On my weekly thrift shopping excursions, I always make a beeline for the jewelry case. Frequently I see clear plastic bags of junk jewelry: broken necklaces, loose pendants and other bits and bobbins best used for crafting. Where I see junk, Alison Woodward sees inspiration.
Alison is the amazing artist and designer of Reverie jewelry-handcrafted, one of a kind works of art made of recycled and vintage jewelry, buttons and pure artistic talent. Recreating jewelry from scraps isn’t new, but Alison has an amazing eye for repurposing the once discarded materials, into pieces that are probably 1000 times more amazing than their previous life.

I got the opportunity to ask Miss Reverie about her amazing collection. Check out the Q&A:
DC: How long have you been designing your jewelry?
AW: I started designing a little over 4 years ago. It really began just as a hobby…a way for me to be creative and a good excuse for me to buy these parts and pieces I’d been admiring on my weekends at the flea market!
DC: Why “Reverie”?
AW: Well as soon as my pieces started to sell, I thought “Hmm. I may have something here!” At that point I figured I better name my line. I thought for a couple of weeks about it and one morning “reverie” just came into my head. Right away it felt perfect. I’d always thought that was such a beautiful, old-fashioned word. And it very much sums up my jewelry. Not only are my designs the product of my deep and ponderous daydreams, but they also have a way of carrying that feeling with them.
DC: Who do you see wearing your designs?
AW: I’ve noticed that my jewelry speaks to a really broad spectrum. Once a year I have a cocktail party in my studio and it’s so fun to see who identifies with what. I try to stay away from trendy styles so that each piece can really stand alone. This helps carry my jewelry through every season for any age woman.
DC: I noticed you use a lot of iconic symbols. What do you look for in potential pieces for your creations?
AW: What an interesting observation! I hadn’t even noticed that! I don’t usually know what I’m looking for when I go out in search of new materials. I try to keep a really open frame of mind and see the potential in everything I pick up. Which means I’m an incredibly slow shopper. Sometimes I’ll see something from ten feet away and make a beeline to snatch it up. And other times I find something after digging in a box for fifteen minutes that makes me wonder, “Can I really use this?” But if it’s speaking to me, I usually just go for it. And more times than not, that ends up being the best thing I got all day!
DC: What’s next for you and Reverie?
AW: This past year I’ve had great success getting my line into more stores and even a couple of galleries. But I’m not quite there yet! My real dream is to have my own Reverie store. So in the meantime I have to continue on with this balance of designing and marketing. I’m one of many artists who would much rather just work on their art. But I realize that the marketing aspect is crucial. That’s the only way people are going to know my jewelry exists! So I’m just going to keep at it. And hopefully in a few years I’ll feel ready to have my very own shop. Oh, my heart races when I think about it!
DC: Would you still create one of a kind pieces? Or would you consider doing limited edition collections?
AW: I’ve actually just started making some limited edition pieces. Every once in a while I’ll find several of one thing, which allows me to create a few of the same design. This has been good for business because the limited edition pieces cost a bit less therefore they tend to sell more quickly. But I’ll always do one of a kind pieces.
DC: If you weren’t designing pieces for your line, what would you be doing?
AW: That’s so hard to say. When I started with jewelry I was at a confused point in my life. I had already studied some Interior Design and a little Architectural Preservation. Both of which I love, but neither of which I finished. Of those two, however, I feel a stronger passion for Preservation. So I’d have to say I’d probably be doing something in that field. I’m not sure why, but I’ve always had a connection to old things. And old buildings are no exception! But you know, I like to think I’m doing my own kind of preservation. Saving one piece of old jewelry at a time!
DC: Do you feel your background in architecture and interior design play a part in your jewelry?
AW: Definitely! In design school I certainly learned to pay close attention to detail. I also learned a lot about proportion, color and balance. All of which are critical elements in design, no matter what kind.
DC: Thanks for talking to me Alison! I look forward to your newest creations.
Please check out Reverie at www.reverienyc.com and tell Alison Debutante Clothing sent ya!