Continuing our look at the Saul Bell Designer Awards 2010 Finalists in the Bead category, here is a short bio and review of the next finalist, Chihiro Makio.

Chihiro Makio, Sommerville, Massachusetts

After graduating from Massachusetts College of Art in 2000 with a fine art's degree in glass and small metals, Chihiro Makio started her own jewelry design label, 314 Studio, and quickly began to gain accolades from within the jewelry design industry.  Her appearance in this year's Saul Bell Designer Awards finalist list should be no surprise, as she scooped up prizes four years in a row, from 2003 to 2007!

Her jewelry is easily distinguished from the crowd through her use of bold shapes, monochromatic colors and her eye for composition.  Many of Her collections are inspired by nature and featurestylized flower and leaf shapes. 

This is the case for her stunning collection, "Oranges" which won her First Place in the Silver category of the Saul Bell awards in 2005.  In these pieces she created a strong visual contrast between black, oxidized sterling silver leaves, 24 karat gold plated silver discs and bright red and green glass beads.  The designs also showcased her technical ability as each tiny element was created to exact specifications to ensure that the design kept it's overall shape, while still retaining enough flexibility to make it wearable.

It is likely that her design for this year's contest will feature the same high level of technical expertise, combined with her artistic flair.

Her designs are available for sale in boutique jewelry and gift outlets across the US as well as on her own website, http://www.314studio.com.