​Why did you decide to become a jewelry designer?

It was a somewhat accidental occurrence. While my background is in industrial design and I have previously worked on everything from exhibition design to toys, I’ve always been drawn to working on a small scale. Combine that with a fondness for ornamentation and personal expression and this is where I’ve landed!
I simply want everything around me to be beautiful, and I love that I can design those little details (ok, perhaps not so little if you’re obsessed with statement pieces like I am at the moment) that help tie together, elevate, or shake up staple outfits.


Where do you draw your greatest inspiration from?

Art and it's history. The myriad influences of our world and how it has been processed through a vast array of creative minds is fascinating. I’m drawn to images and themes that have stories behind them and I’m continually captivated by the way nature and the human experience have been interpreted at different moments in time.


What is a typical day in your studio like?

Enough to scare off the faint of heart. There is lots of banter and
music but we keep a thoughtful and steady clip as we move through the typical administrative duties and lots of making, making, making.


What was your favorite collaboration? Or one you would like to have in the future?

One day when my kids no longer want to spend every waking moment with me and I don’t know what to do with my time I’d love to tackle jewelry for your home–tabletop pieces, textiles, lighting…even furniture. I’ve done a bit for our new home and had a great time with it.


What do you think you represent that’s missing in the jewelry industry today?

Focus? Haha. We’ve got such a massive range of moods that are
expressed in our pieces, from boldly modern to rustically intricate.
We hand make everything in the USA, and are thrilled that to be able to produce items that really feel like they’ve traveled from the creator’s hands to the wearer’s. We love the natural quirks of the materials and processes we use and that no two pieces will ever look they rolled off a factory line. And the fact that we have been able to achieve this while operating as a socially conscious company thrills us every day.


What are you working on that you’re most excited about?

People have been pestering us for hair accessories, so we’re expanding into that arena with pieces that draw from some of our most popular styles.
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​​To see the vast collection from We Dream in Colour visit their website and follow them on Instagram.
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“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” - Anthony Bourdain

Thomas and Greta Ballard have dedicated their lives to finding the beauty in all things, big and small. They seek out this beauty in the form of food, art, culture and design from all corners of the world. This wanderlust informs their business, allowing them to tap into artists and stories beyond the typical. The story of Dutch designer Siska Schippers is a perfect example of how their love of travel has bolstered their business.

From a cooperatively owned compound in Thailand, Schippers invites her reps from around the world to immerse themselves in all the new beauty that comes from Zsiska each season. After accepting the offer in 2017, Thomas and Greta were so blown away that they knew they had to make the long trip across the Pacific again. Last year, during a soaking wet winter in the Pacific Northwest, Thomas and Greta jetted off once more to discover what the Dutch designer turned Thai expat and her team had produced.

In the Cha-Am district, just 2 hours South of Bangkok, Thomas and Greta arrive to the large compound that houses Zsiska’s manufacturing, design studio and gallery, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Schippers wanted to create a space that would be conducive to working as one big family. She never wanted to have reps that were focused on sales, but rather friends who believed in the brand as much as she does. She wanted to create a time and space for them to fall in love with Zsiska and then share that with their customers.

To do this, Schippers hosts a seasonal showcase for the reps to sit down with the Thai artists and craftspeople and get a true sense of the design and manufacturing process. They look at each and every piece, both in the hands of the artists and on a model. The reps have the opportunity to ask questions and even provide constructive criticism that the designers truly take to heart.

After the reps have the chance to see behind the scenes at Zsiska, Schippers takes them out to her to her other passion project, The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand Animal Sanctuary. While being served a beautiful dinner, the guests are treated to roaming elephants and other large animals, some of whom may stop by to say hi or ask for a snack. Schippers sits on the board of WFFT which offers these animals a home after losing theirs to deforestation or being abused in the tourism industry. Her commitment to the Thai community and international cooperation is apparent both at the sanctuary and at the heart of her brand, Zsiska.

Over a twenty five years ago, Schippers traveled to Thailand with the intention of changing her design focus. After working primarily in gold and silver with a traditional aesthetic, Schippers wanted to explore color and new techniques. In order to realize her goal, she moved to Thailand to be surrounded with the abundant nature that inspires her. What began as an exploration of color has exploded to a 100 person business, employing primarily women, often multiple generations of the same family. Creating this space for women to grow and work has changed the economic paradigm of the rural Thai town that they reside in, offering financial independence to women who were otherwise tethered to men and the farming or fishing work that could get.

If creating a business that these incredible Thai artists could be a part of wasn’t enough, in 2017 Schippers gave 100% of the business to the employees. Now cooperatively owned, Zsiska is not only a powerhouse of a brand that turns out unique wearable art, it is a shining example of how a company can change the world for the better.

