Every piece of genuine handcrafted jewelry has a story that adds meaning to your favorite necklace, bracelet or other accessory. It is that story and one-of-a-kind creation that brings so much pleasure to buying from the many artistes throughout the world who have devoted their lives to crafting jewelry. And now you have so many choices with accessibility to the worldwide web! You'll discover a virtual global store from which to choose jewelry that reflects your style and commitment to authentic handicrafts. It's pretty special to get that "wow" reaction from perfect strangers, when they notice your dazzling pendant or earrings!
Take the time to look through guild and crafts sites, e-bay offerings and individual jeweler sites. Your choices go far beyond your own geographic location. If you need a particular style (or metal requirement, due to allergies), don't hesitate to contact the jeweler with questions and requests. Even though not listed as a product, you might request handcrafted earrings to match a necklace or bracelet. The following are three unique examples of jewelry artisans who offer creations from North Carolina to the countryside of France. .
North Carolina is renowned for its appreciation of handcrafted art, so it's no surprise that Stuart Nye jewelry is in Asheville. During the depression, Nye acted on belief in himself and an eye for beauty to begin creating the fashionable Sterling Silver leaves and flowers for which Stuart Nye is known today.
Through the last seventy-plus years, Stuart and his apprentice artists have refined their methods, added copper and brass creations and continue to feel that their "ignorance" is an asset that makes their jewelry "fresh" and "different", born of mountain folks with a "heritage of craftsmanship. They use simple tools to form delicate pins, earrings and necklaces of delicate dogwood leaves, Cherokee roses and elegant lilies. And their inspired designs still are affordable for the ordinary person who enjoys authentic craftsmanship.
Across "the pond", Marie Pastorelli, is a French ceramiste who combines the style of Paris with the colors of Provence. Marie is as warm and authentic as the extraordinary ceramic jewelry she creates. She is an independent artisan who lives and works in the small Provencal commune of Auriol, France, near Nimes. In the middle of her career, Marie has purchased a home where she is building a new atelier (studio) on site - a place to blend everyday life with her inspired work. Her ceramic designs are incredibly elegant and colorful, with asymmetric ceramic sculptures that drift across the neck and bold square pendants that mix vibrant enamels with precious metals.
Marie offers her individual creations and matching sets of jewelry through her website, international trade fairs, select retailers and through Created in France, a wonderful cooperative in Paris that supports the work of artisans throughout France.
From "The City of Light", Nathalie Petraszko and Laurent Ayats combine talent and passion with genuine Parisian vision to create unique Onaya collections of jewelry. In their studio in Paris, they assemble an entire palette of ideas, colors, metals, and geometric shapes to give birth to elegant and stylish collections.
Their Gamme Grillia Collection is stunningly crafted of fine metal mesh, delicately wrinkled to drape like fabric. Other collections include colorful metals, chains and cascading circles, plated with gold or silver and treated with rhodium to prevent tarnishing.
The young artists are an engaging couple who now have a shop along the Canal St. Martin in Paris, where they showcase their jewelry as well as promote the collections of 15 other artists. Laurent and Nathalie are easy to reach through their Onaya website.
Begin your own search to discover the vast number of dedicated jewelry designers throughout the world. If you decide to buy online, be sure to ask specific questions and clearly state your size, color and design preferences. One of the many benefits of unique craftsmanship is your ability to request customized jewelry with greater length for necklaces or conversion of a pendant to a pin.
Whether your taste leans towards the indigenous designs of Amazonian or American natives, or towards the fashionable workshops of Paris and Provence, you will blend your love of authenticity with your encouragement of generations-old craftsmanship. And you'll have interesting stories to share with admirers!