Mio Studio

“Working with one’s hands is a slow, painstaking process that requires a patience unseen in today’s society - but is more vital now than ever before.”

Their geometric, architectural work seems like it would be made with metal, but in fact utilizes a combination of precious metal and wood. Their bracelets have sculptural elements, such as a three-part bangle that features each of the three curving arches interlocking into a single smooth piece that has a sense of rotational power. Their geode-like necklace has a satisfying heft of shape, with each wooden “bead,” matte charcoal black, populated by dots of silver to break up monotony. The use of wood stems from their first craft fairs in Puerto Rico, where they began their career. “There were many ‘rules’ about making crafts that reflected the historical crafts of the island. Artisans were accepted to craft fairs based on their use of traditional materials. We started using seeds from palm trees and vines to create our jewelry. Many people were doing the same thing so we started using exotic woods that were readily available. We would go to the local wood mill and select the pieces that would otherwise be burned or discarded. The wood was so unbelievably beautiful that we were inspired to use its grain, tone and color to create sculptural jewelry.”