Falling In Love With The Process

In reprioritizing the process, Robyn infuses playfulness and intuition into her craft

WORDS BY MONA ROSE BUTLER PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

THErevelation occurred as most of the best ones do: by accident. While dealing with the frustrations of being a student of the arts and a perfectionist, Robyn Cornelius reluctantly attended a jewellery and bead show. Having signed up for a series of classes at random, she stumbled upon precisely what she needed…a place where she could create for the sake of creating, with no planning and no grades. Just exploration and the freedom to make mistakes and see where they lead you.

“From then on, I looked at how I made jewellery completely differently. I went back to school and learned the traditional German method of silversmithing, but incorporated the sense of play I had learned at that show. Now my work is more about the process; I stop a piece halfway done because I like what happened. I jump into projects with no design in mind, see what the materials want to do and go with it,” explained Robyn.

From this epiphany, her process was born. It may not be for everyone, but if someone has fallen in love with her style, the best thing they can do is step back from the reins of the commission and let Robyn create.

“The really fun ones are when people send me things, give me a vague idea and tell me to just play with it. This design process isn't for everyone, but I find that if I like the design and it feels intuitive to my style, they will like it too. If I'm trying to force a design that has been 100% pre-designed, I usually don't like it and the customer doesn't end up liking it either.”

Robyn doesn’t just create, she teaches all over North America as well. From conventions and tradeshows, to private homes and studios, she shares her love of the process with as many people as possible.

“Sometimes I am working out a design in my head, but it's not fast enough, so I make a class out of it and see what happens. I think I learn as much from my students as they do from me.” WWW.LITTLEROCKJEWELLERYSTUDIO.COM

Bold, alluring and luxurious - the all-new Lexus RX Craftsmanship. Perfected.

The RX SUV has always been a mainstay for Lexus. You see a lot of them, including many of the original models that are now 4 generations old and a testament to Lexus’ reliability and longevity. The RX continues to be a popular choice in the highly competitive and crowded luxury SUV category because it ticks off all the right boxes for many buyers.

Completely redesigned from the wheels to the roof rails, the 5th generation RX embodies the transformation of the Lexus brand. Featuring a brand-new global platform, bold new exterior and completely re-envisioned cabin, it is a definitive and confident step into the future, while continuing to excel at all the things the world has come to love about the RX in the past.

While instantly recognizable, the fresh new RX design is at once sleek and sophisticated, while looking ready to pounce with its lower, more planted stance. The seamlessly integrated grille is striking and LED lighting all the way around is as eye-catching as it is effective. The honed body combines a flowing roofline and muscular, flared rear fenders into one cohesive shape, with stunning 21-inch rims filling the wheel wells.

Stepping into the RX cabin immediately evokes a sensation of luxury - world-class materials surround the driver and passengers and the fit and finish is nothing short of spectacular. Real leather upholstery (which is not as common as it used to be in the luxury space), laser-cut, open-pore wood trim, beautifully textured and stitched soft-touch panels - it all comes together in an elegant and simplified design that maximizes driver-focused functionality and the sublime comfort that Lexus is known for.

Incredibly comfortable and well-bolstered seats, heated and ventilated for both front and back passengers, are thrones as suitable for the commute as they are for cross-country trips. The massive 14-inch high-definition touchscreen uses the highly intuitive Lexus Interface and puts everything at the driver’s fingertips.

Rear passengers have ample space to stretch out in comfort and the huge panoramic roof overhead makes the spacious cabin seem even airier.

Under the hood, a more efficient turbocharged 2.4L engine puts out 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a buttery smooth 8-speed transmission, the powertrain balances performance and efficiency with ease - it accelerates quicker than the previous V6, yet uses less fuel in every driving situation. Two hybrid drivetrains are also available, including a remarkable 367 horsepower performance hybrid that will accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.

The RX’s suspension is tuned for comfort without giving up excellent handling. For an even more involved driving experience, the F Sport trims include an adaptive variable suspension that continuously adjusts to the current situation to provide the best possible performance. A confidence inspiring all-wheel drive system is standard in all trims.

The RX can be driven in absolute confidence, knowing that the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 surrounds driver and passengers with a full suite of passive and active safety systems. Not only does it allow for complete peace of mind, the technology works beautifully without ever being noticeable.

Combining a bold, refined exterior with a world-class cabin that envelops driver and passengers with luxury, technology and comfort, the new RX is everything we’ve loved in the past and everything we expect from the future.

WWW.LEXUSOFEDMONTON.CA