We were lucky to catch up with Heidi Abrahamson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Heidi , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Looking back, I’ve been a creative as long as I can remember, I had a lot of time alone as a child, my parents both had professions, my father was a woodworker, my mother was a dental lab technician with her own lab that my father had built for her. Their love of art and fine objects lead them in to becoming antique dealers on the side. Back then, there was no google, eBay, etc. We had books, a lot of books, they were constantly researching. There were large elaborate antique shows of 100 t0 200 0r more booths of everything you cou imagine. Jewelry, textiles, ceramics, art glass, lighting, furniture, etc. I loved going to these shows, we’d dress up in our finest. We et the ost interesting people from all over the states. Some had their specialties, some a little of everything. It was always like taking a crash course over four days each show.. my mother’s specialty was jewelry an textiles and I suppose that’s where my interest in jewelry started.. Ive always had ‘’spare parts’’ to play with and spent lots of my time stinging beads, making beaded flowers, drawing, painting. Fast forward to Indiana University, I wanted to be a painter. I failed miserably. I was having trouble in drawing perspective and asked for help, the instructor took the pencil , scribbled and half a second and tossed the pencil in my lap and said, ‘’Work on it.’’ and left. I was crushed, took it personally. I found our later, grad students ‘’taught’’ to get a fee deferment and really didn’t care. This particular one would throw a bunch of things in a corner, say, ‘’Draw this.’’and leave. It wasn’t personal anymore after a few more instructors did the the same.
I left Indiana. University and followed a film student boyfriend to Seattle. I started working retail fine jewelry. I hated it. This wasn’t the ‘’nice stuff’’ I had learned about, it was boring. I. Magnin was looking for a visual merchandiser, I ran across the street and was hired on the spot. I loved it! Fashion, jewelry, wigs and mannequins, window displays! I was also a stylist for fashion shows and in house model. That was during the 80’s, I had a blast! ‘The Memphis Movement started by Ettore Sottsass an Italian architect, Ive always loved architecture, wanted to be one or Interior designer, but math, I was math phobic. Really. For 20 years, I worked in visual including The Bon Marche, Burberry (they had a great budget)! I also did a lot of freelance. I truly enjoyed it. Then, I injured my cervical spine. That was that. I
I had a pretty good eclectic collection of jewelry by this time, not only antique, but American and Scandinavian Modernist pieces. Looking at them one day, I thought, ‘’Why can’t I do this?’’. At that time, now married with two small children, living in Phoenix, also collecting, buying and selling antiques, I took a beginning jewelry class for $50 at the now defunct Mining museum and learned the basics.
And as the saying goes, I never looked back. ““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““

Heidi , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Being almost 50 years old at that point, I had no expectations, I was just filling the need to create. I also realized how bored I’d get doing the same thing over and over. At first my work was influenced by Scandinavian, Mid Century Modern works, which also was our specialty, on the side, of buying, selling and collecting., my husband Douglas was already selling on eBay. Social Media was a help. I had met through a website called Modern Silver by author Marbeth Schon in Natchez, Mississippi. She had curated a show, and simultaneously published her second book on American Modernism. The show was at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art in Indiana. Marbeth had an art gallery in Natchez, and told me to bring some of my work. I flew back to Indiana, grabbed my mother and we headed to Fort Wayne. I can still feel the indescribable feeling of absolute awe when I walked into the exhibit. It took my breath away, my eyes teared, this was IT. Calder, Bertoia, both Earl &Tod Pardon, both Peter and Daniel Macchiarini, Art Smith, ‘ Merry Renk, Margaret de Patta, the list goes on of all the greats. Marbeth asked to see my work. OMG, after what I had just seen, what she had just curated…….I was sweating bullets.! We sat in a quiet place in the museum lobby and I handed her my little pouch of my jewelry, I believe about 20 pieces. She was quiet, inspecting each piece, the silence worsened my nerves. I blurted out, ‘’You don’t have to…….’’. She interrupted, ‘’Can I take them all to sell in my gallery?’’.. I was speechless, but then with a big smile I thanked her. A couple weeks later she wrote an article ‘’’ A Beautiful Balancing Act’’ and compared my work to that of Friedrich Becker. I cried.. Marbeth was my friend and mento till she passed away in 2015 from cancer.. I can still hear her sweet voice of of encouragement.
I;ve taken on a few students one on one. I always stress ‘’Know your history!’’, and share my books.
As I’ve said earlier I had and still have now expectations. I go where my inspiration takes me whether it’s being inspired by the Memphis movement, Brutalist Architecture, or now jewelry to be worn with Athleisure, a new term in fashion for those that work out or not because its fun and looks great, designers have taken athletic wear to a whole new level..
My focus is now on creating fun, lightweight jewelry to wear with Athleisure.. My first group is very colorful with Memphis Movement inspiration, but my newest work will be more subdued colors with gray and black. I’m waiting on new materials and I don’t think they’ll be here before this interview is done. You’ll just have to follow me on instagram @heidiabrahamsonjewelry for the latest.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

For me, I started on Facebook first, but Instagram has been the best for me. It takes time to build an audience. Hashtag the heck out of your posts!. I get bombarded with ‘’Get more followers!’’. I don’t and never will buy followers, I want people who actually like my work, not empty fake followers,If you do, you’re cheating yourself from the truth and hiding behind insecurity. I know all about insecurity, I’m still insecure with no expectations. Im doing what I love to do. Of course, there are days I get frustrated, in a creative rut and feel like I couldn’t care less if I ever made another piece of jewelry again. Self doubt is always lingering, especially now at my age of 67, but then I see something, it could be literally anything, and I get going again. Inspiration hasn’t disappointed, yet. Follow your gut instincts, your heart.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the hardest thing for any artist is, for someone to see your work and know who did it. I see so many metal smiths, artists that have the technical skills, but do works that already exists. One has to experiment, take on a challenge. Challenge yourself, that’s how you grow.
I’m still growing and learning, I won’t stop. Can’t stop….
OH!! A new publication from Assouline Publications has just released their latest!
Bauhaus Design
One of my rings is in the booK!
That’s rewarding. I’m waiting for the book to arrive, I’ll believe it when I see it.
As you know, to me, Bauhaus is the ultimate .

Contact Info:

• Website: www.heidiabrahamson.com
• Instagram: https://www.google.com/search?q=heidi%20abrahamson%20on%20instagram%20link&tbm=
• Other: Note: the first photo I will send is this piece that is published in Bauhaus Design by Assouline.

Image Credits
Heidi Abrahamson