“I started making my own jewelry because I wanted to knock off the expensive stuff I saw at Barney’s,” says K. Chatham Hellmers, a native of New York City who has lived in Birmingham since 1998.
While she’s been making jewelry for 15 years, she only started selling her work in the last year, joking that she “horded most of the good stuff” for herself.
An earring that’s lost its mate will become a broach, or beads from a broken necklace will find their way onto a bracelet. Hellmers, who for several years owned the late, great Southside boutique Jinx, says she spends a lot of time “thrifting” – shopping at thrift stores – and at flea markets.
“I’m kind of on a search-and-destroy mission for vintage jewelry; anything from Edwardian to 1950s copper,” she says. She’s recently been collecting a lot of cameos and lockets. “People really seem to be digging those right now.”
Hellmers’ jewelry is pretty, wearable and affordable – pieces range from $28-$78. In addition to recent trunk shows held at Lucy’s Coffee and Tea in Southside, Hellmers participated in Bottletree’s holiday craft show last December.
Hellmers will hold a jewelry trunk show and sale Sunday, May 18 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Lucy’s Coffee and Tea, located at 2007 University Blvd. If you want to know more about her delightfully dainty jewelry, shoot an email to luxealabama@gmail.com.
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