Why Fabric Necklaces?

I have been a jewelry designer for over 15 years. I now laugh at my first designs as my necklaces were small, dainty and looked like so many of the designs already out in the market. But this is the thing about being an artist, you dip your toe in one stream and find out that the water really doesn’t suit you, so you try another river or lake, until you are floating along in your own unique stream of artistic consciousness. It is as much discovering who you are, as it is about creating a piece of jewelry. 

It has been said that with age comes wisdom, but I think with age comes not giving a shit about what other people think. My Grandma used to say, “I’m a senior citizen. I can say or do whatever I want.” My younger self was perplexed with that statement, but now I see the wisdom behind those words. Of course this is not to say that we should be spiteful or cruel, but instead embrace the quirky and uncommon threads that make up the tapestry of our self. So, back to stones. What does this rambling have to do with a necklace?

As I grew bolder, more confident in who I was, my designs became bolder. I have traveled to markets from southern China to Turkey. The drawers in my jewelry design room are filled with strands of turquoise, coral, pearls, and stones of various shapes and sizes. I love bold necklaces and especially color. Living in the margins of black and white seems dull to me and so I surround myself with a sea of pigmentation, as evident by the picture of my kitchen. My kitchen is a great representation of who I am and my outlook on life. However, my passion for large, vibrant necklaces was putting a strain on my neck and going smaller, really didn’t suit me.

One day when I was at the store with my daughter, who is a fabulous seamstress, I wandered up and down the rows of chintz, cotton and crepe, and thought that the beautiful patterns would make lovely necklaces. Not only that, but fabric can be found in every town and in every market, with designs often unique to that particular culture. Thus, my flower bomb necklaces were born  and my husband is slightly happier that our suitcases aren’t weighted down by stones. The colors and patterns also enhance my love of the 60’s (think flower power) and the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who embodies the spirit of Central America. My fabric necklaces are not confined to a particular season or type of dress, but can be worn with jeans and a tee-shirt, a dress, or to the office with a shirt and blazer. My desire is that these necklace will make you smile and feel extraordinary. May women everywhere embrace their true self through jewelry, whether that be a delicate necklace or a bold, statement piece that says “Hello world, I’m here!”