Philadelphia - June 08, 2009

For the Birds

BirdQueen Jewelry

It’s been a long, long time since you were the dancing queen (and you were never that sweet, even at 17).

But the timing’s just right to get into the swing of Gretchen Diehl’s jewelry collection, BirdQueen.

Affordable versions of the Philadelphia artist’s coveted originals, the pieces are made from illustrations scanned onto ink-jet shrink film and baked Shrinky Dink-style in an oven — so they harden into all sorts of little creatures.

We love her (faux) pearl necklace with a pink rose detail. The yellow owl charm necklace is a tiny copy of one of our favorite paintings. The stag head necklace has surprising detail for being so small: Two large antlers perfectly accent your decolletage.

Or, you know, rule your roost.

Available at Arcadia, 819 North Second Street (215-667-8099 or arcadiaboutique.com); online at birdqueen.etsy.com.