Chime Jewelry Celebrates the Beauty of Beads

Collecting cool, quirky, funky, and simply pretty jewelry is one of my shopping passions.  So I made a bee-line for Chime London jewelry at a recent summer accessories press preview.

Crafted by London-based designer Karen McGuire (photo to the right), Chime's pieces are inspired by her affection for beads and materials from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.  

Upon graduating from the Royal College of Art with a degree in Textiles and Accessory design, McGuire worked at Donna Karan in New York in the knitwear division.

She then moved back to Hong Kong -- where she was raised and educated as a child -- and worked at Shanghai Tang before developing her own Chime London line.  That entrepreneurial move grew out of friends and family asking her to make them trinkets similar to the ones she made for herself.

"It's great to do what you love," McGuire says.

The Spring/Summer 2010 line showcases a Goddess Collection of ornate beaded bib and statement necklaces and one-of-a-kind charm bracelets and necklaces accented with Koi fish, owls, birds, butterflies, tiger tooth, and Chime's signature cloisonne bead charms.

McGuire plans to bring Chime London to select U.S. boutiques, but for now you can pick up her unique pieces online.