress until my first daughter was born (actually the last thing I did, I was four months pregnant with her at the time). I did mostly theater, a lot of Shakespeare, some TV, and one independent film. I also did voiceover work and that is the only part of my former career that remains, to this day.
I don’t miss it as much as you would think. My husband is an actor and so maybe that helps because I am still involved in that world, via him. Occasionally, I will see something that I really think is amazing and wish I was a part of it, but that doesn’t happen too often. I don’t know if it has influenced my other creative interests. Maybe I am just someone who has to express themselves creatively so it comes out one way or another?
I’d love to know some of the ways you’ve brought creativity into your family life. Art and creative play is something that I want Nathaniel to have plenty of in his world. He’s almost three. Any recommendations for fun ways to encourage him creatively?
I guess my main thing is that I try to teach my girls to express who they really are. Whatever form that takes, to embrace their uniqueness and difference and not feel like they have to conform to what the world is telling them they have to be. To stand up for what they think is right and believe they can be whatever they want to be, if they put their hearts and minds into it.
I am not sure I do anything specifically to bring that into our family life but, I just try to see what interests them and then make it easy for them to pursue it or have space to explore it. Maybe the effort and love I put into our home affects them or influences them? I’d like to think so but, am not sure. Maybe them seeing me pursue something I love, influences them too? Not sure about that either!
“I guess my advice would be to let him see what makes you happy, energized and excited and then encourage him to find out what that is for him. Share things with him that you think are beautiful and ask him what he thinks is beautiful and what makes him happy. When you see what it is, it is easy to encourage that in them. I think.”
And last, but certainly not least, how has blogging and social media impacted your career?
Well, no doubt watching all the creatives around me for the past seven years has influenced my pursuit of what I love. It has taught me more about understanding my own style; looking at interiors on blogs and following bloggers whose style speaks to me. Loving Etsy and all of the wonderful artists I have met over the years, via Etsy, blogs, etc. I wonder if I would have had the courage and wherewithal to go back to school if I hadn’t been exposed to all of these other folks creating, learning and striking out on their own.
Here are some of the folks that have had a big impact on my creative life in recent years:
Holly Becker – decor8 was one of the very first blogs I began reading religiously – still do – and Holly’s books have inspired me endlessly in my home.
Ez Pudewa – Creature Comforts was also one of the first blogs I began reading every day and Ez’s knack for finding beautiful things everywhere made me happy every day I checked in there. Still does.
Marichelle Hills – Marichelle was one of my first blog friends to become a friend offline. We live right behind each other in our town now and have very similar taste. I love that we can constantly bounce things off of each other and inspire each other in our homes and with what we create to fill them.
Susan Conner of Susy Jack* was also one of my first blogging friends that I met offline and she continues to inspire me with her beautiful designs and flawless aesthetic. I reached out to her way back then to tell her how much I loved her work and how I thought folks should say when they like what someone is doing. Well, recently Susy made a point of returning that favor, emailing me via my shop to say she loved where I was going with my new work and it made me so happy.
Jennifer Sarkilahti of Odette New York – Everything Jennifer makes is beautiful to me. I have been a huge fan of her jewelry since day one and am constantly inspired and amazed by her aesthetic and reinvention of what jewelry can be.
Sibella Court – I don’t personally know Sibella but am a huge fan of her style and aesthetic. I love her unconventional approach to interiors and what can be used to infuse them with style, personality and uniqueness. She gives permission to see the potential in everything and she goes out on a (beautiful) limb to express that.
Domino Magazine – Like a lot of people, I still miss Domino. I felt like it was the first mag that spoke to my sense of style. Or the style I often aspired to. Not stuffy, not traditional but, beautiful, inspirational and attainable (sometimes)
Tamar Mogendorff – One of the first artists I discovered, via blogland, and to this day, still so inspired by her and her work. It seemed to embody everything I loved; whimsy, uniqueness, warmth, beauty and a sense of humor. I talk about her all the time, but can’t help it!
My daughters – I feel like every decision I make, is based on how it will affect them. I decorate the house with them in mind, make decisions about what I do, how much I work and who I associate with, always thinking about how it will affect them. I can’t help that either. Once they were born, their happiness became the most important thing to me. Striving to make their lives and surroundings positive and happy ones inspires me to do better.
My hubby – Watching him pursue his passion and being such a great actor. He has always been so supportive of what I wanted to do, getting me the tools I needed to set up my workshop and just being generally awesome. We’re a good team.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Melissa! And for introducing me to some awesome new-to-me creatives. xo