Interview with Project Accessory Designer ~ Nina Cortes

Nov 16, 2011

I’m so excited to share this exclusive interview with all of you. If you’re a fan of Project Accessory (like me) you will love this interview I did with the lovely Nina Cortes (#TeamNina).

Nina and I started talking back and forth on Twitter and she was so sweet to take the time out of her busy schedule to do this interview with me. I hope you enjoy!!!

Nina Cortes contestent on Project Accessory

Kelly: “First of all, I just wanted to say congratulations for being on the show, Project Accessory, and being the winner of the first challenge! How did you feel when you found out you were a contestant?”

Nina: “Thank you so much! My little heart could barely handle the phone call. They kinda played around with me- speaking in a somber tone asking me about my weekend- meanwhile I was dying to know the news. I actually shook my head no to my friend sitting next to me. Apparently I tend to think worst case scenario, then they I was asked “how would you like to be on the show.” I could barely contain myself and started screaming at the top of my lungs while simultaneously crying and laughing. Best. Moment. Ever.”

Kelly: “I’m a huge fan so I have to ask, how amazing was Molly Sims?”

Nina: “Molly Sims was absolutely GORGEOUS in person. Unreal how beautiful she is! The best thing about her is how fun and goofy she was. She really made us laugh between the shots, real southern belle!”

Kelly: “What was your favorite thing about being on Project Accessory? What did you learn from the experience?“

Nina: “Meeting the other designers and working side by side with them. Really. It was an amazing experience, I grew so much as a designer. It was like my mini design school!”

Kelly: “I read that you took a metalsmithing class and after that decided to start designing jewelry. Where do you get your inspirations from?”

Nina: “Yep! I took a metalsmithing class with Maureen Shankey here in Miami, and I was hooked. Really for me the place where I get my inspirations are the materials I choose. I’ll go buy tons of beautiful things and play! In the real world (not Project Accessory land) I only work with natural gemstones. Their beauty is what I feed off of! Clean, simple, elegant designs that aren’t overworked so you can really see the beauty of the stones.”

Kelly: “If you had to describe your collections in 4 words, you would say your collections are…”

Nina: “Modern, Classic, intricate, beautiful.. multi-functional, one-of a kind, art, me… hehe”

Kelly: “What do you see are the biggest trends for jewelry this fall and winter?”

Nina: “Hmm.. trends, such a funny thing to me.. Whats always on trend is what makes you feel happy and beautiful… but if I would have to say something I would say, statement jewelry. May it be a necklace, a cocktail ring, a cuff, anything. Every holiday season its the chance to really be glamorous.”

Kelly: “Do you have any favorite pieces that you would like to share with us?”

Nina: “Since I make every single one of my pieces by hand they are all pretty much my loves, BUT, I’m obsessed with bangles. I make new ones every season and keep one of each for myself. I like to mix and match ones from past season’s to next season’s. I love that all of my pieces have the same feel and the same look, because of that I feel that they are classic and go through any season!”

Kelly: “Apart from the show, what’s next for Nina Loren!?”

Nina: “Jeez!!!!!! I’ve been really fortunate to have been a part of Project Accessory, so I can only hope that amazing things are in my future! but for now I will continue to work as hard as I can and just keep on creating! :)“