Laura Bracken
Bracken Designs
BrackenDesigns.com
“Everything in my shop is designed and hand-
fabricated by me using traditional metalsmithing
techniques. I believe in the “essence of art” where
the creative process and the story-telling are aspects
of the piece itself.”
How did your business begin?
I think hammers and blow-torches appeal to the tomboy in me so it was
probably a natural evolution to go from punk rock guitarist to motorsports
photo-journalist and then transition into metalsmith, where I have happily
remained for almost 20 years.
Tell us about your previous working situation or your professional
background/education.
I spent 25 years as a research scientist. That appealed to the analytical and
detail-oriented side of me, which has now been channeled into experiments
with metal. I have no formal education with jewelry-making but I think “self
taught” and “formal education” are terms that are losing value as we can now
reach so many people and share so many things on the internet. There is a
new kind of learning and it’s wonderful.
16 | Vol. 12 | GBK’s 2018 Pre-Oscars Celebrity Gift Lounge