Farm Fancy: Couture, Countryside, and Artisan Jewelry

Inside the Studio
Written By Michelle Pajak-Reynolds
Two models in high end fashion and jewelry stand in a field holding pitchforks.

Farm Fancy editorial in September 2025 issue of Vigour Magazine featuring Michelle Pajak-Reynolds’s Drosera earrings, Desma bracelet and Dysis earrings. Photo credit: Julie Stanley/JULEIMAGES

Some days in the studio are quiet and focused. I’m arranging gemstones, shaping metal, and polishing a piece until it feels just right. Other days, the work leaves the bench and ends up somewhere completely unexpected, catching the light in ways I hadn’t imagined.

I’m thrilled to share that my jewelry is featured in Farm Fancy, a playful fashion editorial in Vigour Magazine’s September 2025 issue.

The story is all about contrasts. Couture gowns and handmade jewelry set against everyday farm life. Instead of runways and spotlights, the models tend the fields, hang laundry, and stop for a simple picnic. My jewelry fits right into those moments, sparkling in the sun and becoming part of the scene.

Seeing it styled this way feels really special. It’s a reminder that jewelry doesn’t have to be saved for big events. It belongs in everyday life too.

I’ve always believed jewelry should be worn, loved, and lived in. Farm Fancy captures that perfectly, showing how artisan pieces can feel just as at home in a sunny field as they do at a fancy party.

A huge thanks to the amazing team behind the shoot:

Photography & Creative Direction: Julie Stanley / JULEIMAGES
Models: Sophia Advent and Jeanette Thevenin
Hair: Brad Lewis
Makeup: Rob Thoma
Wardrobe: Tidal Cool
Textile Artist & Quilt Creator: Westfall Refinery
Jewelry: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Whether on the runway, at a picnic, or in the rhythm of daily life, artisan jewelry carries beauty into every setting. My hope is that each piece I create becomes part of your journey, shining in the moments both big and small.

The Jewels Featured in Farm Fancy

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

The creative journey of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds—from childhood spark to timeless, handcrafted treasures.

“My love story with jewelry began before I was born. My parents met across a jewelry counter—my mother, a jewelry department manager; my father, a police officer working loss prevention in his off-duty hours. That moment of serendipity set everything in motion.

By five, I was working on my first designs in pop-beads and jelly bracelets, completely captivated by Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman—especially those iconic power bracelets and her gleaming tiara. I didn’t want to just wear magic, I wanted to make it. With babysitting money and a fierce sense of purpose, I bought beads and wire from the local craft store and taught myself the fundamentals. That curiosity turned into a calling.

I took my first metalsmithing class in high school and never looked back. I went on to earn a BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Kent State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University—equipping me to build a business rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, and soul.

Since founding my namesake jewelry company in 2001, I’ve focused on creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind designs—each one handcrafted using traditional metalsmithing techniques and ethically sourced materials. My work is intimate and intentional: forged in fire, shaped by hand, and designed to stir something deep within you. Every gemstone, every metal, every story that inspires a collection is carefully chosen, researched, and refined. This is slow jewelry with a purpose: to help you mark what matters most.

My pieces have graced red carpets at the Emmy Awards, runways at New York Fashion Week, and exhibitions around the world—including aboard the United Nations Peace Boat. Collectors, stylists, and editors seek out my work, but what means the most to me is when a client says, “This feels like it was made just for me.”

Because it was.

Jewelry, to me, is personal mythology made tangible. It’s a way of preserving the past, celebrating the present, and passing something meaningful into the future. So when you open your jewelry box, you're not just looking at beautiful objects—you're holding pieces of your life’s story. And maybe, just maybe, you're beginning a new chapter.” - Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

michellepajakreynolds.com
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