Elaine Haydon Jewelry at www.elainehaydonjewelry.com is a
virtual feast for a jewelry-lover's hungry eyes, showcasing the lush and
elegant designs and one-of-a-kind handcrafted wizardry of designer/artist,
Elaine Haydon. Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and watches are
fashioned using a selection of beautiful gemstones embedded in sterling
silver, vermeil, or gold-fill. Sophisticated and exciting, this is jewelry
with pizzazz! It is jewelry that reveals the spirit of a true artist. And
it is abundantly clear Elaine puts her heart and soul into every single
piece!
Fan and customer, Susan
Dorling.
SD: When did you start designing
jewelry?
I've only been designing jewelry for about 2 1/2 years
now. It sort of started as a challenge. My mom went to Paris and fell in
love with a necklace that she saw there. When she got back, she regretted
not buying it. She said to me "I bet you could make it for me." So, I
walked into a bead shop for the first time, bought stones & materials
& just started experimenting. I found that I absolutely loved it. It
was almost addictive for me. The necklace that resulted from that ended up
being really different and unique & she was
thrilled.
SD: What inspires your jewelry
designs?
I have to say that I am inspired by a lot of different
things. Fashion is definitely an inspiration. It is ever-changing &
provides an endless source of inspiration and possibilities. I will say,
however, that I generally tend to buy stones & metals that I love
(whether for the color or just the uniqueness of a particular stone). The
stones themselves are the most inspiration for me. I do sketch out designs
occasionally, but I find that when I sit down to work with the stones,
they sometimes lead the design in a different direction.
SD: What is your background-where were you born-when did
you come to Orange County?
I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana
in 1972. I moved to Santa Cruz, CA at the age of 16. I did floral design
for a few years. I studied Fashion Merchandising & worked in the
Fashion industry for about 11 years. My job, naturally, took me to Los
Angeles. I moved to Orange County in September of 2001. My husband and I
were just starting our family & decided that South Orange County would
be a great place to raise children.
SD: What are your
other interests and hobbies?
I am an artist at heart. My medium
of choice, when I'm not designing jewelry, is pastels. It's really great
because you can just dive in and get your hands dirty. The more you blend
and manipulate the pastels on the paper the better the outcome.
I also
love spending time with my 2 children ages 7 and 3. Whether it's at the
latest baseball or football game that my son is playing or in the pool
with my daughter. They keep me on my toes and keep things in perspective.
It's all about having fun and enjoying your life. They constantly keep
things fun.
SD: Were you creative as a
child?
I would have to say yes. I have always had a creative
streak. I've always loved art & entered several art contests in my
early teens. I also loved fashion & remember playing dress up for
hours in my mom's closet & trying on all of her shoes and jewelry.
SD: Why have you chosen jewelry design as one means to
express your creativity?
Aside from how fun it is to just
design a piece and see it realized, I love the gratification of seeing
someone try on a piece of jewelry that I made and have them fall in love
with it. Jewelry is one of those things that always has a way of making
you feel good. The right piece of jewelry can transform an outfit in a way
that nothing else can.
SD: Do you have a
following-collectors of Elaine Haydon Jewelry?
I do. It's
great. I do home jewelry parties for most of those women & have gotten
to know many of them personally. I love that they take so much pleasure
out of something that I put my heart and soul into creating. It gives me
reassurance that I am going in the right direction with my
designs.
SD: What is your favorite jewelry material to
work with and why? Do you have a favorite gemstone or precious
metal?
It really changes from season to season for me. I love
working with lots of different materials. Most of my designs are in
Sterling Silver, but I have been branching out more into vermeil and
gold-fill. As far as a favorite gemstone, right now my favorite stone is
probably praisiolite or green amethyst. I love the cool, pale green color
of that stone. I am also really attracted to aquamarine as well. Both
stones are really great with summer fashions. I also absolutely love
working with pearls. There is something about pearls that lights up a
woman's face. I will say, however, that next week I will probably have a
new favorite. I'm fickle that way.
SD: Describe for us
one of your favorite pieces of jewelry.
One of my favorite
necklaces right now is a statement piece consisting of several strands of
Aquamarine and Freshwater pearls in all shapes and sizes. I love the
organic feel of the stones and pearls. I am really loving big chunky
necklaces and this one definitely fits that description.
SD: Do you do custom work?
Absolutely. I love working one on one
with a customer and designing something specifically for her. I just
finished a beautiful coral and gold necklace for someone with 25 year old
coral that she brought back from the Dead Sea. It was really a lot of fun
creating that piece for her as the coral was very special to her. It will
definitely be one of those heirloom pieces as it has sentimental
value.
SD: Upon placing an order, how long before
delivery?
If it is an item that is in stock, it is shipped
out within 24-48 hours. It will usually take about 4-7 business days for
the customer to receive the piece. If it is a special order, it can take
anywhere from 2-3 weeks depending on the complexity of the piece and the
availability of the materials.
SD: Where can people
see your jewelry?
They can see my jewelry at my online store at http://www.elainehaydonjewelry.com/
