Taylor Bringhurst
Taylor Bringhurst (@taylorbringhurst) is someone I’ve admired from afar on the internet for a very long time, who, by some good fortune of mine, ended up becoming a friend in real life! She is a jeweler living in Ventura, California, whose pieces are inspired by the rawness of the natural world around her and often feature shells and other found objects. We recently met up to shoot her newest collection in Ojai, where I got to style and incorporate some of my favorite Mind Garden pieces. I also asked her a few questions, just for fun! Enjoy!
What inspired you to start making jewelry?
i’ve always worn and loved jewelry since i was a child, so it had been in the back of my mind that it might be something i would enjoy. i never seriously considered it until 4 years ago; i wanted a very specific silver ring that i couldn’t find anywhereeeeeee and i looked for ages.
i’m a very diy type of person, so i decided i would make it myself. i really enjoyed the process and kept pursuing it and experimenting. i never really went into it with an intention of it becoming anything, it just unfolded in a natural, intuitive way which felt like i was on the right path. turned out it’s all i ever want to do !
If you weren’t a jeweler, what would you be?
i would love to be an archivist or curator in a natural history museum. archeology and anthropology heavily inspire what i make !
Best beach you’ve ever combed:
i have the best time at Jalama on a super low tide. there’s so many pools and stunning rock formations. you can walk for miles & then eat a giant burger at the stand on the beach.
What are your favorite things to wear right now besides shells?
definitely sheepskin and wool! anything using scrap or byproduct / found objects fascinates me. embroidery and beading has found a huge place in my wardrobe over the last few months…
i’ve also put a feather from my chicken in my hat which i find really cute.
If you could be a shepherdess in any country, which would it be?
england! specifically cornwall.
the landscape looks like a dream… there’s a really cute shaggy breed of sheep there called cornwall longwool so hopefully they could make up a bit of my flock.
What is your favorite mythical creature and why?
my favorite (mythical?) creature is obviously the mermaid !
anyone who was a kid in the late 90s - early 2000s knows we were inundated with mermaid media. i think my love started with h20 and swimming in friends pools as a 10 year old… it grew as i became an adult and got more into folklore / mythology. i’d like to think of them more as a protector / benevolent force rather than a siren, but only those who’ve encountered them could know for sure ;)
A few good songs we should put on:
i like a bit of everything… here are some i’ve enjoyed lately
halcyon- windhand
magic arrow- timber timbre
diamond meadows- t. rex
red lady- phil cordell
idle i’m - colorama coloured in remix- john stammers
Talent Abigail Zuckerman
Photography Grayson Stern
Styling Jess van den Bosch
Jewelry Taylor Bringhurst
Clothes Mind Garden Vintage