Meet Jewelry Designer KAREN LINDNER

Jewelry designer KAREN LINDNER creates stunning pieces out of timeless treasures, antique Sterling watch fobs, French & English Sterling napkin rings, gold wax seals,  precious stone strands and freshwater pearls.   Karen’s coveted designs have been featured in several magazines including In Style & Brides, her jewelry is beloved and worn by celebrities.  Karen describes her jewelry as having  “the aura of lost beauty…the essence of forgotten glamour significant pieces of history ~ redesigned with a timeless signature style.”

It was actually one of my wonderful customers who called to ask if I could carry jewelry made by Karen. Had I heard of her?  Well, no!  She gave me Karen’s information, and soon the emails were flying back and forth between Karen and myself. Once I saw a few of her gorgeous pieces, I was smitten!   Who wouldn’t adore heirloom jewelry made with antique Silver Vestas, Victorian Silver Napkin Rings, Wax Seals??  I will be honest with you, it was a struggle after getting our first shipment to decide what to actually sell. {one for me, another one for me, one for me, okay….one to sell!} ahem…..I know many of you love Karen’s Heirloom Jewelry as much as I do. 

I love hearing how you are wearing it now, but are going to pass it down to your granddaughter. Or how you gave a necklace to your daughter to wear on her wedding day, and hope she will pass it on to a daughter or daughter in law in later years.  This is the magic of Karen’s Jewelry,  she is a genius at taking beautiful, antique pieces with a story and history, making it into something new to wear for today…and having such quality pieces that these will become your family’s heirlooms to pass down to generations to come.   I hope you enjoy getting to know more about Karen.

1. Please tell us about yourself.
I live in Oxford Ohio, home to Miami University, and have a husband of 20 years {!}, and two daughters – Christina, 19 and Erika 16, and a managerie of pets – 3 dogs & 3 cats!

2.When did you realize you wanted to design jewelry?.
It started four years ago as a bridge from my interior design days and repurposing client’s chandeliers with antiques & semi-precious stones {which I still do}, to a bridal jewelry line that incorporated the chandelier crystals I removed from the lights.  A friend introduced me to the owner of two major Chicago Bridal Salons and that was the beginning of the bridal jewelry line that is now on runways and celebs.  Soon I also incorporated my love and long-time collecting of rare European sterling antiques and that was the beginning of my second line, Refinement.

3.What other jobs have you had before that?
I have worked in costume and theater design, historic costume and clothing preservation, retail management and visual merchandising, and finally I was an interior designer for 15 years.

4. What inspires you?
Without a doubt a combination of my passion for history and my love for my amazing family of cancer survivors – namely my husband and youngest daughter, and my incredibly gifted & artistic older daughter. Their strength, creativity and love of life is my daily inspiration.

 Please Give us a peek into your life, loves and inspirations:

2. If I could have one wish, I would wish for: a cancer-free world.

3. Five things I never leave home without: my phone, purse, sunglasses, mints & a smile.

4. The one thing I’d most love to do that’s on my “bucket list”: travel back to Europe with my family.

5. Right now I’m reading: Starting from Happy / Patricia Marx and The Paris Wife / Paula McClain

6. My favorite music is: Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby….old school.

7. I can’t live without: my family and my pets!

8. FrenchGardenHouse item {s} I love: besides the great jewelry – I love the hotel silver and all the brocante/antique items, and I LOVE the Provence Cast Iron & Wood Bistro Table.

Thanks so much Karen, for sharing a little about who you are, what you love, and what inspires you!  I know we have all enjoyed getting to know you a little bit better.  To celebrate the upcoming holidays, and to celebrate our many fabulous customers {all of you!} we are having a special 20% off sale on all of Karen’s pieces for a limited time.  Prices have been marked down, if one of her Heirloom Treasures has been calling your name, now is the time to buy it or ask your secret Santa to purchase it for you.  Each piece is one of a kind…so don’t miss it!