Date: September 19, 2016 | Story: Susan Darcey | Photography: Rett Peek |
Handcrafted, one-of-a kind jewelry pieces have put this North Little Rock jewelry designer up front on the fashion scene
How did you get your start in handcrafting jewelry?
I was in corporate sales for 20 years. When I had kids I decided to quit because I traveled so much, and I wanted to stay at home with my kids. One day, when my daughter was two, she saw a bracelet and said ”you need one of these,” but the sales girl said “you’ve got to have six of those to make it look right,” and I thought “I could make these.” I started out just to make a little extra money, and it’s just grown.
What sets your jewelry apart and makes it so unique?
We hand-make everything and we use a lot of vintage and antique findings along with gemstones, pearls, and crystals. Since we make every piece we have to differentiate ourselves by our findings. Everyone can use pearls and gemstones but we are always looking for things that are different. We use a lot of Tibetan pieces and a lot of vintage pieces. One of our specialties is the antique African crosses, which are melted silver coins and hand-forged. They are 300 years old so each cross will always be different. We’re also known for belly dancing coins. They were the money used during the Shah era. These pieces can never be duplicated and I love the history behind them. They are my passion.
What do you think has inspired the growth of your jewelry business?
I have a love of jewelry and a love of sales, and I have very talented people that work for me. They are the creative genes. When I worked in sales most of my sales were more of a partnership with people. I like to help people and find a fit, and that’s true of our jewelry too. We do everything from pageant jewelry to bridal jewelry, and stores that are high end and low end, and try to cover the gamut.
G. Spinelli Jewelry is available at Vesta’s (Rogers), Darling’s Fine Things (Newport), Accessory Gallery (Hot Springs), Grand on Oak (Conway), Beyond Cotton II (Little Rock), and Box Turtle (Little Rock). For additional locations, visit gspinelli.com.
G. Spinelli Jewelry, North Little Rock, (501) 993-4820, gspinelli.com
