| Here at Stylehive, we love our accessories and baubles so imagine our joy when we discovered that our DIY Editor, Sophie Okulick, is none other than the creative genius behind Sophie Monet jewelry! Natural materials like turquoise, wood and coral are made into earthy, elegant pieces that add a touch of luxury and style to any ensemble, from basic denim to sassy dresses. We took a moment to pick her brain and share with you just how her creative mind works!
SH – So when did this all start?
Sophie – It all came into being about a year ago, right here in Venice, CA. SH – What gave you the idea to start a jewelry line? Sophie – My dad is a sculptor so he had the tools and wood around and it sparked an interest. I’ve always loved finding really unique pieces at flea markets and thrift shopping so it seemed a logical next step for me to try to make pieces for myself. SH – So it’s in the genes! Have you always had a interest in making jewelry? Sophie – When I was younger, my friends and I would make little accessories like hair pieces and such by using a hot glue gun and buttons and bobby pins. I studied Fine Arts and have always loved crafts so I combined the elements. It was kind of a light bulb moment when I decided to use wood to make jewelry. SH – Well, they’re really gorgeous. So some scrap wood started it all? Sophie – Well, like I had mentioned, there was scrap wood around when I was younger and just for fun, I’d glue pieces together to make whatever. Nothing sometimes. (laughs) My first jewelry idea was a necklace and I just experimented through trial and error from there. I’ve tried metal and plexi-glass, but wood looked the most unique and sophisticated. I slowly incorporated stones, metal details and gold leaf. SH – So where can we, and our Hivers, find Sophie Monet pieces? Sophie – There’s quite a few places here in L.A., as well as Florida, Vancouver and Oakland in stores like Fred Segal, Only Hearts and In Residence. You can also find them online at PlanetBlue.com and SophieMonetJewelry.com SH – Wow! Nice! And I’m sure our readers would like to know. How often do you make new pieces and what can we look forward to from Sophie Monet? Sophie – Whenever I’m inspired by a shape or a feel, I go to the studio. I have a new design about once a month and produce a new collection of about 6 – 8 pieces about twice a year. I’m really into bracelets and cuffs right now. One of my favorite ideas are a few cuff bracelets that I have in the works. I’ll be using a lot more turquoise and quartz crystals, of course, but I’m also looking to incorporate more amethyst and onyx. SH – Sounds gorgeous! We can’t wait!
Check out some fave Sophie Monet pieces by clicking on the slideshow!
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