Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cecilia Fanning Mitchell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cecilia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the many wonderful things about jewelry is how personal it can be. We can keep a part of something so precious and carry it around with us everyday. When people comment we get to re tell the story and it brings us back to that person, place or time. Jewelry is timeless, compact and it can be worn daily or on special occasions. There are stones that are hardy and able to endure the everyday knocks and scrapes and then there are the more delicate pieces that are built for the once in a while wears.
I have worked with many pieces where we pick the stones and then work them into the piece. Then there are other times where I took a stone and repositioned it so it could be worn and adored all the time.
The stories are many, the stones have their own stories and history. I love the Buddhist perspective where one thinks of every aspect, with such gratitude, of what came together to create this beauty. I feel privileged to be in a position where I get to work with such stunning gems and material.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Jewelry About Me Founder and creative director of CeciliaJewel, Cecilia Fanning Mitchell, was raised in Newbridge, Co. Kildare in Ireland & moved to NYC. I was influenced by all sorts of artistic expression and jewelry. I can never remember a time when jewelry wasn’t a part of how I looked at the world. Jewelry connects us to the earth, it reminds us of all the beauty inside that has waited for discovery. It begins a journey, it is an integral part of us living our lives. Some jewelry is precious because of material used, but a lot of jewelry is precious because of the memories they hold. Looking at my jewelry you can see what has influenced my life!

Growing up in the small country of Ireland, we were immersed in a magnificent landscape that is steeped in history, faith, language and a tradition that is larger than life. A personality that has been shared throughout the world. I love my heritage that formed my humor and outlook. I spent many years in Rye NY, in a community with extraordinary people that are always generous with their energy and time. Covid came and we had an opportunity to move to unknown terrain. We found ourselves in the beautiful city of Tampa where people are warm, friendly and delightfully accepting of our family. I searched all over but couldn’t find many studios close by so I started my new business endeavor by setting up my own studio here in Florida.
I’m excited about this new part of the adventure!

Along with my world of jewelry, I’m very involved in many areas of our community. I believe in love generating love. When we share and give of ourselves we gain so much joy and become humbled, but also filled with a desire to do more for our homes, communities, and the world. Wherever possible I buy all materials from local US companies. I also love teaming up with other creative individuals and working with devoted experts to create beautiful pieces that truly express our love for jewelry.

Over the years I surrounded myself in all sorts of designing communities. My mother created all sorts of textiles and often had projects over the dining room table! She was also very musical and shared her love of it with us. My father was an engineer. My maternal grandmother was incredibly talented and would always have some creation in motion. Growing up with someone who was always trying something new was extremely influential to my creativity today. I taught myself how to do basic soldering, wire wrapping, and beading. I also learned various different methods of forming and texturing. I used many mixed mediums and loved the results I found.

I attended many boutique studios and found the Craft Student League (CSL) in NYC. I had the privilege to work with some truly gifted professional jewelers. My creativity awoke in me as desire to learn all I possibly could. Wax carving, stone setting, chains, I loved it all. I soaked up as much as I could learn. I studied in Alchimia, Florence, where the world of design was blown open. I learned so much about concept, modeling and perspective. I started in gold and I fell in love!

Back in NYC, I also fell in love with my husband, David, and soon we welcomed our first of four children. I started at the 92Y and worked in all areas of jewelry. I became enamored with engineering movable parts, secrets hidden in different places! I had so many fun times making personal jewelry!
My children grew up surrounded in jewelry. They were very creative from a young age. My husband and I spent a lot of time in the Brooklyn Museum. I opened a small school that taught younger children to be immersed in creative endeavors and had many talented teachers come through in the afternoons for the older children. I look back on this time with great warmth.

My aim is to create wearable, memorable, and timeless art that can be shared across generations.

My journey in jewelry has been a real joy. I created CeciliaJewel in 2016. I have sold to many boutiques and now mostly online. I have many amazing clients that I make specially commissioned jewelry for and other clients that come back, ordering more to add to collections or buy new collections.

As human beings, we all need to remember self worth and value. Jewelry can help embrace that, as well as empower our self expression. We need to express our internal beauty and our beliefs through our clothing as well as accessories. When we express ourselves, we can feel like our true selves and take charge to guide our destinies. Jewelry is an eternal story, will keep living in us and through us.

3 new photos by Cecilia Fanning Mitchell

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Artists generally see the world in layers. So many ways to dig deep into this world. No right or wrong ways. We learn so much from each other and we give back in many ways through creating road maps and direction to others. I love the multimedia aspect of jewelry, we find a starting point and develop our path from there, where we choose our mediums and work from there. There is stories and layers behind every finished piece of jewelry.
Jewelry can be fun, light and frivolous but it can also be a deeply meaningful expression of things and people we hold dear. It can also be a wearable story that shares something’s that we are passionate about.
This is where the limitless possibilities of design, creation, and what you and your business support and stand for, represents.
Today as our world becomes smaller, in that people want to know the ‘who’ behind the business it now sheds light on who we support. Do we try and share things that we are involved with, are we conscientious as designers (do we know where our materials come from) do we do diligence where we can. Etc.
Jewelry offers us so many ways to liberation from rules and transcends the concept of reality and time!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There are many books that have helped create a path for me. I love colours in illustrations and the textures of wool and cloth, the beauty in stones and rocks. It’s a wonderful life finding ways to bring all those influences into something special and wearable.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: CeciliaJewel_
• Facebook: Cecilia fanning mitchell
• Twitter: @CeciliaJewel2