My Jewelry

How I Create

Designers go about their art in different ways. I purchase or make beautiful components that strike my fancy and organize them to be able to locate them in my studio.   For example, I fabricate a variety of kumihimo braids with fiber and colors that interest me without knowing what will become of the braid.   On a given day I might start out with one of those braids, beads, or a pendant that calls out to me as wanting attention.   Some of these components can be very insistent!  I love incorporating the work of other creators into my pieces; for example, the artisans from Soul of Somanya who make the Krobo beads I use in my African-inspired pieces.

I then gather other materials of complementary colors, textures, shapes and composition.   I let it all sit on my creation station until I start forming an image in my mind of the general shape a piece might take.  Sometimes components speak right up as to what they wish to become and sometimes they percolate for a few days.  I don’t sketch anything on paper.  I form visual images that evolve in an organic process of becoming the final product as I work.  When I am in that creative zone, the sea breeze wafts through my studio and all the world’s craziness falls away.

                           

                           

                                 

Kinds of Jewelry

The pieces I create are mostly those I would wear.  On occasion I do design pieces for others with different tastes. But most of what you see here are pieces that I had a hard time releasing, because I know just the outfits I would wear them with or sometimes the outfits I would make to go with them. 

Every piece is one-of-a-kind.  So if you admire one of my necklaces that someone is wearing and you say, “I would like one just like that,” I will have to kindly say, “Unfortunately that is not possible, because that is the one and only.”  An exception is that I will infrequently design a piece for a group, like the signature necklace for the Lonestar Belles, my daughter-in-law’s riding group, or the bridesmaids’ bracelets I made for my niece Sara’s wedding.

                        

Necklace and Earring Sets in Collections

I am at the stage in my life that I only do what I LOVE, and I do LOVE designing and making jewelry.  I also love language (recall my profession in language/literacy); so I have combined these passions.  Playing with words is great fun, so I have generated different collections for my necklace sets, centered around specific themes. I also name each set within the collections.  The collection names are Italian but the set names are English – I didn’t want to get too crazy!  

These are the collections:

I love finding treasures in antique stores and markets around the globe that I can repurpose to form a new creation.  A favorite is vintage pins reworked into pendants or connectors.  Do a little time traveling by wearing these pieces.

My favorite shapes are hearts and sunbursts.  I love working with beads and focals in these categories.  In the Cuori Collection you will find hearts of all sizes, shapes, colors and composition.  Sing with me:  🎶 You gotta have heart.  All you really need is heart. 

Of course, Brezza Marina Designs would have to have a collection devoted to the sea and environs.  Here you will find dolphins, starfish, turtles and other marine life at play, along with shore birds and the flora that thrive by the sea.  You or your loved one will spend a relaxing day at the beach when wearing jewelry from this collection.

This collection ventures into other lands with bold designs reflecting diverse cultures.  Here reside mostly African and Asian influenced pieces.  One can travel to far-away places by donning this exotic jewelry.

Who doesn’t love a good fantasy?  My personal favorite includes dragons of all styles.  They have such personality!  So, you’ll find lots of dragons in this collection, not all breathing fire though.  There will also be fairies and other mythical creatures to capture your imagination and set your spirit free. 

This is the holiday celebration collection, focusing mostly on Christmas and Halloween pieces from playful to sophisticated.  Wearing or gifting holiday jewelry will add to the fun and festivities.

This collection houses some interesting designs with fibers of varying kinds, some of which may be woven into kumihimo and other braids, tied into Chinese style knots, knotted into macrame, or crocheted.  There is no end to the magic you will weave when you wear or gift jewelry in this collection.

All delightful things found in nature hang out in this collection:  Flora and fauna, as well as celestial bodies.  Communing with nature is good for the soul.

Different kinds of jewelry may appear in this collection, but what all the pieces have in common is that they are sophisticated and fit for a queen. And shouldn’t every woman feel like a queen?

The pieces in this collection are yummy!  It contains only those colors found in sherbet.  What fun is that? 

When I design necklaces, I design earrings to go with them, because it is always a challenge to assemble the right combination of neck and ear fashion to go with an outfit. 

Bracelets and Earrings

In addition to necklace and earring sets housed in collections, I offer bracelets and earrings.  There are different styles of bracelets from a variety of materials that supply the arm candy to make the wearer feel special.  Unique earrings of different shapes, lengths and materials add pizzazz to any outfit.  

Size of Pieces

Please note that lengths are listed for each piece.  For necklaces the measurement is from the nape of the neck (middle back) to the chest to give you information about how long it will be.  For earrings the length is from the point of ear insertion.  Many bracelets are adjustable; when they have a fixed size that measurement is given.