BRANDON, Vt. -
Jill Listzwan loves to watch the birds outside of her Brandon office.
"I love being able to sit and look out and see what's going on," she said.
Inspiration from her feathered friends shines through in her jewelry business, Dancing Ear Design. She makes playful pins, earrings, barrettes and pendants using mixed media. From pearls to coral, buttons to beads, Listzwan uses a host of materials which she said make her pieces more fun. "I call it wearable art," she said. "I like it because I like the colors and I like that each is unique -- with the animals especially. They have certain expressions. They're kind of fun."
To make these playful, one-of-a-kind designs Listzwan uses unique tools -- dental instruments and pruning scissors are some of her favorites. Not to mention her trusty toaster oven.
Her creations look like metal, but they're actually created from metallic painted plastic. Listzwan said layering and melting the plastic creates depth within her pieces and curiosity among shoppers. "I like to build them up because they're much more interesting that way -- they're not as flat," she said.
Her pieces are easy to spot, with a recognizable style she's perfected over the past 20 years. "It wasn't planned. It just evolved. I guess that's the best way," Listzwan said.
Ranging from $25 to $60, her most popular items are small birds and cats. But Listzwan said she loves all animals, and you can tell from her designs -- no two are the same. "You have to not mind being noticed, because when people put on a large pin people do notice it," Listzwan said.
Whimsical jewelry full of heart that Listzwan said is not for the faint-of-heart.
