Marcy Hall
and Susan Myers are the artists at Refreshing Elements. They love to
work with silver and wire, bending and shaping unusual designs, and
creating pieces that are unique, one of a kind and fun to wear. They
love the colors of gemstones and handcrafted lampwork glass beads, and
when creating consider lively unusual color combinations, the visual
appeal of textures, designs and shapes. They also consider important
factors of wearability and quality, such as function, durability of
materials, strong construction, weight, balance, fit and comfort. Using
only high quality materials ensures a beautiful, strong, durable
creation you will enjoy for years to come. Although this increases
production costs immensely, you will see and enjoy the value added to
each piece by the use of these fine materials. Because they like to use
quality materials that support small artisans in our country and across
the globe, Refreshing Elements jewelry is wearable art crafted by hand
on many levels, from the beads to the finished piece. Their jewelry is
sold retail on the Refreshing Elements website, a few other online
galleries, at local art fairs, and also through a number of wholesale
clients across the country who offer their pieces in retail stores. A
portion of profits from all sales goes to help victims of domestic
violence, a cause dear to both artists hearts. Marcy and Susan also
regularly donate pieces to charity auctions for local domestic violence
shelters and other worthwhile causes.
MEET
MARCY
Marcy is inspired by the colors and
shapes of the natural world, be it the shape of a leaf, or the color
palette of a flower next to an interesting rock and a backdrop of sky.
She also draws inspiration from many other sources as well, including
the works of Henri Matisse, the creativity of her children and other
artists. She sees colors and shapes in everything and loves the feel of
bending wire and melting glass. Her work can be described as abstract
and colorful. She creates lampwork beads as well as jewelry and
frequently incorporates wirework into her pieces.
Throughout her life, she has treasured creativity and feels it
in many ways is the essence of life. As a child, she spent countless
hours creating art and toys out of anything available, frequently
assisted by her mother and grandmother. The living room walls were
usually decorated with her work. Marcy has taken courses throughout her
life in many mediums and aspects of art and jewelry including pottery,
silversmithing, wirework, enameling and lampworking. Some of the designs
made in jewelry classes were regionally award winning. She is also self
taught through experimentation and obsessive reading and researching of
techniques, materials and pieces. With both of her parents being
artists, one a musician, she has attended fairs, galleries, museums and
gem shows consistently since a toddler, frequently saving her allowance
to purchase treasures there to add to her collection to study, enjoy and
admire.
She holds a bachelors degree in Business and worked for more
than a decade in the printing industry helping artists and clients turn
their ideas into print reality. She has extensively studied
communication, psychology, marketing, team development, quality,
management and creativity and has held many positions, including
management, customer service and team facilitation and mediation. She
has a talent for organizing and coordinating special projects, and a
great ability to see the big picture. She has a passion for quality in
all aspects of life, whether it be in jewelry or personal relations. She
currently manages and owns Refreshing Elements, designs jewelry and
lampwork beads, and explores the joy of learning and creativity with her
two children.
MEET
SUSAN
Susan has always been an artist at
heart, and has explored many mediums and enjoyed them all. As a child
she spent countless hours designing and drawing her clothing ideas, and
later learned how to sew her own designs. In college she studied design
and fashion illustration. With a love of working with colors, it was
only natural that her interest expanded to making jewelry, and she
completed a bachelor’s degree in Design with a major in Jewelry &
Silversmithing. In addition to designing jewelry, she is an
award-winning professional graphic designer and art director.
Susan’s jewelry stylings reflect a long standing fascination
with silver and the multitude of color combinations and patterns she can
create with gemstones and beads. A perfectionist in her work with a
passion for visual impact — all the the original silver pieces in our
Fine Designs Silver Art are designed and handcrafted by her.
ABOUT
OUR LOGO
Why the ginkgo leaf in the logo? The ginkgo reminds us of our
inspirations and goals in our business and our lives.The ginkgo is an
ancient tree, in fact, as ancient as dinosaurs! It is a slow growing
tree, yet a very sturdy and hearty tree. This is why you see them often
planted near streets, where they are able to withstand exhaust fumes.
Often, it takes a little extra time to ensure what you are creating
holds a timeless style and is sturdily crafted so it may be enjoyed for
years to come. The ginkgo has achieved this, and it inspires and reminds
us to not mass produce, but to lovingly create pieces of enduring
beauty and value. We hope you see our time as worth the cost.
The ginkgo is also a wonderful representation of the variety
and creativity of nature. A leaf is a leaf, yet this one is uniquely
beautiful. A graceful fan shape delicately dances in the breeze waving
bold, vibrant bluish greens and yellows. It refreshes our spirits.
Sometimes wearing something you find beautiful helps your inner beauty
shine through. This is important, as the world is a beautiful and
healthy place because of diversity and variety. If we were all the same,
what would there be to excite and challenge the mind and eyes? The
ginkgo reminds us to stand graceful and strong and take pride in our
uniqueness!
The ginkgo is also suspected of being a very useful medicinal
plant for the mind and intelligence. I agree with the theory that
knowledge and creativity are intertwined. The more creative we are in
every way – business, arts, conflict management, the more we challenge
the mind to go where it has not ventured before, thus acquiring new
knowledge. For us, running a business and creating pieces stretches our
creativity and enriches our lives. Our children are often inspiration
and love learning about a business.
