About

A little about me

My name is Melody Jean, I am the owner and creative mind of Melody Jean Designs.  I design, fabricate, photograph and manage all facets myself. 

I am a very proud Vermonter. My family is deeply rooted in this special place and my inspiration stems from my states luscious green mountains and rustic ways. Vermont holds the original seed of my style and artistic vision. Each creation contains a piece of those roots. 

Drawn in by Oakland’s vibrant blend of people, art, and culture, I relocated to a place that challenged and inspired me, fueling both personal and creative growth. It was here that my dream of becoming a jeweler became possible. After training under several skilled jewelers it was time to branch out on my own. Melody Jean Designs officially came to life in 2018 and my Vermont-born style continues to evolve in the Bay Area.

I have always felt that my art and its process can display what words can not. Playing music, painting, and making jewelry are my forms of expression. This creativity allows me to release sticky emotions and keep me sane in this wild world . Each piece I create carries a bit of soul, threaded into the meditative process of making. My inspiration is my lived experience and it is infused in the story of each piece. That story that begins in each creation is carried on by you. My art becomes a human connection we share. 

Design

I hand fabricate each piece of jewelry from recycled silver, 14k, and 18k gold. At times, I use 14k gold fill for a more affordable gold option. I have a love for mixed metals as I believe the work is more dynamic and can pair with the many types of jewelry that people already own. Nothing is outsourced or casted. Each piece is entirely shaped by hand from wire and sheet metal, making every creation truly one of a kind. You can see the human touch in each piece and those unique imperfections are what makes each piece special. In the ever changing AI-driven, fast-fashion culture we live in, this human connection is essential to my art and to our world as a whole. 

I have loved rocks since I was a kid. I used to spend many hours just searching for little treasures in the dirt. I have been hand selecting gemstones for 20+ years. Many pieces come with a semi-precious or precious stone as the center piece of the work. Each stone holds significance and has its own story. I use many tools to create various textures to give each piece an organic and handmade finish. Most of my jewelry has a patina to darken and highlight the texture and the stone. This gives the jewelry a soft matte finish and the rustic character that defines my work.