essayerdesigns is a company that produces wearable art painted on upcycled cork and depictions of the cute and quotidian on recombined, collagework clothing pieces.

The modern use of the transitive verb "essayer" is to describe an attempt or endeavor. Archaically, it means "to try on." We, as humans, are involved in experimentation with every decision--conscious or subconscious. We test, act, react, record data, analyze possibilities and plan based on sensory perceptions that are both real and imagined. It's all the same to the brain!

As an artist and maker, I not only experiment with designs but offer others the ability to temper the mood of their surroundings via sartorial levity. My clothing and jewelry aim to uplift.

All quarkcorks wine cork jewelry is finished with surgical steel or antique bronze hardware. The line is anchored by the "down" quarkcork--a pendant featuring a handpainted miniature image framed in either a finished light or dark wood setting. In addition to the pendants, I also offer round cork stud earrings, or "up" quarkcorks. The studs are painted using design and color schemes that complement the pendants. All pieces are unique and feature original illustrations that are first sketched on paper, then handpainted onto the corks with care using high quality, UV resistant acrylics. The jewelry is then sealed to make it water and wear-and-tear resistant.

The upcycled clothing items are made using never worn pieces adorned with images created from cut jersey knit and hand sewn using coordinating cotton embroidery floss. They are easy to care for--just wash cold and machine dry on low and you're good to go!