Michele Friedman, Jeweler
Michele Friedman, Jeweler in Chicago, Illinois, designs and makes her jewelry from oxidized sterling silver with some pieces incorporating 18k Bi-metal and gold plated brass screws. The metal work acts as a backdrop to showcase the wool felt. The wool felt possesses rich, saturated color, a hint of texture. It is both flexible and durable. The interplay between the bright, soft wool felt and the dark, hard oxidized silver has become a signature of Michele’s pieces.
Michele is inspired by graphic, product and furniture design as well as architecture from her childhood in Chicago and studies at Parsons School of Design in New York City.
Michele Friedman, Felt & Sterling Jeweler
My jewelry is inspired by graphic, product and furniture design as well as architecture. Growing up in Chicago gave me an appreciation of architecture and attending Parsons School of Design in New York City exposed me to the exciting world of design.
Different European and American Design Movements from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries have had a profound effect on me and my design aesthetic. Key among them is Modern Design. Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Philippe Starck, Charles and Ray Eames, Vasily Kandinsky and Marimekko are among the many architects, designers and artists that inspire and influence me.
Since developing my first line of all metal jewelry in 1994, I had wanted to incorporate color into my work without setting stones. The challenge was determining an alternative material.
After much trial and error I concluded that wool felt would be an excellent candidate. It possesses rich, saturated color, a hint of texture and is both flexible and durable. After experimenting I began to love the interplay between the bright, soft wool felt and the dark, hard oxidized silver.
I make and set wool felt stones into my jewelry. The jewelry is made of oxidized sterling silver with some pieces incorporating 18k Bi-metal and gold plated brass screws. The metal work acts as a backdrop to showcase the rich wool felt. These two materials constantly provide challenges and rewards as I continue to explore and push the envelope.
