Jan Durand began designing and making jewelry in Rhode Island in 2008, after her daughter gifted her with a handmade beaded bracelet she’d made. Instantly hooked, Jan started crafting her own similar pieces and entered a craft fair soon afterwards. Her bracelets became more involved, incorporating semi-precious gems, African beads, and unusual items like metal coins and charms. Jan’s passion for beads soon developed into designing beaded necklaces and earrings.

After moving to Napa, California in 2009, Jan started selling regularly in several of the region’s shops and galleries. In 2016, she moved to the mountains of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Jan’s strong color sense and knack for eye-catching design find inspiration in her large collection of individual elements. She feels especially attracted to using semi-precious gems, unpolished coral, as well as freshwater pearls, vintage brass beads, and seed beads also find their way into her designs. Jan’s design is often informed by the richness found in various cultures – the textures, the colors, the abundance of flowing fabrics lit by the sun, and the intricacy of woven rugs.