bohemian artworks (Bonnie Jay, Jewelry Design), Santa Cruz, CA
Creating whimsical pieces of jewelry from metal is a passion for me. Each piece is fabricated by hand, and unique. My creations have been described as "fanciful, rich in texture and design, and fun to wear".
The warm colors of brass and copper appeal to me, and I often overlay them. I also use sterling in some pieces, and always sterling ear wires, made by hand. I use metalsmithing, casting and fabrication to create the jewelry. Gems and stones often find their way into a piece.
My inspiration comes from nature and my travels. I grew up on the Eastern side of the Sierras, and collecting rocks, leaves and flowers were a daily experience. I continue to incorporate shapes from nature into the jewelry. I enjoy using an easily identifiable object and stretching the creative ways to portray it with design, texture, techniques and materials (ie. cowgirl boot in clusters, pins, pendants--in various metals with a variety of surface decoration).
I hope looking at and wearing this jewelry brings a smile to your face.
