Mercedes Golip- Jewelry Designer

Mercedes Golip is a professional by day and jewelry designer/cook by night. What started as a hobby, is developing into a business and now you can see her designs in boutiques or online. Perfect for gifts or any occasion, Mercedes Golip’s jewelry is sure to make a statement.

So tell us…

How did you start designing jewelry?
About a year ago I was anxious to start doing something different for me, later I saw that people responded to the jewelry I designed and they liked it. So little by little I started doing more, selling to my friends and people I knew and going to boutiques to sell what I had. A friend of mine recommended Imagine Gifts, where I’ll be doing a little exhibition on February 5th before Valentine’s day.

Where can we buy your product?
Right now you can find my line, bananista, at a store called Imagine Gifts in Midtown, 108 NE 1st Avenue. I’m also launching my website, www.bananista.com, for the online store.

What kind of materials do you use?
I use a lot of vintage pieces I find in California, most of them have a history and were part of something many years ago. Every piece is 14k gold filled and some have semi-precious stones.

What inspires you when your making your jewelry?
I think of something that I would like to wear, I believe that if you feel comfortable with what you do or wear, people are going to react to it. Basically, I want something that’s pretty, that could make an outfit work, something different that has a story.

What’s the price range?
The price range for necklaces starts at $85 and goes all the way to $150. For earrings it starts at $30 and goes up to $60.

You recently started a blog with cooking recipes, inlovewithbananas.blogspot.com, tell us about that.
The blog is a small idea that i’m hoping would grow in the future, it’s a hobby because i love to cook. Right now i’m involved with a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm and that’s where I buy the fresh/organic vegetables. Since we get different produce every month, I thought it would be fun to do different recipes with these local ingredients that i had never had before, such as asian herbs and greens, and do a blog to show people how to do them.

What do you enjoy the most? cooking or making jewelry?
The thing is that cooking is something I do every day because I love homemade food, eating healthy, so I like to cook my own food. The jewelry is more like a hobby that started growing into a business, and I love it because it’s relaxing and it’s fun. It also encourages me to stay focused on what colors are the ones people are using, and what’s in style.

Is there any other craft you enjoy?
I don’t do anything else but I do appreciate art and all the beautiful things people do. I love photography, a good film. Every time I have a chance I go to all the gallery walks around here, I love museums. I appreciate things that are well done.

And finally, what’s your IN place in Miami?
Well I haven’t really thought of that, but my favorite restaurant is definitely Michael’s. Basically I love the Biscayne area where you can see the water, the Design District and being able to go to the gallery walks.

www.bananista.com

inlovewithbananas.blogspot.com

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