She's an activist, jewelry designer and neighbor

The St. Stephen's Art Show and  Coconut Grove Arts Festival are February 16-18, 2019. We'll be profiling some of the artists who are participating this year. 

Grovite Joyce Nelson owns Cosmopolitan World jewelry. She designs and makes her creations at her home studio here in the village.

Joyce Nelson

"The gemstones talk to me and I get a design in my head that I can then create," says Joyce, who will be at this year's St.Stephen's Art Show again this year. She also does many other shows around the county including the recent Art Show at Pinecrest Gardens and the Beaux Arts Festival at UM.

I noticed that a lot of Joyce's work is made of coral. "Yes, they are recycled coral. Back in the '30s and '40s, women wore coral necklaces. Now they don’t want the necklaces so I redesign them. I shop for the gemstones and pearls in person not on the internet. I must see them and touch them. I want the highest quality since I am a G.I.A. gemologist," she says. Joyce is also a goldsmith.

If she could have any famous person wear her jewelry at the Oscars this year, she tells me that would be Lady GaGa and Cher. 

Joyce began designing and creating jewelry to appease her appetite for the finer things. From a lifetime of perusing the world's most exclusive shops and a M.S. in Fashion Merchandising and Design, she knows well the latest in fashion trends, and knows also what appeals to the sophisticated woman.

Pink coral and purple necklace

She looks for stones that are unusually cut, then uses the ancient art of wire wrapping with gold or silver, individually attaches each gemstone by hand, creating a handcrafted, original, one-of-a-kind design in imaginative unique color combinations. 

Black coral and turquoise

A successful businesswoman, as well as a longtime civic activist, she has spent
her life protecting the beauty she sees around her. From restoring historical landmarks or preserving the ancient Oak trees in her hometown of Coconut Grove.

Cosmopolitan Jewels has a growing following. Its designs have been featured
in fashion shows, magazines, newspapers, at various exclusive galleries, museums, as well as sold in a select number of high-end international boutiques.

Look for Joyce at the St. Stephen's Show this February.

Gemstones on white coral.

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