Jester Swink Jewelry and Juxtapose

Jewelry as Art for the Body and Home
Designer Rae Gedlaman launched her line, Jester Swink, in 2006. With her natural eye for detail and aesthetics, along with a continual passion for fashion and jewelry, she started playing with things such as unusual stones, mixed metals, and expression. Rae enjoyed making things with her hands and as her creativity kicked in, Jester Swink was born. Based in San Francisco, the Jester Swink line has always been recognized and known for its innovation, versatility, and unique works. Many of the necklaces in the Jester Swink line are meant to be versatile and can be tied, tasseled, or clasped in a variety of ways.
Rae attended the Colorado Institute of Art for Photography and University of Phoenix for Business Marketing. She has always been creative and use to create big light box installations with transparencies of her work. She also dabbled in pastel drawings, but it was during her focus on photography that she
started playing with jewelry. Rae immediately fell in love with designing jewelry and soon noticed that others also really liked her talent and work. Her favorite collection in Jester Swink has always been the Train Wreck collection, both in its meaning and design as well as the excitement she sees in others when she adds new pieces. As one of our Editor’s Picks, the Train Wreck Necklace (Style #NSGF903) is a dainty chain of gold weaved in between an artful array of sterling silver links. The bright yellow gold chain is interwoven between a thick, chunky, weave of large, bold links creating a contrast of delicate on one side and bold on the other. The versatility of the necklaces in this collection makes this a must-have piece in any wardrobe as it can be worn so many different ways.
Our second Editor’s Pick is the Blue Lace Agate Layer It Necklace (Style #NSGF217) from the Layer It collection. A soft blue lace agate drops at the very center of this necklace with a mixture of 14k gold filled and sterling silver chains. The chains that make up this necklace vary in texture, style, and size of links. The outermost chain hangs longest and features larger oval links framing the smaller and delicate inner chains. This is a staff favorite because it looks fabulous with a solid v-neck tee or a blazer. Rae describes her style of jewelry as “innovative and stylish for the independent woman” as she prides herself on traveling to find unique materials to use in her pieces. Jester Swink loves incorporating semi-precious stones, metal, and vintage glass in many of its pieces.
From the Grapevine collection, we selected the Garnet Grapevine Necklace (Style #NSRG318) for its natural beauty in combining various metals with a semi-precious stone. This 26” necklace is comprised of a deep garnet stone that dangles from a rose gold chain with sterling silver and copper circular links dangling from the another end of the necklace. We love this necklace because it can be worn lariat style, high at the neckline or low at the cleavage. Or if you dare to be different, this piece can be worn asymmetrical. At the moment, the Jester Swink collection introduces two new collections twice a year with a Spring/Summer line and a Fall/Winter line. In the next five years, she would like her company to encompass multiple products. She hopes to bring back beaded curtains back, but on a whole new level.
Her most recent efforts have been invested in her other line, Juxtapose, which is a creative and distinctive fusion of home décor and jewelry. “A true sense of the meaning - wearable art,” Rae says. Featured here are give strands of beaded semi-precious stones that double as décor for the home. This is made of Carnelian, tourmalated quartz, Smokey topaz, jasper, amethyst, citrine, pyrite, moonstone, fossilized ocean jasper, and different metals such as brass, copper, and sterling. On the left, it displays how it is meant to decorate and accent the home as it hangs from a mounted natural bark. The five strands with their variety of beads, stones, and
colors are subtle enough to add character to any room without being overpowering. The mannequin also showcases how the strands can be worn as necklaces or lariats, depending on one’s mood. Whether you casually layer multiple strands for a bolder look or opt for a one strand to keep it simple, there are a multitude of combinations in wearing Juxtapose. Another Juxtapose piece is this one here created with bronzinite and zebra jasper, along with red and yellow tiger eyes. Rae is the sole designer of all pieces for Jester Swink and Juxtapose while working with her assistants on the production side of things.
When Rae is not designing or working on her collection, she enjoys dabbling in different mediums of art, as well as jogging, biking, playing soccer, coaching kids, and more. Rae also loves to travel and her favorite spots include Salvador, Bahia, and Brazil. When it comes to inspiration for designing, she shares, “I am inspired by so many things in life, from color, texture, eras, and more,” she shares. Rae adds her two cents in saying, “I have learned in life to never give up. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Shoot for the moon and never wait for it to be handed on a silver platter.” Rae obviously strived for her dreams and made it a reality. Her newest line, Juxtapose, features all one-of-a-kind pieces which can be custom ordered by emailing rae@jesterswink.com. Jester Swink is sold at boutiques, museum shops and online at jesterswink.com.
www.jesterswink.com