Michelle Purifoy – Jewelry
Michelle is a Navy veteran who grew up in Southern California, but always wanted to live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She and her husband live in Roaring Gap where she makes her easy, casual, playful designs for everyday wear.
She uses quality dyed leather cord, Czech glass, metal, worldwide shells, ceramic and stone beads. She has made it her passion to collect beads and beautiful materials from around the world since her first duty station in Virginia Beach, VA 22 years ago. Many of her favorites are from Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and Hawaii.
Michelle began making jewelry while serving on an aircraft carrier. Sometimes they would be out to sea and not see a port for up to 72 days and the boredom would set in. Lots of flux and solder wire was laying around to repair broken equipment. Michelle would bend the flexible solder wire and make people jewelry or scrolled art out of the wire. She eventually expanded into the beautiful jewelry you see at our shop today.
Michelle’s favorite quote is “You know the world is a magical place when Mother Earth creates and grows her own jewelry.”
