lifestyle

Polymer homewares and jewellery that won't cost you a fortune.

 

“I try to create things spontaneously and organically so that my pieces are true to me and I never push myself to produce things if I am not in the right frame of mind. I want every piece to be truly unique and made with love.”

Welcome to Mamamia’s art endeavour, the Voulez-Vous Project. Every week we celebrate emerging artists, designers, illustrators, creators and cats who dress like their owners (not joking). Our aim: to help the internet become a slightly more beautiful, captivating, or thought-provoking place by making art accessible.

To find out more about the Voulez-Vous project, click here. Click here to see all the previous Voulez-Vous posts.

Founded at the beginning of this year, KLEIN&SCHÖN has quickly gained some serious fans.

And I’m one of them. The range of polymer homewares and jewellery is incredibly unique, and each piece is handmade by 22-year-old Genevieve Bryce-Stenzel.

Based in Melbourne, Bryce-Stenzel is formally trained as a Visual Merchandiser, and after she began experimenting with polymer to explore her creativity, she began selling her wares to friends for six months before formally launching KLEIN&SCHÖN.

KLEIN&SCHÖN is a German translation of the words small and beautiful, a name inspired by Bryce-Stenzel’s German heritage.

Every piece is 100 percent unique and cannot be recreated. KLEIN&SCHÖN’s range is dreamy, organic and truly unique, Bryce-Stenzel says the inspiration behind her work comes from multiple facets of her life.

“The choice of colours and patterns I use are inspired by the aesthetic qualities that catch my eye amongst the mediocre parts of everyday life.”

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“There’s a part of me that is always on the look out for new, exciting and lovely things to inspire my creative endeavours….I try to create things spontaneously and organically so that my pieces are true to me and I never push myself to produce things if I am not in the right frame of mind. I want every piece to be truly unique and made with love.” Bryce-Stenzel says.

polymer jewellry
A few of KLEIN&SCHÖN’s creations (Image via flickr/GenevieveB )

Bryce-Stenzel chosen material to work with is polymer, “it’s a material that can be accessed and utilised by anyone, it is available from craft stores and instead of firing it in a kiln like regular clay, it can be fired in your kitchen oven! This means I really have no restrictions about the techniques I am able to try and I don’t need to outsource my firing. I also love the finish it gives, it is malleable like clay, yet smooth and polished like plastic.” Bryce-Stenzel says.

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“I never wanted KLEIN&SCHÖN to be something that I felt was a burden on me so I really try to make sure I am always enjoying what I do. It’s important to me that the making of my products never results in me feeling stressed or pressured as it reflects on the finished out come.”

As for upcoming projects, Bryce-Stenzel tells me that she has some in the works…but for now it is a secret. Watch this space. But if she could collaborate with anyone in the world…

“I could only imagine the amazing ideas Yayoi Kusama would have for KLEIN&SCHÖN. I’m picturing polka dots a plenty and interesting organic shapes. I would love to know what she could create as her artwork always accedes my expectations and her ideas are always beyond what I thought was ever imaginable.”

You can find out more about KLEIN&SCHÖN via their website, on Instagram, on Facebook and also on Pinterest.

Genevieve hand makes each of the incredible pieces in the KLEIN&SCHÖN range.  See a few of her amazing creations below.

Want more from Voulez-Vous? 

Cats dressed exactly like their owners must be part of your life immediately.

The photos that take something “disgusting” and make them beautiful. 

They walk into her life as strangers. They leave as works of art.

Do you know an artist (or are YOU an artist) who creates beautiful or thought-provoking work and whom you think should be featured on Mamamia’s Voulez-Vous Project? Send an email to lizzie.marton@mamamia.com.au.