I have only just discovered Ayala Bar quite recently.
If you haven't heard of her (like me a few months ago) she is one of Israel's leading costume jewelry designers and is know in particular for her beautifully coloured mosaic style.
My friends Sam and Emma introduced me to her work while visiting us at the end of last year, after a trip to Israel.
The thing I love the most about the jewelry of Ayala Bar is her use of textiles.
I've been looking around on the internet (not always the most reliable source of information) and this is what I've found out.
Ayala Bar was born and still lives in Israel.
She went to art school and later worked in theatre and interior design.
It was not until the late 80's that she became a jewelry designer starting her own company Ayala Bar Design in the 90's.
Her jewelry is all designed by the artist herself and is all hand made.
It includes elements such as embellished jeweled pendents, hand-sewn embroidered beads, fabric, tassels, simple metals, glass beads, mineral stones, crystal rhinestones ... the list goes on.
She seems to put out a few collections per year (I think it's four this year) each with a different concept and within these are earrings, brooches, necklaces and bracelets. These collections are never repeated.
Her advise to new designers is:
"Never ever stop playing, and not to be limited with concepts. The actual process is the way, whether it is successful or not, whether it turns up popular or not. If and when the creativity does result in accomplishment and/or critical acclaim, one should not surrender to the feeling of comfort. Such an attitude may result in loss of creativity".
