The Idea
What started as two friends working on one ring turned into a full jewelry line. Breeta and Kelcey had similar styles and often worked together on designs. The first piece they worked on together was a floral ring made from Kelcey’s twig and Breeta’s flower. After that, they worked on a pair of earrings inspired by the sea. With their love of pearls, starfish, and all things ocean life, the two moved forward in creating their first collaborative collection. Together, Breeta Toma and Kelcey Bauer created “AquaFlora”. Sharing their love of the natural world in the form of handmade jewelry.
Breeta Toma
Breeta Toma is a visual artist who lives and works in San José, California. Her formal training in diverse mediums, including glass, enamel, metal, and oil painting, converges in a rich tapestry of metalwork and jewelry. Breeta received her certification in Jewelry manufacturing arts from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and her BA in studio practice from San José State University, where she now works as a volunteer employee and mentor in the Jewelry and Small Metals area.
Kelcey Bauer
Kelcey Bauer is a visual artist working in the California Bay Area. Though Kelcey’s formal education is in lens-based media, after taking a metalsmithing class during grad school at San Jose State University, she started to see the possibilities beyond photography. Working in 3D forms opened up the possibility of creating wearable art. Her love of the natural world is not only shown in her photography, but also in the jewelry designs she created in metals.