Burg in Focus: Meeka Fine Jewelry from GK Visual on Vimeo.

Whether dangling from ears, encircling necks or enfolding fingers, jewelry glitzes up the human frame. But jewelry’s about more than just making people look good. To Monika Krol, it also encompasses art, craftsmanship and relationship.

Krol opened Meeka Fine Jewelry two years ago, naming it after her childhood nickname. Today, the Camp Hill jewelry shop showcases handcrafted jewelry by eight artistic talents, including Krol.

Jewelry making was not, however, Krol’s first choice, who started out as a photography major when she enrolled at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. But, after taking an elective in the craft, she said she “just completely fell in love.”

Krol describes her work as “meticulous, well-made. I also like little vintage touches.”

That vintage shows up in her sterling silver cornelian cameo earrings, adorned with coral and a pearl drop, and pendants with bails, which resemble antique watch pieces.

Interesting gemstones she uses include Montana agates, which, at a glance, hold scenes of clouds in a skyscape and migrating birds. Other favorite gems include lavender, coral pink and olive green sapphires, frosty aquamarine and pumpkin tourmaline.

Krol primarily fabricates with gold, which she describes as being less “finicky” than silver. Her gold pieces have a matte finish created by using pumice powder.

“I try to bridge between the art jewelry I used to make, adding a little playfulness,” she said.

Different Here

In addition to Krol’s work, the store displays creations from a handful of other talented jewelry makers.

These include Lola Brooks, whom Krol described as a friend, mentor and former professor and boss. After graduating, she worked for Brooks for eight years. Her work in the shop includes a stunning pair of earrings crafted from 19^th century mother-of-pearl gaming tokens.

Other designers include Gabriella Kiss, who takes inspiration from natural elements; Rosanne Pugliese, who often includes gold rings in her pieces; and Joanna Nealey, who focuses on lovely enamel work, such as a spruce-green enameled cell necklace.

Word about Meeka is spread primarily through word of mouth and those who follow the work of these accomplished artisans. Some customers come to her from far away. Recently, a New York couple travelled to Camp Hill to purchase an engagement ring.

The work at Meeka represents unique designs—mostly one-of-a-kind pieces—and custom pieces.

“It’s different here,” she said. “In traditional jewelry stores, you pick the stone, you pick the setting, you pick the ring, and you put that together and that’s custom. Whereas, if you come to me for a custom design, which is mostly engagement rings that I do, we talk about what stones you want. I have stones sent so that you can pick them out.”

Some of these stones include diamonds that don’t necessarily meet the standard three C’s of diamond selection: cut, color and clarity.

“Rather than looking for perfection, you may be looking for uniqueness,” Krol said.

Lucky

Surrounded by all her work, I found it difficult to believe that Krol didn’t aspire to own her own shop.

About 2½ years ago, she and her husband thought about the prospect and ventured over to Camp Hill just to look at some available properties. As they walked around, they stopped at one particular building.

“I thought, ‘I’m looking at my store,’” she said. “Five years ago, if you asked me, there was no way I would have told you I was going to open up a storefront.”

But Krol did exactly that, and she credits friends and family to help her achieve her goal. She still doesn’t consider herself primarily a businessperson, but has grown into the role. Though a self-described introvert, she is surprised at how much she enjoys interacting with people and appreciates the relationships she has made through the business. She counts “the incredible people the store has brought into my life” as her greatest surprise.

Relationships and connectedness are important to Krol, and she wants folks to feel comfortable coming into her store, browsing and trying pieces on. She said she feels lucky that, when talking to customers, she gets to “peek in on other people’s stories.”

Krol’s work is sold exclusively at Meeka, with one exception. She also sells at August, a designer jewelry store in Los Angeles, where Jennifer Aniston purchased a pair of her earrings. Her designs also received attention recently when Martha Stewart Weddings carried an August ad that featured Krol’s 18K gold and rutilated quartz ring. (Visit www.augustla.com, and you’ll see Krol listed as one of the store’s designers.)

A visit to Meeka will provide a pleasant conversation with the owner and perhaps a nice piece of jewelry to take home. At the very least, you will leave the shop with a renewed appreciation for fine, handcrafted jewelry.

Meeka Fine Jewelry is located at 2205 Market St., Camp Hill. To learn more, visit www.meekajewelry.com or the Facebook page.

Author: Susan Ryder