Katerina Musetti Designs

From as early as I can remember art has been a part of my soul.

I was painting, silk-screening, bead embroidering, working with

stained glass, pottery, and designing and selling couture gowns from the time I was thirteen years old. My Father had a woodworking studio where he would produce the most awesome designs with incredibly gorgeous rare woods, while my Mother painted, upholstered and sewed. Art was a constant in my home.......so was Mario Lanza, Beverly Sills and Opera.

The Visual and Performing arts have always been closely integrated for me and I knew that at some point in my future the two would merge. During my performance career in Europe, which spanned over nine years, I would carry my canvas and oil paints to my rehearsals. I painted in the evenings and on the weekends while I was in production. One summer, while walking in a piazza in Milano, Italy I approached a woman wearing a colorful necklace and asked her what the material was. It was during this time that I discovered the wonderful medium: POLYMER CLAY. I began experimenting with FIMO and CERNIT which eventually led to my line of OPERA PURSES, VESSELS and JEWELRY. All of the pieces incorporate image transfers from my original oil-paintings with glazing and granulation techniques developed over time through trial and error. In the image transfer process, oil paint pigments are blended with liquid polymer and pulled through layers of translucent clay. The design is built up with layers of clay, glitter, cane work, foils and oil pigments. This process allows me to obtain varying degrees of relief and contrast to the point where one cannot distinguish between the polymer clay and the oil pigments. Many of the pieces are inlayed with precious and semi-precious stones, including citrine, tourmaline, peridot, amethyst, zircon and diamonds.

My current passion is designing and creating contemporary RHINESTONE JEWELRY reminiscent of the bygone days that were filled with everything glamorous and over the top. My one of a kind Rhinestone creations are all hand soldered with maticulous attention to design and detail. Swarovski crystal rhinestones are the canvas in which I paint, while incorporating Vintage Cabochons and Art Glass from Czechoslovakia, Japan, Germany, Italy and other places around the world. My pieces are big, bold and elaborate with the necklaces designed to also be worn as angled collars. Most of my brooches are over five inches long with sultry Dangle Earrings designed to fall to a beautiful mid-neck length. Bracelets can be created in most styles including large cuffs and multiple link designs. All of my rhinestone jewelry is plated in 14K Gold and bears the "Katerina Musetti Designs" Hallmark.

Whether I am creating with Polymer Clay, constructing an elaborate Beaded Collar or taking my torch to metal, the process of design and construction continues to captivate me no matter what medium I am working with. When I begin a piece I have a vision, but in the end it is the materials at hand that take their shape in the form that presents itself before my eyes. Each Artisan creation is one of a kind - never to be repeated, that resonates with it's own unique individuality and calls out to be worn, displayed or simply enjoyed. The Galleries herewith contain current works with new pieces arriving as created, so check back often. Please feel free to contact me with inquiries about the pieces or any questions you may have. I welcome your inquiries.

"Life is pure flame,

and we live by an

invisible Sun within us."

Sir Thomas Brown