Seattle - August 03, 2007

Vashon Plate

Clever Castle Jewelry

With a flourishing arts community and all that wilderness as a classroom, kids learn many useful things growing up on Vashon Island.

How to roll a perfect joint is just one of them.

Apparently fiercely original jewelry design is another, if island girl Emily Baker is any indication.

She got her start as a child stringing seashell baubles on Vashon beaches. Her line, Clever Castle, has been through many incarnations since, but none as fetching as the quirky necklaces she’s currently making from found materials.

Baker takes grizzly bits (steel rings from car gaskets, battle-scarred keys) and softens them with refined elements (pearls, vintage brooches) on chunky gold and silver chains. The results are art-school edgy. See for yourself at her trunk show at Peridot tonight.

All of the pieces are ecofriendly and unique, which means they can’t help but make you feel special.

So don’t be surprised when you totally light up.

Trunk show tonight, 6-10 p.m., at Peridot, 523 First Avenue West, between West Republican and West Mercer Streets (206-284-3313). Also available at Hitchcock, 1123 34th Avenue, between East Union and East Spring Streets (206-838-7173); online at clevercastle.etsy.com.