This story originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Town&Gown magazine.
Chunky beads in bold colors, along with whimsical charms, comprise the necklaces, bracelets and earrings created by Bellefonte jewelry artist Donna Rochon of Studio 337 Designs.
“This jewelry isn’t for shy people,” Rochon laughs.
The Providence, Rhode Island, native has always had a passion for expressing herself through visual art, using materials ranging from velvet to papier-mâché to the semi-precious stones she now incorporates into her work. She remembers how her grandmother’s antique sewing machine fascinated her 2-year-old self.
“At four, I got a larger sewing machine,” she says, “and my grandmother taught me to sew.”
As a child, Rochon loved hats and wore them everywhere. One of her cardboard-and-papier-mâché creations won first prize in an Easter hat contest at her kindergarten. She began making her own clothes through her junior high school years, continuing to create her artisanal pieces and eventually expanding into handbags.
Eager for her life’s adventures to begin, and impatient with societal norms, Rochon left school after eighth grade and dedicated herself to creativity. She collected a plethora of fabric, including velvet, silk, bits of tapestry, satin and much more. Her sewing machine hummed and hummed.
“My work really took off when I was 18, and I took some of my handbags into a store, Roxy Deluxe, where they bought all twelve pieces,” she recalls.
Thinking about where she finds inspiration for her work, she describes one of the most influential people in her life while growing up.
“Aunt Flossie had bleach-blonde hair,” Rochon says, “and she drove a pink Cadillac, carried a poodle and wore spectacular-looking 1940s-style bright, chunky jewelry.”
Aunt Flossie would take Rochon into stores, pointing out art nouveau and art deco styled pieces, introducing the young artist to the bright, geometric designs that would continue to inspire and influence her future work.
“She was an outlaw,” according to Rochon, “always on the edge of something different.”
Rochon took a variety of positions as the years passed. Her history includes factory work making earring stands, managing and branding at The National Heritage Museum in Massachusetts and marketing for the Old Slater Mill, a national historic landmark in Rhode Island. Additionally, she owned and operated a shop called “Etc., Etc.” in Bellefonte.
“I sold other artists’ work there too,” Rochon recalls, “and one of the most notable is Elizabeth Hay, who went into her own creative line.”
An abrupt illness led to the closure of Rochon’s shop. But her passion for creation didn’t suffer, and she simply loves designing and creating her artwork. In February of this year, she ventured into jewelry-making.
The brilliant aventurine, amethyst, citrine, amber, lapis and other stones define much of her line. Colors range from tangerine to violet. The bulky gemstones she chooses, at time inches in length, require heavy chains for balance, and she favors stainless steel. Rochon arranges the large stones along with silver charms depicting seashells, stars, hearts, intricately designed squares and lacy, sculpted balls.
“I’ll sit and look at my materials,” she says, “and I’ll lay some stones out. I don’t really plan, but if an arrangement feels right, I go with that.”
Harmonious, though never predictable, Rochon’s work certainly catches the eye.
“Wherever I go, people remark on it,” she says. “The cashier at the grocery store asked, ‘Where did you get that necklace?’”
In October, Rochon took her artwork to Bedford for the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival, which attracted over 600 vendors. She reports that more than 40,000 visitors attended the event, and it generated interest in custom orders for her pieces.
“One woman bought a necklace,” she says, “and she wanted the matching earrings. I had already sold those, so when I got home, I made another pair of earrings, and she came here to pick them up.”
Rochon looks to these regional fairs, festivals, pop-ups and other special events to offer her creations. Last week she was at Titan Market on Axemann Road in Bellefonte for Titan’s Christmas Market. This weekend, Dec. 13-14, Christmas at Titan offers another opportunity for local shopping with area farmers, crafters and artisans, including Rochon.
Then on Dec. 21, she will present her items at Helen Foxx and Co., the women’s clothing boutique at 122 S. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte. Store owner Joyce Mills describes the atmosphere in the shop as “chic yet casual.” An accent of chunky and funky jewelry may well coordinate perfectly.
If shoppers miss out on these upcoming events, Rochon has a Facebook page, Studio 337 Designs, that offers all contact information.
As she looks over her artwork, Rochon smiles and notes how strongly she feels about her work.
“I put my soul into each piece,” she says, “and I hope I offer people something they’ll have forever.” T&G
Anne Dyer Walker is a Bellefonte freelance writer.
