I am constantly amazed at how jewelers can take a simple piece of metal and work infinite designs out of it.  No matter how many silversmiths I interview I always find new creative styles and ideas.  In this interview, jeweler Carol Haggiag talks about why she loves silver, and what else inspires her.

What are your favorite materials to work with? 

I simply love silver! Most of my jewelry pieces are made out of it. It is the whitest of all metals, and if I first worked with silver because of its affordability compared to gold, I actually learned to really enjoy it and prefer it to any other metals. Silver does permit a variety of patination and finishing techniques that offer me an array of looks to choose from. I like being able to give it a mat or lustrous finish or to polish to a mirror finish. I also enjoy the extreme malleability and flexibility that makes silver the ideal metal to express my creativity.

What is your favorite design, and is this your best seller?

It is a good question. I never expected my best seller will be one of the most simple pieces I ever made: a pair of hanging Buddha earrings

How did you first get into jewelry art in general?

I was always involved with art and have worked with different mediums. A few years ago though, I was diagnosed with a thyroid cancer that turned out to be more complex than expected. I lost taste for lots of things and would spend days at home doing nothing but worry. One day my husband brought me a present, a few strings of the most beautiful semi precious beads. That's how all started. I discovered the healing power of beading, took pleasure assembling shapes and colors, started to gather and collect various stones. Later I took a couple of jewelry classes and learned the basic techniques of silver jewelry. At that point I knew I had a passion for it, my passion. Eventually I set up my own studio and do now custom design jewelry for private clients.

Can you tell us more about the themes that run through your jewelry?

I am not sure there's a theme running through my jewelry. I have tons of ideas and I love to experiment. The feedback I get from people though is that my jewelry pieces are different, eccentric and bold.

What do you have planned for future collections?

I do not plan. I simply let go and that's how my ideas flourish. I usually draw something I have in mind, even if the idea is not quite clear. As I draw other ideas come to me. Sometimes those ideas totally transforms my original idea,  sometimes not. Same thing happens as I am working on my jewelry piece. That is why although each of my pieces is one of a kind, you will often find a same idea declined differently. I enjoy digging into an idea and keep experimenting.

Do you get more excited about the design or technical aspects of jewelry art?

I definitely get excited first about the design itself but as I am working on my project the technical aspects involved in its elaboration might get me excited too.

Can you name another jewelry designer whose work you admire?

I love looking at the work of others. I like very much Till Baacke, a German artist. Another one of my favorite designer is Gundula Papesh from Switzerland.

Do you find the process of experimentation frustrating or inspiring?

Experimenting can be either way very frustrating or inspiring. It often depends on the mood I am in. When experimenting gets frustrating I have learned the best to do is to put the piece aside for a while and work on something else.

If you could have any jewelry super-power to help you with your jewelry what would it be? 

If I had a super-power to help me with my jewelry, it would be a couple of extra hands working on the finishing of the pieces.

Find out more about Carol Haggiag at her website, http://www.LesBijouxDeCarol.com

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