Artist Highlight: Alicia Van Fleteren

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!

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Follow Alicia on Instagram at @avfjewelry and see her work in person at any of our upcoming shows.