We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Magboo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tara, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
Generally speaking, I have the opposite problem. I have more ideas of artistic projects I would love to pursue than I actually have time to execute. I usually have to pare down some of my ideas and be more realistic about what I can actually construct within a given time frame. With that said, there are some instances when I have creative blocks. When I’m designing for my product line, Adorable Mayhem, I first think of positive memories from my childhood as this is the primary inspiration for my work. Examples of such memories are toys that I loved, cartoons I adored, and animals that inspired me. I then search through my library of Craft and Nature books or scour the internet for animals or art themes to further solidify a design concept. This process usually kick starts my creativity and helps me generate ideas.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
What makes my Adorable Mayhem line of jewelry and ceramics special is its entirely handmade and its joyful, whimsical quality. I could farm out my work to other manufacturers, but I won’t. I will always be a maker at heart and being involved in the construction of my work is very important to me. I may not be able to make hundreds of pieces and I may not be able to grow a huge company as a result, but it’s that personal touch that makes my work special and unique. Each piece is constructed with care and consideration and I feel that comes through to the final result.
Customers often appreciate the whimsy and joy of my work. Interestingly enough, my inspiration is derived from happy childhood memories, coincidentally, often remind many customers of their own positive experiences from the past. The work transforms into a meaningful talisman beyond mere ornamentation.
I have lots of new projects in the works in preparation for this new year! One new jewelry piece in progress that I have planned for Valentine’s Day is a new silver heart-shaped ring! It has some fun details integrated in the design, such as a heart shaped stone set in the side and melted drips representing the depth of someone’s love.
2025 marks my 16th year exhibiting at San Diego Comic-Con International! I will be presenting my work this summer at the San Diego Convention Center for Comic-Con from July 24th- July 27 2015. There will be lots of fun, new exciting work! If you’re attending the show, stop by my booth #4537!
Last but certainly not least is a fundraiser for victims of the recent fires in LA. I came across an interview with a couple had founded the Bunny Museum in Altadena. They continuously built their collection of bunny items over the past 40 years as a way to bring joy to the public. Sadly their museum burned to the ground and they lost their entire livelihood! I am in the process of making three bunny necklaces in silver and bronze and I will donate 100% of the profits to The Bunny Museum Go Fund Me campaign. The necklaces will go live on Tuesday, 12pm pacific standard time, January 21st on my website: www.adorablemayhem.com.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I would like to expand my answer from my previous interview from last year with Bold Journey and list three other skills that have also played a major role in my artistic journey.
A. I make it a priority to enhance my education at least once a year by taking a short class or workshop in a specific craft. Last year, I took a gemstone rendering class with jewelry designer, Remy Rotenier, at the Gemological Institute of America. It was a weeklong class and it was so much fun that I didn’t want it to end! The class was cram packed with useful tips and tricks for rendering realistic gemstones which will certainly be helpful with jewelry design. As far as my education this year, I registered for a glass casting class! I have fantasized for over 20 years about learning this craft, but have never found a class I could take within the general vicinity. Just a week ago, I discovered this class at The Yucca Valley Material Lab and jumped at the opportunity! I couldn’t believe my dream came true! This coming March, I will be casting glass!
B. When I get anxious and overwhelmed with major deadlines, I have learned to break up the project into bite-sized manageable steps. Focusing on one small task at a time rather than being overwhelmed by the entirety of the project helps to calm me down. I find that I accomplish more than I originally set out to do. Because each step is more feasible, my confidence builds as I accomplish more.
C. When I start my day in the studio, I focus on something for a small period of time related to enhancing my craft. It can be furthering my education by practicing a new skill, or making a personal project. Doing this activity at the beginning of my work day, allows me to be more effective in tackling other jewelry tasks unrelated to my small business such as jewelry repair or preparing to teach jewelry classes.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
A book I have often referenced throughout my jewelry career is “The Jewels of Lalique” by Yvonne Brunnhammer. The book is about Art Nouveau jewelry artist, Rene’ Lalique. Rene’ was a multi-talented designer and executed his work to a magnificently high level of intricacy in his jewelry work– from his beautiful glass enamel, to his glowing cast glass components, and even exquisite jewelry illustrations. A quality of Lalique’s work that I greatly admire is his attention to the entire surface of his jewelry. For example, the back of a pendant was rendered equally as beautifully as the front. It’s his hidden surprise details in areas that are often overlooked that elevates his work to the highest level. I’m always mindful of paying attention to such details in my own personal work, such as a specially handmade clasp and quality tag that matches aesthetically with the pendant of a necklace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Adorablemayhem.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/adorablemayhem
- Other: https://www.threads.net/@adorablemayhem
Blue Sky: @adorablemayhem.bsky.social
Image Credits
Tara Magboo
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