ABOUT US - Hand sculpted jewelry designed & created by Michelle Hoerdemann
About Jewelry Sculptures By Michelle
When you see Michelle's Jewelry Sculptures you will have cast your eyes on some of the most exciting, unique and entirely made by hand jewelry designs in existence. "Elegance With An Edge" is Michelle's most popular line.
Michelle Hoerdemann has loved jewelry and fashion of all kinds since she was a little girl. In high school she worked part time at a local jewelry store. She loves what sparkles and shines. She studied fashion merchandising in college initially, she later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Sciences. When she was in in her 20's she moved from a small town to downtown Chicago. There she worked for the top stores; Marshall Fields, Lord & Taylor and boutique store Bonwit Teller. She managed women's ready to wear fashions, but spent most of her time as an account manager for Estee' Lauder cosmetics.
When she later moved away from the Chicago area, for a few years, she longed for all the fashion and to many peoples surprise, she decided to begin designing her own line! In choosing her medium she chose porcelain / ceramic clays. Her father, Ewald Hoerdemann, enjoyed making German steins, pheasants and quail out of ceramic greenware he purchased. As a young girl she watched him intently and learned the steps of painting, glazing and the 22kt overlays. Many years after that time and just 2 years after her father had passed away unexpectedly, Michelle purchased her first 25 pound block of clay and the creating began.
Michelle's original designs had a very different look to what has evolved now. As the years of designing and creating went on they grew into her now signature style which is replicated by no one.
Michelle enjoys the whole process and using her hands to sculpt the pieces, carve different patterns, and layer different shapes. Michelle cuts, sculpts, sands, paints, glazes each and every design. The process takes dozens of hours to put each piece through the process for the final outcome of the finished design. She finds it very relaxing a type of meditation for her.
Michelle is filled with joy when she opens the kiln for the final time and sees the finished jewelry designs. They shine in 22kt yellow & white gold accents and with a variety of colors and other exquisite metallic overlays and glazes. They give each design uniqueness and depth. Her clients are amazed that they originated from clay.
Michelle has sold her designs to art galleries, boutiques, department stores, hospital gift shops, salons, home shows, and exhibited at juried fine art shows over the past 20 years. Michelle is an Executive member of Fashion Group International Chicago.
Michelle participated in Santa Fe NM Fashion Week June 2018.
Michelle participated in Chicago Fashion Week in April 2019 at Water Tower Place on Michigan Ave, Chicago Artisan Market on Morgan Street in Fulton Market area of Chicago July 2019.
In August 2019 she participated as 1 of 40 jewelry designers in an international represented jewelry show put on by Metal & Smith in New York City. for store Buyers and magazines...with a Pop Up Shop at the end of each day.
She was a proud juried artist member of the Illinois Artisan Shops which were a part of the Illinois State Museum; locations Chicago, Springfield and Rend Lake for 15 years until their recent closures in 2015 due to government budget cuts.
Michelle also designs wall hanging sculptures to your color specifications and size. They can be framed or free hanging.
She will do custom work for jewelry and as an example she can custom design bridesmaid earring sets for weddings to match the gowns.
When Michelle sells one on one to her clients she truly enjoys the excitement watching them choose a design and telling her what the design looks like to them. How they interpret the mostly abstract designs she finds fascinating.
Michelle happily returned to the Chicago in June 2011.
Jewelry Sculptures by Michelle can be found on Facebook and Instagram too.