ABOUT THE BRAND

Jewelry is an expression of the self. It is a means through which we convey our message to the world around us. La Femme Boheme jewelry is for those free spirits who aren’t afraid to set aside social norms and follow their bliss. Each piece is handmade in Northern California from unique, and often one-of-a-kind, designs inspired by nature, earth and the cosmos. It is not for those who want to blend in, but rather for those who want to stand out and aren’t afraid to swim against the current.

Jewelry is personal – it is a statement of who the wearer is, what her message conveys, and what it means to her. It is an expression of a personal style connected to a deeper meaning. Each La Femme Boheme piece has a story waiting to be written.

My goal is to make unique jewelry that is affordable yet maintains a high level of quality. This is why I mainly work in brass, silver, and copper, and offer gold-plating options for those who like the look of gold but cannot afford the high price it commands.

All La Femme Boheme packaging is made from 100% recycled, reused, or biodegradable components. Please reuse or recycle the packaging to the extent possible.

La Femme Boheme – express your truth.


ABOUT THE ARTIST BEHIND THE BRAND

Hi! My name is Vivian and I'm the owner and sole metalsmith at La Femme Boheme. I always loved jewelry. Before I knew how to make it, I was an avid purchaser of all sorts of jewelry. It wasn't just for fun, though that it truly was. Wearing the art that spoke to me was a way of expressing myself to the rest of the world, but my hunger for shiny things grew beyond the market's ability to satisfy it. I would conjure up ideas of jewelry that I wanted to wear and spend hours looking for something like it, to no avail. However, I had mastered the art of making friendship bracelets during my teenage years. I figured silversmithing couldn't be that much harder. This was summer of 2013, and I was working a full time job in Private Equity in New York City.

Even though I worked during the day, I managed to sign up for a night class taught by a local jeweler. His class was very unstructured. I would tell him what I wanted to make, and he would teach me how to make it. Some of my best work, and most difficult pieces, were made during the first 6 months of my jewelry studies. After a short while, I was addicted. However, the class was only offered once a week, and I needed to get my fix sooner than that. I signed up for another night class at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Soon, two nights a week turned into five nights a week, with weekends spent in the studio practicing what I had just learned. I would spend my days at the office dreaming about what I would make later that evening. It quickly became clear that this was my passion.

In December of 2014, a conversation with a friend over wine led me to make one of the biggest decisions of my life. Three months later, I had quit my job, packed up my belongings, and was on a plane to Fiji. Over the next year and a half, I traveled all over the world, became a US citizen, attended one World Cup, took more jewelry classes, and fell in love. That love led me to Grass Valley, CA, where I finally settled down and started my jewelry business. I officially launched the shop in September 2016, and here I am. I am happier now than I've ever been. Rather than dreading getting out of bed when the alarm rings, I now wake up and look forward to spending time in my studio. It is my happy place. Thank you for letting me share my story, and I hope my jewelry brings as much joy to you as it does to me.

With love,
Vivian
La Femme Boheme