LOELLA MEDINA

I love a beach setting and today we are soaking up the tropical, natural beauty of Saona Island in the Dominican Republic.

Our surroundings are breathtaking and include blue skies, shade from palm trees, and the clear, blue-green waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.  

The Dominican Republic is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Loella Medina.

It is clear that Medina’s signature design style is building her creations around a kaleidoscope of gorgeous, bold colored gemstone beads at every turn.

There's blue apatite, orange chalcedony, and dark pink rhodolite garnets. It is as though she has taken a rainbow, formed the color stream into crystals, and fashioned them into fantastic pieces of jewelry.

At the age of 10, Medina watched her civil engineer father take a pair of pliers and beads, which he found at a construction site, and create incredible vintage-style, crystal and button earrings.

In 1982 Medina continued the "rage" her father began by using "sterling silver and gold filled wire" and the same tools and instruction books her father used to cultivate exotic handmade jewelry.  Initially she made jewelry for her friends and family; however, in 2006, she branched out and started her own jewelry line.

Though presently living in New York City, Medina draws inspiration from the exotic, tropical culture of the Dominican Republic. "My jewelry collections are inspired by my Caribbean culture which is colorful, flirty, and happy. I like to use bright colors for my designs, so even the smallest pairs of earrings will stand out."

Included among Medina's assortment of designer jewelry items is the lovely La Boda bridal jewelry collection . Of her jewelry items, Medina's personal favorite is the Galilea Earrings from her Limited Edition Spring 2009 Collection of which 20% of the proceeds are donated to the Emily N. Carey Harbor School, a private high school in East Harlem, New York.

Medina says the goal of the high school is to "provide a curriculum and program that prepares students for college and the world of work. They teach these young men and women the importance of, and the skills required for, active participation in our democracy.

ENCHS strives to develop them into lifelong learners with a strong moral and ethical set of values."

She is currently working on a fine jewelry line featuring 18-karat gold, silver, and diamonds.
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Photo 1 (top right): 14-Karat Gold Fill Leyvi Necklace with Turquoise and Whiskey Quartz from Spring 2011 Collection

Photo 2 (bottom left): 14-Karat Gold Fill Jacquelyn Limited Edition Earrings with Carnelian, Garnet, and Pink Sapphire
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Note: Images Redirect to Alternative Items At ShopStyle Collective