Handcrafted Jewelry, Made in Vermont from Matthew Taylor Designs

When someone tells you need more bling, you believe them. Or at least that’s a common occurrence when I head down to Matthew Taylor Designs in Shelburne, Vermont. I love visiting with jeweler extraordinaire and badass designer Matthew Taylor himself. “No one ever regretted a little extra bling” is a something he tells me often. And I agree. I’ve known Matthew and appreciated his handcrafted artisan jewelry for five plus years now. I love stopping in to shoot the shit with him. And I love admiring the recent beauties he’s imagined and created around the shop. It’s fun to watch other locals drop in to have their jewelry cleaned for free, always catching up with Matthew and checking out what’s new.

Now, I’m not a flashy person – not at the very least. More often than not, I’m wearing a flannel shirt, jeans (usually with a hole somewhere), and some kind of boots or flip flops. But, when it comes to jewelry, I’m of the mindset that less is more and quality always prevails. Matthew created my engagement ring, a “bomb-proof” (as he calls it) platinum band with a round, one-carat diamond and half bevel. I swoon over it still.

Custom Made Jewelry in Vermont from Matthew Taylor Designs

It’s a fun process to go through designing a piece of jewelry, whether a ring, pendant, belt buckle – truly whatever you have in mind – from start to finish with Matthew. He’ll show you some photos to get a sense for what you like. Then he’ll start sketching out some ideas. If stones are involved, out comes the bling to source your favorite. He’ll hand carve your design in wax free form. Then, he’ll get your approval for the setting before sending it off overnight to a family-owned business in the US for casting, Once he receives the setting back, Matthew intricately smoothes surfaces, sets stones, and perfects the finish of the new piece of jewelry. He finishes his crafts by carving his tiny initials in the underside of the jewelry – a tiny MT hand scribbled, I’ve come to love seeing.

For my engagement ring specifically (as well as earrings and other rings I have from Matthew Taylor Designs), I love knowing that I’m getting something 100 percent unique. No one else has the engagement right I have. Nothing else exactly like it even exists. I also really love that I know who made it and that the vision for and design of the ring was a true collaboration. Matthew is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to cuts and clarity for stones. He also has a knack for ensuring his creations perfectly match your style and, for me, the Vermont lifestyle I live. This, my friends, is the benefit of shopping small and getting to know the artist behind your bling. It makes the process so much more special and unique.

2018 Christmas Birch Pendant from Matthew Taylor Designs

Every Christmas, Matthew creates a unique piece of jewelry that you can feel good about giving to a loved one, or buying for yourself. (There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m giving YOU some permission to buy yourself some bling!) They’re handmade with care and won’t cost you and arm and a leg (unlike some of the diamonds in his vault! Wow!). This year, Matthew hand-carved sterling silver birch branch pendants for his holiday gift. They are carved from wax, cast in sterling silver, and then hand-finished for a rugged, Vermonty birch look. I love mine!

Why birch? I dug a bit into the meaning of birch trees, and the symbolism behind the pendant makes it even more special. A birch is highly adaptive and able to withstand harsh conditions. They take root and repopulate areas of destruction – from forest fires and clearings, becoming a symbol of stability and renewal. They embody the spirit of growth, new beginnings, regeneration, and the promise of what’s to come. Birch trees are also believed to ward off evil and build courage and have a protective nature to them. Personally, my birch pendant will act as a reminder of the promise of growth and new beginnings daily. 

At Matthew Taylor Designs, each holiday birch pendant and chain is hidden in a red holiday ornament. One in every ten pendants has a diamond embedded in it (lucky me for, I picked a winner!). These necklaces would normally sell for $165 but, for the holidays, Matthew Taylor Designs has them available for $95 – a serious steal for a piece of locally made, handmade jewelry. I’m stocking up. 

And, if you end up purchasing a necklace for yourself or someone else, and you want one of the sweet little diamonds added, just mention Travel Like a Local: Vermont. Matthew will set a diamond for only $50! They are doing a limited run of the holiday birch pendant necklaces. Be sure to order yours here. Or, better yet, swing by Matthew Taylor Designs for yourself in Shelburne at 102 Harbor Road to grab your own and get to know Matthew.