TAGazine | VOL. 12 (GBK's Pre-Oscars Event) March 2018 | Page 16

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