Jewelry Series | Mad Dream Design

I had the chance to interview the beautiful Maddie Dierkes, a so cal jewelry designer Mad Dream Design a few weeks ago at her Santa Ana in-home studio and was so inspired by her simplistic designs, derived from the beauty of animals and nature. Each unique design is created from recycled metals and 5% of sales benefits a charity listed for each design. Check out our interview AND giveaway below!
How did you get started in jewelry design? While studying art at Cal State Long Beach I took a metals class, and I was hooked by the end of the first class.
What materials do you work with? I work mostly with sterling silver and copper. I also work with Patina to create contrast in my pieces. 
Your fave materials to work with? I really love working with copper most.
Your biggest accomplishment with jewelry design or personally? Starting Mad Dream Design over the past year. It has been a huge step for me personally, but also for my jewelry.
Where do you see yourself in 1 year.....in 10years? In one year, I see myself hopefully being able to quit my day job and make jewelry and design full time for Mad Dream Design. That might be wishful thinking, but that is the goal. In 10 years, I see myself expanding my jewelry into the art world - doing gallery shows, having an extensive portfolio and maybe even be an expert in the field of jewelry design.
Where do you draw your inspirations for jewelry design from? I draw my inspirations from nature. Mostly the ocean, but also animals, plants and the place I have traveled. My Spring 2013 line: Tribe Vibes was mostly inspired by tribal living - the earth, the ocean, family, and animals. There are a lot of different tribes around the world, but I wanted this line to be global
Hobbies? Paddling outrigger, traveling, camping, hiking, surfing in the summer, drawing
Fave designers (interior, clothing, or jewelry) Jewelry - Moorea Seal, Soul Makes Jewelry, Penny For Your Thought Jewelry, Panache by Amanda Clothing - Free People, Calvin Klein, Vince Camuto, and I love Target (Mossimo, Converse, etc.) Home - Greene & Greene (architects), Frank Lloyd Wright, Stickley (furniture), Eames (furniture) Graphic/Web - Eva Black, Maiedae
Any Spring/Summer trends that are catching your eye? I am so in love with all the tribal, geometric stuff happening right now! Triangles and chevrons are so in right now…along with stripes…I love how designers are taking such basics shapes and using them in new ways!
Food for thought (anything!) Sneak Peek into my summer line: My inspiration = The Desert ;)

In celebration of this Memorial Holiday weekend, FFF is giving away Mad Dream Design's original earrings design, Arrow // handmade recycled copper drop earrings. The rich copper color and diagonal indentations give the dainty size earrings character and uniqueness. The earrings are Hypoallergenic. Rounded square shaped copper tribal earrings. Oxidized striping pattern with polished copper relief. Ocean inspired wave design handmade by Maddie Dierkes in her Santa Ana, Ca studio. This design was inspired by a the waves and ripples of the ocean's surface and the dash marks made by an arrow across a surface.Earrings come with a box and polishing cloth!

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Image Above Left: for those wanting to re-post on instagram