Meet Jewelry Designer Whitney Stern Today

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Fine-jewelry designer Whitney Stern is bringing her handmade wares to Chicago this weekend. Stern became inspired to design jewelry when she was living in Chile, where she picked up the art of weaving macramé. Now based in Seattle—where she also teaches yoga—Stern crafts pieces using semiprecious Brazilian stones and alloys in 14k rose, yellow, and white gold. She likes to add a little edge or unexpected touch to the sparkling pieces; for example, diamond rings are backed with black rhodium. Another classic Whitney-Stern touch: some of the rings are set at an 11 o'clock angle, which is where "you put your hand on your heart for good luck," the designer has explained. (We kind of love that.)

Want to chat yoga, South America, or canary-yellow diamonds with Stern? She'll be at the Michigan Avenue Nordstrom today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; tomorrow, her Nordstrom Oakbrook Center trunk show runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
· Whitney Stern [Official Site]