Category: jewelry

Bayou Treasures

Born and raised in Cajun country Thrifted Finds creates jewelry from vintage accouterments and photos.

1. The name of your shop is “Thrifted Finds”. How do you blend thrifted items with your handmade jewelry?
I love using vintage items in my work! Often times I’ll use a vintage pin as a centerpiece or pendant. Vintage watches, beads and chains also find their way into my pieces. Even chandler prisms are incorporated into my things! I just love the unique spin vintage items give to jewelry designs.

Autumn bangles

2. You are from south Louisiana. How does this influence your work?
Actually I’m not sure. I don’t think that I have noticed a particular influence but I can tell you that the culture here is very inspiring.

Sittin in a tree Sittin’ in a tree necklace
3. I noticed photo pendants and tree motifs are common themes. Tell us a little about those.
The photo pendants came when I was looking for a way to incorporate a beautiful old picture of my grandmother into my jewelry. Then I was commissioned to do one for someone else and the theme has just continued and I do lots of custom work now with photos.

As for the trees, I just love them. For some reason I’ve been very attracted to nature related items that are in a refined item like a shiny silver or antiqued stamped brass charm. The combo of nature and jewelry just intrigues me.

Photo Ring

4. What are your future plans for your line?
I certainly plan on keeping with the vintage theme and I hope to do some more whimsical items based on Alice in Wonderland and other fun themes.

Bite Me Bite Me bat necklace
5. Define southern style.
Hmmmm…Romantic. Cultured. Full of charm and a touch of whimsy.

You can view more of Thrifted Finds jewelry at her Flickr account and purchase her creations at Etsy.

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designers jewelry

Show your local pride

New Orleans is a city that people are fiercely proud to be a part of. Be it a local, a recent transplant, or a frequent visitor there is something about this city that makes people want to claim it as their own. This also includes homegrown businesses, even if they are now defunct. For example K&B, a beloved locally owned drugstore, was bought out by Rite Aid over 10 years ago yet signs of the business are still running amok, from a local wearing a K&B purple tee to a bar with a logo clock.

Heather Elizabeth provides fun ways to show your NOLA love and not look like you outfitted yourself at a tourist shop. From necklaces and night lights, cuff links to Christmas ornaments there is something available for everyone.

The “Aint Dere No More” bracelet pays homage to a slew of gone but not forgotten local institutions.

You can also represent a singular business, sports team, or street name with a sterling silver ring.

Celebrate New Orleans neighborhoods with this bracelet.

Heather Elizabeth’s jewelry and housewares are available at several art markets and stores city wide. You may also purchase items online.

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etsy interviews jewelry

Tribal Infusions

This week I chatted with local jewelry designer Ashley Beach about her creations and how New Orleans influences her as an artist.

1. How long have you been making jewelry?

I went to school at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2003. I went there for four years but decided to study metalsmithing in 2004. I’ve been hammering happily away ever since then!

2. Your pieces have a tribal element to them. How do you go about creating each piece?

I have a bit of a love affair with the exotic and organic elements in our lives. Seeds, flower stamen, and vines all find there way into my work. These things naturally lend themselves to the ritual of adornment, as the organic world embodies the presence of the goddess. I also try to accentuate the quality of line and space that’s already present in a particular location on the body.

Wrapped flute earrings with Chinese carnelian

3. How does New Orleans shape you as an artist?

Living in New Orleans is a never ending flood (pardon the expression) of inspiration. Our city is such a fascinating blend of cultures. There is this ancient tribal energy that permeates the regal and elegant world. Everywhere you look, the past dances wildly with the present.

Ornate details peek at you from every corner, like the intricate patterns of wrought iron, or the gnarled roots and branches of trees hundreds of years old. I love the graceful bells of brass instruments. They sometimes show up in my work. The music is sensuous and heartfelt, and pulses through the air like a heartbeat.

The sheer grace and joy of dancing has been a great influence on much of my work. I have taken to using a delicate snake chain in a few of my designs. These swing so fluidly and mimic the movements of dancers.

