Published December 01, 2008 08:02 pm - Whether her style is delicate and feminine, boisterous and colorful, independent and strong, or just eclectic fun, what a woman wears tends to reflect her individual style. It also sets the mood for her day.
Celeste m. designs jewelry with bold, feminine
Female spirit and emotions inspire Avon jewelry designer
By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
Whether her style is delicate and feminine, boisterous and colorful, independent and strong, or just eclectic fun, what a woman wears tends to reflect her individual style. It also sets the mood for her day.
Celeste m. designs jewelry is inspired by that female spirit and emotion.
“I really like the jewelry to evoke a feeling,” says Celeste Tober from her studio boutique inside her expansive Avon home. “No matter how a woman is feeling, I get told all the time, ‘I put your jewelry on and it makes me feel so good.’”
That emotional response is what compels Celeste to custom create her one-of-a-kind jewelry and involve the customer in the creative process.
“I love nothing better than when a customer brings in a broken jewelry piece that was their grandmother’s or is a family heirloom, and together we turn it into wonderful, wearable art. If you have a hand in designing your jewelry, it is not going to sit in your jewelry box,” she says.
Celeste enjoys it when customers come to her studio and peruse the variety of styles and colors available.
“So many of my girlfriends have said, 'I never would have worn this; you have opened my eyes to what I can wear.'”
Celeste M. Designs was created serendipitously.
“I had a bridal/floral business that I really enjoyed, but after the birth of my last son, I stepped away to be home full-time with the boys. Just before we moved into this house, I ran across a pearl and started playing with it using some wire and made a ring. I wondered if someone would wear something like that,” she says.
After the move to Avon, Celeste came across that first ring and revisited the idea with better wire and a better stone.
“I remember I ‘Googled’ hand-made wire jewelry and no one was doing it, so, I started making pieces for gifts for family and friends and it just took off from there,” she says.
Confirmation came when strangers followed Celeste into restaurants and stores just to ask her where she got her jewelry and who made it.
“It's true it happens to me whenever I wear her jewelry,” says Cindy Luffred, also of Avon and Celeste M. Designs’ outside sales representative.
“Celeste and I met a year ago through a neighbor and I fell in love with her jewelry and asked if she needed any help,” Cindy said. “When people ask about the jewelry, I give them Celeste”s contact information.”
Celeste creates jewelry by combining precious-metals wire with unique gems, stones, crystals, glass, fresh water pearls and beads she collects during her travels.