Connie Bennett is one of the most exciting jewelry designers on the fashion/art scene today. Connie has been featured on QVC and regularly appears in fashion and trade magazines. Her jewelry has become popular from coast to coast and is carried in boutiques, galleries and department stores. Born in Alexandria VA, Connie was raised in Fayetteville, NC. She earned her Bachelor
of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC.
Tallahassee, Florida has been the home for The Connie Bennett
Collection since1996. Connie originally started her studio glass
product line in Jacksonville, Florida in 1990, initially selling her
handmade items as a cart vendor at the Jacksonville Landing. This successful
retail experience gives Connie a very unique and insightful understanding of
retail customer buying tendencies adding value to her wholesale customers.
The first thing you notice about “The Connie Bennett Collection” is COLOR,
COLOR AND MORE COLOR!
Connie designs dichroic and mixed media jewelry as well as mirrors and vases using stained, dichroic and
fused glass. Her pieces are handcrafted so no two pieces are exactly the same. The glass is combined with unique beading and charms, and
is dimensional, contemporary and FUN!
Connie first draws a design on the stained
glass, then the shapes are cut, ground and wrapped in copper, and soldered with
a non-lead solder. Charms and beading are attached along with a final plating of
silver or gold. The fused designs are made with a different process. The type of
glass used is called dichroic and/or slumped. This is an extremely expensive
glass and process due to the labor intensive nature of the product. The effects
are dynamic and worth the extra effort. The glass is layered after cutting, and
fired in a kiln. After the annealing process is complete, (cooling down period),
the stones are shaped and assembled into the beautiful pieces that makes
Connie's designs so unique. Each
design is fully copyrighted to protect the artist. Most pins can also
be worn as a pendant. Connie
is constantly striving to be different ... after all, it's much more exciting to
stand out than to blend into the crowd.
Connie is wearing the
Poinsettia Pin from her Christmas Collection as a pendant on an omega necklace.
