frog cottage jewelry
About the Artist
There's something about these beads - their unusual origins, their history, their association with a wide variety of cultures. This results in earthy tribal and ethnic influences in the unique and unusual handmade art jewelry that I design. They have brought their beauty to others, often long ago. And now to us. Their unique beauty shines out and encourages me to feel that somehow they make this a better world to live in.
As much as possible, I make my jewelry using beads from non-traditional sources that fully respect the people who make them or recover them from earlier times. Being a firm believer in the issue of fair trade and living wages for all, it pleases me that someone in need will benefit from my bead purchases. The vast majority of the components come from Fair Trade Certified organizations or those that practice fair trade business principles. And of course an additional benefit to customers is that they are able to make earth-friendly purchases while assisting me in distributing more beads and enjoying the wonderfully warm energy that is imbued in each piece by those who play a part in the life of the beads.
It brings me enormous joy to find unique ways to combine and accent the color, texture, and shape of these beads. Working with a variety of new, vintage and ancient materials - including recycled glass, crystals, jade, turquoise, jasper and other semi-precious gemstones, I create one of a kind jewelry pieces that you won’t find elsewhere. Materials in Frog Cottage Jewelry are always natural and earth friendly as well.
While living in Managua, Nicaragua, during the 90’s, I developed a great love for Latino culture in particular. My first interest in other world cultures came from a love of traveling to Central America, Mexico, Greece, China and Europe and from anthropological studies while pursuing my BA degree in art and design at Mount Mary College and the University of Wisconsin, both in Milwaukee, WI. For many years I also worked in the fields of domestic violence education and advocacy and have served as a non-profit community service administrator.
Now, upon retirement, I’ve found my opportunity to express my great love of art and draw on my knowledge of the many cultures I’ve experienced. My first great passion found expression in large-scale sculpture and I think you may discover sculptural influences in the earthiness and asymmetry of my jewelry. I am fortunate that I have the freedom to experiment, to take risks and create art jewelry and the life love.
I am confident that my work will bring as much beauty and pride of purchase into your life. Please visit my online jewelry shop and see for yourself!
Lynn Sylver