Meet Talented Jewelry Artist Cathy Cole

Sometime back, about 6 years (give or take) I was watching the local news about downtown revitalization and what was being done to breathe new life into downtown Dothan, Alabama (yeah it needed it!).  I recall, the same cute and stylish lady being interviewed, Cathy Cole, she was involved in the movement to revitalize Downtown Dothan.  I met her sister Carol a couple of years later and then earlier this year Carol introduced me to her sister Cathy.  And yes, downtown Dothan is looking a whole lot better!

About a month ago a really great new online vintage marketplace opened, www.secondshoutout.com.  This is one venue where Cathy has opened shop to sell her Cathy Cole Collection.  The jewelry is amazing and it's evident that Cathy has honed her craft for quite some time.  Here's her story.

There is something to be said about a good patina.  I think my life has a wonderful patina filled with the riches of all of the countries I have lived in and explored in my life.  So many people and places have influenced my design career.  My jewelry comes from my soul.  The photo of me as a little girl in Japan wearing a Kimono and Obi, me wearing the Lederhosen in Germany all pull me back to what I love… things from the past.  

I started designing in Germany at the age of eight. I learned to silversmith and cut and polish stones.  I have always loved Vintage jewelry, it speaks to me.  All along my journey as a television and film producer I traveled the world and found wonderful treasures from the past.  I soaked up the beauty of ancient cities, their architecture, their antiquities and I began my journey as a designer.  I would escape the pressures of my job by slipping away to a friend’s house in Idar Oberstein, a small mining village in Germany filled with talented artisans who helped me develop my design concepts.  This experience fueled my passion for gathering antiquities and turning them into wearable art. 

There is something so spectacular about finding an old treasure and incorporating it in one of my designs.  Most recently I have taken a 10,000 Deutch Mark circa 1923 and embedded it in handcrafted Sterling Silver and mounted it on Vintage Copper Chain.  The piece epitomizes my goal as an artist creating a masterpiece with some remnant of history.  

Every design in my collection embodies some vintage elements.  Again it’s the patina, the age, the quality of incorporating things from the past that make my designs desirable and endearing. 

I do my treasure hunting everywhere I travel including my Mother’s house where incredible estate pieces can be uncovered.  My family had a very amazing Antiques business so I was fueled by being surrounded by gems from the past.  

Yes, my life and my designs have an amazing patina.  The Cathy Cole Collection reflects moments from the past and embodies what we should hold precious in the present.

Thanks for the great interview Cathy!  And remember to shop the Cathy Cole Collection and check out the fabulous new online vintage marketplace www.SecondShoutOut.com.