JULIE HANNAY

At over a thousand years old, Scotland's Edinburgh Castle is one of the country's most well known fortresses.

Built on a volcanic rock, it stands prominently in the city of Edinburgh. Scotland is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Julie Hannay.

Using pastel-colored resin and Perspex Hannay's jewelry captures what I feel is unfiltered femininity.  Outlines are decidedly natural and unpretentious with accents of semi-precious gemstones and fabric.

At the same time, her creations possess a sense of fun and joy that, to me, evokes a scene of little girls in frilly dresses playing tea party with their dolls, as well as colorful drops of hard candy.

While otherwise minimalist in its overall proportions, humor and whimsy are ongoing themes throughout her collections.

"I like to use an instant approach to putting pieces together, working to ensure that the jewelry remains playful and fun," she says. "My jewelry is designed to be worn without pretense. I aim to create jewelry unique enough to be eye catching but also suitable to be worn more casually day-to-day."

From her Candy Collection to her Meadow Collection, the Edinburgh College of Art alumna incorporates resin-made silhouettes of birds, flowers, dogs, and tree branches offset by a single drop of green beryl or a cluster of aqua chalcedony.

There is a purity in arrangement of materials and conceptualization that makes her interpretations fresh and natural.
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Photo 1 (top right): Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet with Chalcedony, Amethyst, and Freshwater Pearls
Photo 2 (bottom left): Sterling Silver Peardrop Bird Pendant with Aqua Chalcedony, Pink and Green Beryl