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About Sirius7 Jewelry
Sirius7 Jewelry is mixed media jewelry - gemstones, pearls, precious metals, vintage glass, recycled wood and bicycle parts, and anything else that catches my interest.
S7J only purchases gemstones and metals from Fair Trade sources who adhere to the highest ethical, social, environmental and professional standards. The few organic elements (coral, bone, etc) that I use are recycled and re-worked from vintage jewelry that I have collected over the years. My glass beads are also vintage - Czech glass Mardi Gras beads from parades prior to the 1960’s, when Czech glass was replaced by Hong Kong plastic.
I design and create Sirius7 Jewelry by hand. My designs are both intuitive and deliberate; sometimes I’ll pick an interesting gemstone or an element and create around it. Interesting doesn’t necessarily mean perfect or flawless: with some stones, the natural inclusions or the unique way it is cut adds as much dimension to its story as a flawless stone can. I also work designs out in my journals (I have volumes of them) before committing them to metal. Wire work is labor intensive, but I absolutely delight in the process ... sometimes it’s even a form of meditation for me.
S7J only purchases gemstones and metals from Fair Trade sources who adhere to the highest ethical, social, environmental and professional standards. The few organic elements (coral, bone, etc) that I use are recycled and re-worked from vintage jewelry that I have collected over the years. My glass beads are also vintage - Czech glass Mardi Gras beads from parades prior to the 1960’s, when Czech glass was replaced by Hong Kong plastic.
I design and create Sirius7 Jewelry by hand. My designs are both intuitive and deliberate; sometimes I’ll pick an interesting gemstone or an element and create around it. Interesting doesn’t necessarily mean perfect or flawless: with some stones, the natural inclusions or the unique way it is cut adds as much dimension to its story as a flawless stone can. I also work designs out in my journals (I have volumes of them) before committing them to metal. Wire work is labor intensive, but I absolutely delight in the process ... sometimes it’s even a form of meditation for me.
About Amy Cousin
My fondest childhood memories revolve around visiting New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras with my older relatives. I usually ended a parade day adorned with tons of beaded necklaces. But my great-aunts scoffed at the 'new fangled' plastic and often plucked them off my neck, replacing them with their amazing strands of vintage glass beads from Mardi Gras gone by and uttering the most magical words ..."take these on back to that cold place (Minnesota) and when you get older, you can make your own jewelry from them!"Years later, I returned to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, and I worked for Zales Jewelers for a while after graduation. The resident bench jeweler took me on as an ‘lunchtime apprentice’, which further fueled my desire to create my own jewelry. I experimented with many techniques, but nothing satisfied my creative expression until 1996, when I gave myself a birthday treat, and took a jewelry making class that focused on wire work. A few months before I took the class, my husband and I opened a funky eclectic book and gift shop, Sirius Mind & Body in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like many other jewelry artists, I started out working on jewelry as gifts for family and friends, then customers started asking me to make pieces for them too. Soon my jewelry became a staple sideline for our shop. In 1999, we relocated our family and business to Rock Hill, South Carolina. In 2007 I launched Sirius7 Jewelry.
Customer Comments
I love the jewelry Amy creates. It's all so beautiful and inspired.
- Emily Davis
Amy's jewelry is really hot! As an artist, Amy uses her intuitive gifts for color, properties and flare to express what Mother Nature is conveying through stones, pearls and gems. She has a unique way of blending round and square to produce functional wearable art. This is not your mother's costume jewelry! This is the new jewelry your mothers wish they had.
- Saundra Porter Thomas
I have known and watched Amy for 10 years as she gracefully and skillfully managed to raise and homeschool her five children, in her shop give excellent customer service and interaction, and develop and expand her creative style in jewelry making. I believe people go to her shop for the experience of being with her and sharing her personal energy and wisdom as much as for her beautiful jewelry. In fact, all of the things seem to blend together. A piece of jewelry is not just a beautiful work of art, which it is, but it is also personally meaningful and empowering for the person who buys and wears it. I have watched her amazing children grow and benefit from her teaching and example as an amazing artist/businesswoman/teacher mother. Who says women can't have it all? Amy proves we can!
- Dianne P Cunningham
I still can't get over my beautiful labradorite necklace. Everyday I can't seem to leave the house without it. Love her work!
- Christa Spirkowyc
I have been going to Amy's shop since she came to this area and I have never been disappointed with any purchase. From her oils to pieces I've picked out of the case to the numerous custom pieces, every one is a true work of art. Ever piece that she offers has such life that they seem to speak to you. If you're looking for that special something for yourself or for someone special, Amy has it.
- Adrienne R
I never stop receiving compliments for the jewelry that Amy has made for me through the years. She has an amazing gift for knowing exactly what jewelry I like and will need. I treasure all of my pieces made by her.
- Donah O
Studio & Shop Location
Sirius7 Jewelry's studio is located in our bricks & mortar shop,
Sirius Mind and Body (an eclectic universe for unique people) at 1120 India Hook Road, in Rock Hill, South Carolina -- 2 blocks from Winthrop University, and just 15 minutes south of Charlotte, North Carolina. Our local phone number is 803-980-4301 and our toll-free phone number is 877-980-4301.
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Sirius Mind and Body (an eclectic universe for unique people) at 1120 India Hook Road, in Rock Hill, South Carolina -- 2 blocks from Winthrop University, and just 15 minutes south of Charlotte, North Carolina. Our local phone number is 803-980-4301 and our toll-free phone number is 877-980-4301.
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How Green is Sirius?
Currently, about 75% of the materials used by Sirius7 Jewelry are recycled, reclaimed or otherwise eco-friendly, including shipping materials (so don’t cringe at the foam peanuts or bubble wrap, and read the packing newspaper - it’s usually really interesting stuff).
I have begun sourcing my wire from a refinery that recycles precious metals. I also save my scrap metal for refining, which helps me get closer to my goal of 100% recycled / reclaimed materials use.
Sirius7 Jewelry supports the efforts of:
I have begun sourcing my wire from a refinery that recycles precious metals. I also save my scrap metal for refining, which helps me get closer to my goal of 100% recycled / reclaimed materials use.
Sirius7 Jewelry supports the efforts of:
Ethical Metalsmiths
No Dirty Gold
EarthWorks
Sirius7 Jewelry's website is hosted by MacHighway, whose servers, network centers, and offices are powered with electricity generated by wind power.