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CAROL FERGUSON | ELEMENT 79 Step into her Cherry Creek North boutique and immediately you’ll be captivated by Carol Ferguson’s electric charm and artistic sense of style. The self-taught metalsmith and jewelry designer has been creating eclectic, contemporary lines for two decades and loves crafting her own collections almost as much as curating the coveted mix of designers she carries at Element 79 – her storefront on Third Avenue. Here, we step behind the jewelry bench with the crimson-haired style maven to get her take on gemstones, cocktails, chicken sandwiches and the peaks of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
What inspires you as a designer?
Tell us a bit about your background in jewelry… I have been a metalsmith for about 19 years. I am mostly self taught having taken a number of workshops over the years given by master jewelers and goldsmiths and then honing those skills with hands-on experimentation. That’s what is fun about jewelry making. There are so many different techniques and, each time you add another skill, you open up new possibilities in your work. Before opening my contemporary jewelry boutique Element 79 (formerly Signet Jewelry), I did quite a lot of custom work in addition to creating and wholesaling cohesive jewelry lines.
Why did you start Signet and what made you open a location in Cherry Creek? I opened Signet when I saw that Cherry Creek was missing the type of well curated, contemporary designer jewelry store that most cities have. Boutiques like Twist in Portland or Love Adorned in New York and San Francisco or Broken English. Cherry Creek has plenty of high end traditional jewelry stores. The store I envisioned chooses smaller, hands-on contemporary designers who will work closely with us and our clients to create custom works or repurpose pieces. I wanted to create an environment that was comfortable and inviting for customers to explore and learn about the ancient and beautiful art of jewelry making. We’re a place where they could choose a piece to mark an important life event that was truly worthy of being a talisman for those special memories.
So many things, but mostly the material. I love the way precious metals are so malleable. You can make limitless forms with gold and silver. My favorite part is the final polish. Pieces go from an industrial looking form to a fluid, living, glowing object.
Items you are coveting for spring? Colored gemstone jewelry! Stacks of it in various hues but especially done with baguettes!
When you’re in Cherry Creek, what’s your favorite restaurant to grab dinner? My guilty pleasure is to go to Grind Kitchen + Watering Hole and order the fried chicken sandwich done Nashville style. It is amazing! You will have dreams about it.
What about a cocktail? Where and what’s your order? I am so boring – it’s always a Grey Hound… vodka and fresh grapefruit juice. Hillstone does a nice one.
Most beautiful place you’ve visited in Colorado? In the world? In Colorado I love the mountains in the summer. In the world it would be ChamonixMont-Blanc France. We skied off piste and passed beautiful blue glaciers!
How would you describe your personal style? Simple and elegant. I love lush fabrics and clean lines that provide a fabulous backdrop for jewelry! This has definitely changed over time - now that I am older I really admire timeless classics.
Most days, you can find me wearing…
My dream vacation is… I have always wanted to visit Greece. Santorini in particular. Not to ride a poor little donkey of course! The hillside villas and the water are so beautiful!
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