Michele Malone

As the youngest of seven children, Michele searched for her own voice. After graduating from UCLA, Michele went into the corporate world of audit and then business analysis. While she enjoyed her job, interacting with people and playing with numbers, it was her time after work when her true passion bloomed. She used to come home and paint abstract paintings, refinish furniture, and complete incredibly varied types of home improvement projects – long before the days of HGTV. As a child she knew she had a talent for art, but never really explored the idea that you could make a living from your passion.Michele’s jewelry making began as a hobby - crafting for friends, acquaintances, and her own pieces that she wore. Creating jewelry is her creative declaration. ”I made my first piece of jewelry back in 1995 after seeing a necklace at Nordstrom I loved but couldn’t afford. I found a bead shop in Palo Alto that showed me some basic stringing techniques and I was on my way!” When Michele made the change from corporate life to stay at home motherhood, travel became a large part of her life. She would search out unique pieces from each of the countries she visited and incorporate those in home design and jewelry.She used one of a kind pieces from Italy to create unique pieces sold through art galleries in California and Hawaii. She blew glass for pendants and employed the use of kilns and torches to finish her beautiful and highly sought-after pieces. Word-of-mouth to this day, serves Michele well, as her following grows. Michele is now an established interior designer in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I love playing with texture and color – in my designs for the home and my jewelry pieces”.Spirituality and integrity are important to Michele. God is vital in her life, and she is driven through a gift from above - her creativity. Her fascination with colors and textures was no accident. So, why the new jewelry line? “I love making jewelry – I just can’t give it up. I made a few pieces – grand overscale necklaces and belt buckles – over the last year and I was overwhelmed with the response. It was as if the universe was telling me that I had to get back to this love that I had given up years ago”.“I enjoy this new medium. It allows me to integrate my love of jewelry design with my fascination for stones, love of painting, and the ability to create whatever I can dream up. I am no longer afraid of people liking my things – that is one beautiful thing that has come with age. My work isn’t for everyone. My pieces are for people that appreciate art and want something that stands out. My jewelry isn’t “in” – so it won’t be “out” – something I learned long ago after owning a woman’s boutique. My pieces aren’t for everyone – they resonate with my tribe.The most powerful thing I can share with other people out there considering what to do with their life is to consider what David Ravetch, my Accounting Professor at UCLA said, “If you don’t get what you want out of life, nobody will be sorrier than you”. He was an awesome professor.”

Medium(s): Ceramic, Bronze, Jewelry