Anne Conway Jewelry offers a creative outlet for this Alabama Maker
Anne Conway, jewelry maker
The Maker: Anne Conway, Birmingham
Anne Conway stands in her home studio working on a necklace. Meticulously, she adds beads, baubles and bits of stone to the one-of-a-kind piece until it gleams in the lamp light. “Most of my jewelry is made from hand-sourced materials and I make it only in small batches,” she says. “It’s both a challenge and an opportunity to work that way, but I think finding a balance is very important.”
The Alabama artist has been finding that balance since college, when Conway studied public relations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “I had plans to work in the nonprofit sector,” she explains. “But I’ve always created; I did visual arts in high school. And I’ve always enjoyed treasure hunting, finding colorful rocks, or going through junk shops and antique stores looking for vintage items.”
Anne Conway Jewelry offers a creative outlet for this Alabama Maker from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
She made some jewelry for herself — and soon her friends were asking where she found the unique pieces. In 2011, she cofounded “Alabama Funk,” a collective of artists and designers from the Birmingham area. The part-time artist started traveling to arts and craft fairs with the collective, displaying her handcrafted items along the way. Two years ago, while working for a software company, Conway decided to “take a leap of faith and design jewelry full time.”
She now sells her pieces on her website and at shops in Birmingham, Homewood and Tuscaloosa. Along with her necklaces and bracelets, Conway also offers a “Ceremony Collection” of bridal adornments. “I started that collection after a friend of mine asked me to create something for her wedding. I really enjoyed making it, and I was inspired by the meaning behind the piece and the wedding ceremony,” she says.
Conway’s creative talents have also taken center stage at musical events such as the Cuko.
Rakko Music and Arts Festival in Steele and the Sloss Fest in Birmingham, where she has designed artist hospitality areas, atmospheres and artworks. “I love doing festivals. They get me out of the studio, and I’m intrigued by the process of responding to and creating environments,” she says.
Back at her home studio in Alabaster, Conway takes a final look at her latest sparkling creation. “Being self-employed is also a challenge, and an opportunity,” she says with a smile. “But I love staying busy, because finding that balance is very important.”
The Product: Handcrafted necklaces and other pieces made from vintage and repurposed materials.
Take Home: The “Y Strong Necklace,” a hand-cut and textured brass pendant on a vintage snake chain and box chain ($48)
Anne Conway Jewelry: www.aeconway.com or www.facebook.com/anneconwayjewelry.
