"We love the organic shapes and
cuts found throughout Emilie's collection and how she celebrates the
imperfections in metals and natural gemstones." Inspired by the process of marrying two materials into one, 3 rough
diamonds are embedded in 14k yellow gold to create this sculptural ring.
Emilie grew up on the edge of the
Atlantic Ocean, where water has always been her constant and her inspiration.
She comes from a long line of creative entrepreneurs, inventors, and free
spirits who have encouraged her to explore many different mediums throughout
her artistic life. Emilie uses the ancient craft of lost wax casting which
dates back to the Egyptians, wherein she carves sculptural pieces into hard wax
and casts them into metal. Rough gemstones are incorporated into her work as a
celebration of the beauty of natural imperfection. All production and resources
are kept as local as possible, and every piece is handmade in Emilie’s studio
in New York City.
Emilie received her B.F.A. in Art +
Design with a concentration in jewelry and metalsmithing from Syracuse
University. She also studied at Alchimia, a contemporary school of jewelry in
Florence, Italy with artists Peter Bauhuis, Yoko Shimizu, and Marzia Rossi.
Before launching her own jewelry line, Emilie worked as a bench jeweler and
production manager for various jewelry companies in New York City. Emilie also
teaches jewelry workshops at Liloveve Jewelry School, The 92Y, as well as workshops in her studio. Emilie is
the author of How to Create Your Own Jewelry Line and Creative Wax Carving.
Emilie lives in Astoria, Queens with
her husband, son and two not-so-social cats. When not creating jewelry Emilie
loves to tend to her garden, knit and obsess about her plants.
“Wherever your heart is, there you
will find your treasure.” – Paolo Coehlo
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I have always had a knack for design
and business, but it took me many years to develop the skills and patience of a
craftsperson. From my earliest days, I was interested in designing and creating
things. My father worked in sales at a fabric mill in New York City’s garment
district, so fabric samples in all sorts of patterns were always available in
my playroom. I have fond memories of wandering the sample floor high above
Eight Avenue and learning about color and texture. When I was five, I loved
designing and making clothes for my dolls. Using my (not-so) safety scissors, I
would cut up my fabric to make outfits for my dolls.
I made my first piece of jewelry when
I was thirteen and haven’t stopped since then. After my grandmother passed
away, I found a bag of her costume jewelry. I was always fascinated by how things were made, so I started taking
apart my grandmother’s necklaces, bracelets, and brooches and putting them back
together in a new way. When I was in high school, I started selling my jewelry
to friends, family, and the people who would watch me make it at a local beach
club. When launching my own jewelry line, I wanted to
structure it as a handmade line focusing on wholesale distribution to other
retailers. “Art into Industry” is one of my favorite sayings from the Bauhaus
school. My style came from the mix of my education and experience, focusing on
good craftsmanship and experimentation with materials. I aimed to strike a
balance between the art jewelry world and the production world. I’m inspired by
the beauty in imperfection -- whether those imperfections come from the natural
gemstone, the texture, or the technique. I hope the wearers of my jewelry see a
reflection of themselves in my work, celebrating both imperfections and natural
beauty.