Making jewelry is a life-long passion.
about
White Cottage Designs is a mother / daughter partnership based in the Napa Valley. At the creative heart is Diana Calsoyas, for whom jewelry making is a life-long passion. Throughout various jobs -- fashion model in the 50s, retail buyer and store manager in the 60s and 70s, and then an elementary teacher from the 80s until retirement in 2009 -- she has always found joy in the act of bringing together different parts to make unique pieces of art.
Diana's daughter Aleka, an entrepreneur with a business background, saw an opportunity following the recent fires in Northern California to both bring her mother's jewelry out into the world and also give back to the community that has long been home. Though Angwin, where the studio is located, was spared, the region was hit hard and the rebuilding will be a long process. White Cottage Designs will share a percentage of proceeds with community organizations providing support to the rebuilding efforts.
“I’m always amazed at the intricate nature of the beads. The way Diana mixes and matches is like florists putting together a bouquet. ”
Approach
Diana makes every item by hand, from a selection of new and vintage parts. For over 60 years, Diana has been avid collector of beads, jewelry parts, and other antique materials. Constantly adding to the collection, Diana is able to draw from a vast array of parts to produce truly unique items. Because each part is unique, each item produced is unique.
