Focus On... The Harbinger Co And A Giveaway!

I am always amazed by people who have talents I don't. I love the moment when you think, "How does she do that?" And that is exactly what I thought when I first saw the work of Yvonne, of The Harbinger Co. She creates the most intricate, interesting, eco-friendly jewelry I've ever seen. Yvonne graciously answerd my questions and (even more graciously) offered to giveaway a beautiful necklace to one lucky reader!

{Single Cube Drop Necklace}

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

I consider myself an aspiring artist. Art has always been a constant in my life, and what I was best at. I got a little distracted during my college and grad school years, where I was an economics major at Stanford and thought I wanted to go into finance. Then I went to grad school for urban planning because I thought it would be a good compromise between economics and design. But I realized soon after that I needed more creativity. After a few years working as an urban planner/designer, I started selling lasercut jewelry as a side gig under The Harbinger Company. Recently I quit my job and am taking a 1 year sabbatical to do all the projects I never had a chance to. So in addition to my lasercut bamboo jewelry and wood boxes, I'm going to make metal rings, leather and cork handbags, paintings, and maybe furniture. I just want to let loose and do everything.

{Large Red Blossom Bamboo Earrings}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

Acrylic, water color, pencil, pen & ink for drawings because those are clean enough to use at home.

Bamboo, non-endangered woods for jewelry and home decor.

Heavy duty raw canvas for painting and sewing. I love canvas because I'm a painter and it's so durable.

Leather and cork fabric for my new handbags because they are nice to touch and biodegradable and not harmful to the environment.

Papers of all sorts for collages and mixed-media works.

{Triangle Diamond Bamboo Earrings}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

Etsy is a great venue for artists. I like how the interface is really simple, and you can set up shop without having to know how to make a website. The Etsy community is also large and growing, and that helps with marketing and getting your name out to the public through the daily features, blogs, etc.

{single box studs}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love patterns of all sorts, so most of my jewelry and boxes so far are inspired by patterns in nature, architecture, geometry, etc. I also love maps of all sorts, even before I was an urban planner. I am also inspired by artists and designers such as Mel Kadel, Shepard Fairey, David Ellis, Ryan McGinness, Jason Munn, BLU, Ghada Amer, and so many more. I also love ethnic patterns and textiles.

{square map box}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

Mostly indie pop and dixieland jazz.

{Curve Bamboo Pendant}

When it's cold outside... Which it is always in San Francisco, I stay home and draw, design, or make things.

{Circle Honeycomb Wood Box}

When I'm hungry... I eat.

{Bamboo Honeycomb Lace Necklace}

When I need a boost... I go for a walk or to the gym.

{Bamboo Honeycomb Stringbean Pendant Necklace}

I wish I was/were... A successful designer and artist who was an expert on everything: web design, animation, architecture, welding, wood working, sewing, industrial design, fabrication, film. A more realistic goal would be an environments designer.

{Large White Blossom Bamboo Earrings}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... Either a plant or a cd of my favorite songs-affordable and likable. Or if I'm Oprah, a well designed housing unit.

{Large Bamboo Cloud Earrings}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be...French Artist JR who does the large scale artwork in urban slums throughout the world. Besides art and design, I am interested in international development, and JR has bridged two fields.

{Antique glass flask necklace}

If you were an animal, what would you be? A bird.

{Bamboo Gem Drop Earrings}

What's your favorite piece of your own? My studs. And my leather cork bag which is not for sale yet.

{Bamboo Train Necklace}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now? Kate and Oli of course! And notcot, design-milk, svpply, notcouture, apartment therapy, fecalface.

{Bamboocomb earrings}

The Harbinger Co. Website
The Harbinger Co. on Etsy
The Harbinger Co. on Facebook
The Harbinger Co. on Twitter

Yvonne has fabulously offered up a 20% discount code just for Kate and Oli readers. Simply enter the code KATEOLI (case-sensitive) when purchasing anything from her website (not her etsy) and receive 20% off your total purchase!

Yvonne has also offered one of her fabulous triple cube necklaces to a lucky winner! I have one of these amazing pieces and you will get tons of compliments! Plus, it goes with everything and is as light as a feather!

{Triple Cube Necklace}

- To be eligible for entry, you must be a follower of my blog through google friend connect or through your preferred RSS reader. -
- Make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you win. -
- Please leave separate comments for each entry. -

First entry (mandatory):
Head over to The Harbinger Co. and tell me your favorite item!

Extra entries (optional):
- Become a Facebook fan of The Harbinger Co.
- Sign up for The Harbinger Co. mailing list (go here, bottom right hand corner)
- Sign up for the Kate and Oli mailing list (in sidebar).
- Add my button to your blog (in sidebar).
- Become a Facebook fan of Kate and Oli.
- Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

- Post on facebook about this giveaway and leave me some way to verify.

Fine print: Giveaway begins when it is posted and ends at 11:59pm pacific standard time June 3, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on June 4, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. The Harbinger Co will ship anywhere in the world!