Infinity bracelet

4. Where can we purchase your jewelry?

I have my work at the RHINO contemporary crafts gallery (RHINO stands for “right here in new orleans”). It’s located in the third floor of Canal Place. Their number is 504-523-7945. I also do custom orders and all of my work can be made in gold.

Silver spiral earrings

5. Define southern style.

Things move at a slower pace in the South. I think that this gives the people who live here a tendency to notice and fully appreciate the exquisite details and the sumptuous little goodies in life. There is no one defining visual aspect of southern style. Our uniqueness lies in how we approach and experience life.

You can purchase Ashy Beaches’ designs on Etsy as well.

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Slow Southern News

Buffalo Exchange is celebrating Halloween all month long! Comes dressed as your favorite decade, be it the 1880s or the 1980s on Saturday, Oct. 10th and get $5 off your next $20 purchase.
The Encore Shop, a consignment store that benefits the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, is sponsoring a string of fashion events Oct. 13th-17th. There will be daily workshops delving into fall trends, accessories, and designer shoes.
Local jewelry designer Mignon Faget has released a new line of wooden shotgun house pendants. The necklaces are a collaboration with artist and urban designer Robert Tannen and 5% of sales will be donated to Global Green USA for Rebuilding New Orleans Green.

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designers etsy interviews jewelry

Shop Interview- Gurly Girl

Post author By Christy
Post date October 6, 2009
3 Comments on Shop Interview- Gurly Girl

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Monique Leon of Gurly Girl. Monique is a New Orleans resident that creates beautiful pieces inspired by two of my favorite things: NOLA and nature.

Tell us a little about how you got into jewelry design.

I have always had crafty hands. I originally thought I might be a painter and even began going to art college (Mass. Art in Boston). I thought I would continue painting but I took a metals class and fell in love. It gave me the ability to consider a dimensional aspect to creating things I had not thought of. It was a unique challenge to build things that had to be durable and wearable on a small scale. I remember carrying my wax carving tools with me everywhere (to carve out models for casting later) Most people read books at the subway, I whittled away at a piece of wax for jewelry. Nothing seemed more natural to me.

Delicate daisies hair pins

Your pieces seem to have two distinct subject matters; nature and New Orleans. Is that a conscience design decision?

Nature seems to pop up in so much art & design; its a compelling subject matter. Many of my items are direct reflections of the natural world because I strive to make pretty things and that is my inspiration. It’s important for me to produce things of beauty and I hope I come close to providing it.
The fleur de lis is close to my heart and a universal symbol of grace and elegance. It is an emblem of the city of New Orleans and when the flood came and washed everything out a lot of people gravitated towards it. Symbolically it was used to show love and respect for the city. I think it is a beautiful, versatile design that reflects a certain elegance.

Crown heart secret pendant

What are your most popular styles?

I get lots of response on my crowned heart pendant  It’s a puffy little heart with a simple crown on it and a little fleur de lis hiding inside the back of it.
The love charms  also showcase fleur de lis and the name references the prevalence of voodoo on New Orleans.
My beans  get snapped up quickly and make great gifts for moms.
The copper bookmark does pretty well because its substantial yet light and really holds a page without damaging your book.

Magic Lucky Bean

Do you ever take custom requests?

I get custom orders all the time and I love it! Nothing pleases me more than making something exactly like a client wants. That feeling you get from knowing something is one of a kind is quite nice. I also like knowing that I provided a service to someone who couldnt find what they were looking for elsewhere.

I noticed many of your pieces are labeled “bridal”. What makes a piece bridal for you?

The term bridal applies to something more special than everyday and everybody has their own idea about what that is. A lot of bridal items are cheap rhinestones in fake metal and cost about as much as my items in sterling and natural stones. I like to make things that have a lasting quality to them. I want someone to see my pieces as affordable treasures that they can actually wear again. When I build my bridal pieces I consider them precious and hope they offer something very special to their wearer.

Blossom necklaces

Define southern style.

That is a huge question to answer but I will try. To me southern style is adaptability with grace and charm. It is elegance without rigidity and old and new side by side. It can be grand and simple all at once and usually it is inviting yet retains a sense of humor and ease.

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