A little bit about Squirrel's Nest Jewelry...
Hi! My name is Amy and I'm the owner, designer, and maker of Squirrel's Nest Jewelry. I enjoy creating jewelry that suits my own style: simple, subtle, and not too fussy. Most importantly to me, it has to be COMFORTABLE and EASY to wear. I had given up on wearing jewelry because it often felt so uncomfortable; I would either feel irritated and take it off halfway through the day, or leave it on and be so relieved when I finally did remove it. I worked in a greenhouse for 12 years and would never bother trying to wear jewelry to work - it was just too impractical and would get in the way. After I made a pair of ear climbers for a coworker, I started wearing them myself and felt so excited that I had, after 33 years, finally discovered a piece of jewelry that didn't drive me crazy! I began getting more requests from other coworkers who saw the benefits of a lightweight, out-of-the-way earring that could be worn all day.
I also design with versatility in mind. I strive to be somewhat of a minimalist when it comes to my own style, so I want jewelry that I don't have to change if I switch from my gardening gear to jeans to something more dressy. I've even had brides purchase my ear climbers to wear with their wedding gown. I design and hand craft all of my earrings, including shaping and hammering wire into ear climbers and open hoops. My open hoops have gained quite a loyal customer base as well, for their simplicity and quality. I get such a thrill when excited customers tell me they love their earrings and don't want to take them off.
I grew up in Freeport, and then went to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, where I majored in Studio Art, with a minor in Art History. My concentration was in textiles/fiber arts, and that is where I spent most of my time in the art building. However, I did take one metalsmithing class--little did I know I would tuck away some of those skills for later. In fact, I'm still using some of the same silver sheet solder that I purchased for my college class (a little solder goes a long way!) After living in upstate New York for 15 years (and devoting 12 of those to gardening/greenhouse work), I am back in Maine and loving being surrounded by the ocean, pine trees and chickadees that I grew up with.
The name Squirrel's Nest is a business name that runs in my family. From the 1930s to the 1950s, my great-grandmother Eugenie Russell owned and operated a gift shop in Rangeley, Maine called The Squirrel's Nest. I am lucky to have the original shop sign (it now hangs in my studio) and it seemed appropriate to carry on the name.
