Historical Art Inspires Local Jewelry Designs

Sweet Charleston Designs, a local jewelry design team was honored recently by being accepted as a vendor at the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington DC.  The group met with a series of buyers over the past six years to discuss the relevance and importance of rice winnowing sweet grass baskets in American history.  When the decision was made to offer SCD's, made in America jewlery designs through the Smithsonian Enterprise Gift Stores, Sweet Charleston contacted local sweet grass basket artist Tonya White, Mary Charles, Laverne White, Katherine White and Kemelar Charles and asked if they would create miniature examples of their art to be used as displays with the jewelry.  They completed five amazing pieces, representing tradition rice winnowing baskets and four other traditionally used basket styles.  Sweet Charleston Designs remains committed to promoting educational awareness about the art form of sweet grass basketry. By offering exclusively designed jewelry statement pieces to share the story, designers Janie Manning and Angie Buxton work to bring basket makers to various educational programs, trunk shows and school classroom programs. If you would like to see examples of the baskets on display at NMAAHC visit Moon & Lola on King street Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10am until 6pm.  Sweet Charleston Designs will be offering their complete collection at this uniquely crafted trunk show event.