The inspiration from their immersion into Thai life, art and design was brought back with Thomas and Greta and informs their relationships with Zsiska customers and even their relationship with the world around them. The peace, integrity and kindness with which the Thai people live their life inspires them to harness these qualities and inject them into their business.

Stay tuned for photos from their next trip to Thailand with a stop in beautiful Bali.

Where do you draw your greatest inspiration from?

Pearls are my first love because the depth of iridescence in a good pearl still makes my toes curl. The realization of a gem coming from a place of irritation is a mindful study on patience that I use often. It’s the symbology in that equation that I find so bewitching! I’m a sucker for signs and symbols and have studied alchemical alphabets for many years. Sometimes they make more sense to me than our Roman alphabet. 
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Most artists are inspired by nature and the calm elegance of organic material. I think growing up in a jungle where I lived and breathed nature every day is so deeply engrained in my DNA that I differ in my inspiration. My inspiration comes from the raw material I’m holding in my hand. It ‘tells’ me what it wants to be and how to frame designs so as to show off the stones ‘best selves’. 

What is a typical day in your studio like?

Our studio is in an 1880’s farmhouse with all the beautiful blemishes and warmth of history surrounding us. Situated in Oregon Wine Country we start early and end late.  It’s always a surprise to look up to see the clock and discover it’s 8pm. Our environment is hard working, but we manage to have quite a bit of fun! 

What song do you have on repeat right now? 

Tom Waits, Laurie Anderson, Miles Davis or pure silence are my favorite sound waves while working. 

​Where do you draw your greatest inspiration from?
I look to current interior design trends as well as historical details in architecture, furniture, and anything decorative.

​Where was your favorite vacation? 
Any place with mountains. Arizona, Nevada, California.

What are you working on that you’re most excited about? 
Current styles are constantly inspiring new versions, in different materials, so I am keeping a list of pieces that have inspired fall evolutions.

To call jewelry designer Michael Michaud prolific would be an understatement. Our favorite New York artist has his famous line of delicate, nature inspired jewelry but has also created a line of usable art for home and kitchen called Table Art. If that wasn't enough, Michaud stunned us last year by introducing his Fine Collection, featuring sterling silver and 14k gold jewelry pieces. Our clients love Michaud Michaud and we love working with him. Read
​our interview with the talented jeweler to see why!

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Why did you decide to become a jewelry designer?
When I graduated from High School, I did not know what I wanted to do, but I knew it would be something creative. I decided to take time off before I went to college, but still needed to work in the meanwhile. An apprenticeship for a jewelry mold cutter became available at a jewelry manufacturer nearby. It sounded like something a little artistic and creative, so I took the job. The gentleman that was training me died in a motorcycle accident three weeks after I started, and the foreman said “you’re the mold cutter now.” This is a highly skilled job that I was forced to learn quickly. After three years, I was an expert in both mold cutting and the jewelry “lost wax” casting process. At this point, I wanted to move on to college, but with my experience, I decided to stay with jewelry and to study metals and Jewelry Design at Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Craftsmen… And the rest is history.


Where do you draw your greatest inspiration from?
I think it is quite obvious that my inspiration comes from everything nature creates. As a child, my time was mostly spent outdoors. Born the youngest of three children, I grew up in a small house in Northeastern Ohio. My parents were avid gardeners and outdoorsmen. I grew up hunting, fishing, and camping my way across the United States. I think this was where my true bond with the beauty of nature manifested itself.


What is a typical day in your studio like?
It’s manic- I am blessed that I can now devote most of my time to creating new work, but we create for markets worldwide, and we have licensing projects with major Art Institutions. Along with our core collection of jewelry, we are producing Table Top products, a fine jewelry collection, and we have a new collaboration with a sustainable precious stone mining company in the works. 


Where was your favorite vacation?
I have a place in the Bahamas on the beach where I spend most of my downtime with my wife, family, and friends.


What are you working on that you’re most excited about?
Along with developing new collections with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Van Gogh Museum in Denmark, our newest project with the precious gemstone mining company is very exciting.


What song do you have on repeat right now?
Right now, Wiko Radio is streaming, but my tastes are quite eclectic! 

Follow Michael Michaud on Instagram @michaelmichaud_usa and check out his unique jewelry at michael-michaud.com .
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Founder and Design Director, Siska Schippers, gave us some insight into her successful and busy brand, Zsiska. All the way from her office and headquarters in Thailand, hear what Siska has to say about our favorite bold and colorful handmade jewelry line.

Why did you decide to become a jewelry brand?
I know that I would be in a creative environment ever-since I could remember!  As a child, I loved putting bits and pieces of things I found around the house together. Playing with beads, stones, and sculpturing things out of clay-playing and mixing it with everything I find under the sun.  I've always made my own things.  I was always busy creating ... and I still am.
 
