the southern
Force of Nature Jewelry artist Liz Floyd; earrings made with antlers and feathers
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Natural Beauty Inspired by the wonders of nature, Liz Floyd uses her own distinctive style to create one-of-akind jewelry. by Eliza Bailey
ost of us can remember our first find. It may have been a sand dollar, turtle shell, antler, heartshaped rock, or even bones. Though we may not have realized it, our eyes sought the extraordinary amidst the ordinary – the beauty in something shed or abandoned. Most of us placed our treasure on a shelf or in a box for safekeeping. Few of us had the vision or talent to reclaim these items and give them new life. Jewelry designer Liz Floyd has both.
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I met Liz on a brisk December morning that was not quite sweater weather but too cold for sandals. While Penny, the Jack Russell, enthusiastically greeted me, her two children jumped on the trampoline next to her backyard studio. Her husband, Hunter Floyd, sporting a "Trophy Husband" t-shirt and a twinkle in his eye, provided encouragement from a distance. It was evident that her endeavors were a family affair.
Liz, an artist and naturalist at heart, grew up overlooking Camel Top Mountain in Western Vermont. Her creative soul found balance and harmony in the environment. She was inspired by the imperfection of "organic life," the colors of the sky, the awkward twisting of a tree branch or ripples in a gently flowing brook. Liz found her way to South Carolina via the College of Charleston, where she double majored in Art History and Historic Preservation. One of her earliest memories was of sorting through her grandmother's jewelry box. Combining her education with that fascination, her interest in style, design, and texture, regardless of value, led her to create original designs not found in stores. "I started teaching myself over the years by experimenting with techniques and materials I liked, designs that I wanted to wear." Her signature look is not about fashion, but rather, the accessories. "I want my jewelry to stand Spring 2021 AZALEAMAG.COM
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