Carolyn Keys

About the Jewelry

All jewelry is designed and made by Carolyn in her studio in eastern Pennsylvania. Materials include 14K gold fill, sterling silver, brass, wood and ceramic. Recycled and repurposed materials are used whenever possible. Carolyn’s processes involve hand cutting and hammering metal sheet, forging metal wire, cutting and shaping wood, carving ceramic elements and casting of original designs. 

Jewelry Information

All metals are nickel free and made in the USA.  I use recycled or reclaimed materials whenever possible. The hardwoods I use are scraps that are collected from local wood shops. Due to the handmade nature of the work, slight variations in texture, size, and details may occur. The pieces pictured are samples and are not the exact ones you will receive, but rest assured they will be just as beautiful!

I hand-fabricate all pieces using brass, sterling silver, and 14k gold fill. All ear wires are sterling silver or 14k gold fill and are safe for sensitive ears. My jewelry is never plated, as plating can wear off or crack over time. 14k gold fill items have a thicker layer of gold than typical plating and should maintain their appearance for years to come.

Jewelry Care

Brass and silver items develop a natural patina over time, which I believe adds character and beauty to the jewelry.  If you prefer to restore the shine on your piece, you can clean your jewelry with a polishing cloth (I use Sunshine Polishing cloths).  Please note that etched and oxidized pieces may lose their finish if polished aggressively.  To delay oxidation, keep your Carolyn Keys jewelry away from moisture, lotions and other beauty products.  When you’re not wearing your jewelry it is best to store it in a plastic bag.

About Carolyn

Carolyn has been designing and making for as long as she can remember. From a young age her father engaged her in wood shop projects that sparked her curiosity for materials, processes and design. In 2015, after spending ten years as an architectural designer, she decided leave her desk job and return to her roots in the workshop. She wasn’t sure at the time what she would end up doing, she just knew it had to be hands-on and design driven. Over the course of a year of exploration, she developed a fascination with metalsmithing and jewelry design. For Carolyn, jewelry is an endlessly intriguing medium - it is wearable art rooted in centuries old traditions of craft, mythology and adornment.

Design Inspiration

Growing up surrounded by the verdant woodlands of eastern Pennsylvania, Carolyn developed a lifelong love of the natural world, which comes through strongly in her work. This, paired with an urban edginess she gained though extensive travels abroad and 10 years of city living, is what defines the Carolyn Keys aesthetic.

All artist & jewelry care information courtesy of the artist website.