Jewelry Statement: Vintage jewelry brings back memories. Remember your great grandmother's strand of pearls, your grandmother's brooch or your mother's clip-on earrings? Over time that jewelry has fallen into disrepair. My passion is to re-purpose those pieces into one-of-a-kind wearable art that will create memories for the next generation.
Jeanne Bunting is one of the lucky few that is fortunate enough to transition from a weekend hobbyist to full-time jewelry designer. "In 1999 I walked into a bead store and came out with a bag of orange and blue beads. My hope was to make a few items to sell on a Florida home football game day. I set up a small table and asked my daughter to help. We sold everything within a few hours. That day changed my life.”
Jeanne's passion for design started at a young age and continued through college and into the retail world. After receiving a B.A. in Art from Greenville University, Illinois, she moved to Ocala to help open the Maas Brothers store in the Visual Merchandising department. In 1981 she moved to Gainesville and continued to work in retail for over twenty years. Ten of those years she worked as the apparel and souvenir buyer for the University of Florida. Jeanne designed numerous graphics, many of which are still best sellers.
Jeanne's work can be found at art festivals and indie shows throughout Florida. She lives with her husband Clyde.
Biography: I was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After high school, I attended college in Illinois, where I graduated in 1980 with a BA in Art. Most of my adult life was spent in retail management, until 2000, when I began making jewelry as a way to earn extra income. In 2001, my hobby became a full time job.