Using their hands to mold polymer clay into stone-studded pendants, rings and bracelets, Parkland, Florida and New York-based sisters, Claudia and Catalina Pieschacon are on their way to creating a mini jewelry empire that extends from Miami to Monaco.
Sitting in their studio space, the duo say they are inspired by the lake, tree and flower view just outside. Never relying on sketches, each sister molds and forms the polymer clay into whatever shape and design that captures their imagination at the moment and creates a piece right then, right there incorporating precious and semi-precious stones. After shaping a piece and setting its stones, they cure the 50 pieces they make each week in a small conventional oven at 300 degrees.
Claudia, a painter and interior designer and Catalina, a former designer for Ralph Lauren’s home furnishings line, presented a two-day trunk show at New York’s luxury goods emporium Henri Bendel this Spring, and hope to see their jewelry in other top-tier retail outlets – Bergdorf Goodman, Takashimaya - within a year. They also plan to open their own boutiques in New York and Miami within five years. www.cleoandcatjewels.com