Where do you draw your greatest inspiration from?
Nature and Arts! They feed my creativity daily,  and give me endless opportunities in design ideas.  Similar to many artists and designers, I also draw inspirations from nature, arts, and cultures, but I do have my own interpretations of these inspirations which are shaped by my travels and the culture that I have experienced.  And of course, my memories of my past also inspire me. My experiences. My world. That's what inspires me, day by day. 
  
What is a typical day in your studio like?
We are a small design team and we run everything by ourselves, so our days aren't so typical!  It's a creative, dynamic and kind working space and typical to us is that everything is done with love, care and respect.  We are like a family. That what makes ZSISKA so special.
 
Where was your favourite vacation?
Without a doubt, it's India! Out of all the exotic places I have visited, I must say my trip there was the most influential travel experience I've had. 
We use orange and turquoise colours in almost every spring/ summer collection –they bring me back to India!
 
What are you working on that you're most excited about? 
I am always excited when we start our new collections;  and right now we're busy with the spring/summer collection for 2020!  But what excites me the most?  It's when we are finalising the collections and when we get to see it all coming together - I love that!
 
What song do you have on repeat right now?
Anything from the Gypsy Kings! The whole album!  The rhythm, the mood, I enjoy surrounding myself with positive vibes!


Check out more great designs from Zsiska at zsiska.com and follow them on Instagram at @zsiskadesign .

Northern California based artist, Alicia Van Fleteren brings a timeless elegance to the Palladium group. Van Fleteren takes her fresh eye for design coupled with her commitment to quality and makes jewelry that stands the test of time and trends. She has an incredible following and creates awe-inspiring collections time and time again.

Take a look at what Alicia Van Fleteren has to say about her background, her inspiration and her favorite memories.

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Why did you decide to become a jewelry designer?
Becoming a jewelry designer was a happy accident.  My degree is in finance.  I’ve always known in my heart that I am an artist and love working with my hands, but I did what I thought others would view as ‘successful’ as a young twenty-something.  While working at an investment advisor, I took jewelry classes in the evenings and on weekends to decompress and as a creative outlet.  After a decade of working in the corporate world, I built up my jewelry making skills, my collection of work, and my courage to swerve.  I knew in my heart I wanted to pursue something that felt more meaningful and true, and my jewelry business was born. I love being a jewelry designer not just because it fills my heart with joy to design jewelry, but also for all the ways it has enriched my life.  My jewelry has allowed me to start conversations, create connections, and share love and positivity with others.  I have created a life and career that I love everyday!


Where do you draw your greatest inspiration from?
I am a very visual person.  What I see inspires me. I’m drawn to colors, landscapes, architecture, and art.  I especially love being outdoors.  The place I live is perfect for this. I hike the rolling hills and redwood forests, I walk the rugged beaches of the Northern California coasts and inspect tide pools filled with tiny sea creatures. There are so many places and things to explore everyday in my own backyard. The textures, colors, and organic-ness of the area inspire my work.  Another great source of great inspiration comes from my Asian heritage.  I love to blend classic with a little bit of unexpected detail to create designs that transcend trends.  Pieces you can wear everyday, for a long time.


What is a typical day in your studio like?
I wear so many hats that every day is different. I could be designing, visiting vendors, handpicking gemstones, managing production, shipping out orders, designing new marketing materials, or accounting.  Usually not all of the above all at once though.  I try to pick 1 or 2 things each day and try to do them well.


Where was your favorite vacation?
Spain is probably one of my favorite vacations. I especially loved the city of Granada with it’s narrow cobblestone streets, unassuming cafes, and ancient Moorish art and architecture.  We stayed in a house that dating back 400 years in the medieval part of the city.  The house had unobstructed views of the hills and The Alhambra providing for a stunning and romantic backdrop.  The colorful frescoes and highly ornamented walls of the Alhambra and Generalife have provided me with endless inspiration.  Definitely an unforgettable trip!


What's your favorite gemstone to work with right now?
At the moment peridot has been a source of great inspiration. It feels so fresh, vibrant, and now.  Labradorite with its flashy iridescence and color variations still excites me. And I love working with organic shaped pearls - the more misshapen and irregular the better!
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What song do you have on repeat right now?
I love music of all kinds, so what I’m listening to largely depends on my mood.  In the early morning, I could be listening to soft classical music.  80’s new wave is on when I’m designing or have some kind of tedious task I need to accomplish.  Old school hip hop is reserved for work outs.  Sometimes I’ll put on classical guitar in the evenings.

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What are you working on that you’re most excited about?
Currently I’m dreaming up new designs for Fall/Holiday.  I’m so excited!