Creative Caroline

As she sits and sips on a strawberry banana smoothie, gathering her belongings, her bright smile complete with dimples is so hard to miss.

Many know senior Caroline Harvitt as a hard working student and family oriented girl with a charismatic personality, but some know her as a talented artist.

Rings complete her fingers, as well as a necklace that frames her neck that has the shape of Michigan engraved in it, which she explains she made.

“I have always liked jewelry,” Harvitt said. “One Christmas I got a box of beads and I started making bracelets and earrings in my room.”

Harvitt’s hand crafted jewelry ranges from rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

Senior Gabbie Green, a friend since kindergarten, says that she always knew Harvitt was very talented when it came to art, so it never surprised her when she first saw her jewelry.

“When Caroline and I were in about 7th grade, she made me this little ring,” Green said. “She took a spiral notebook and pliers and stripped the wire from the notebook and bent it and put green beads on it. That was the first piece of jewelry she ever showed me and ever since then, her pieces have just gotten more and more creative and elaborate.”

The professionalism and uniqueness of her work raises the question of a long term career.

“I have an Etsy account,” Harvitt said. “But I’m starting to sell my jewelry downtown, I hope to one day have it be something I still do with my main career. My dream would be to open a jewelry shop, but for now it’s just a side job.”

Harvitt currently sells her work at downtown at the Tlaquepaque after the owner, Debbie Otte noticed the jewelry she was wearing one day and asked her if she’d like to sell it there.

Otte admired how motivated and creative Harvitt was.

“She loves creating,” Otte said. “I loved that she was doing the Michigan logo. I was happy to have her here at the store for the Art Hop and loved promoting her.”

Harvitt’s inspiration is completely original but she uses the resources around her to fuel her ideas.

“I look at so much jewelry all the time on Etsy and Pinterest,” Harvitt said. “I find out what I like, and what I don’t like. Then I start with simple wire or beads and go from there.”

Her face lit up as she talked about her work.

“I love when I’m done and I feel so happy about it,” Harvitt said. “My favorite part would be wearing it or showing it to my mom after I’m done. I also like to see the end result and how many materials I used to just make one piece.”

Harvitt recently had a mixed media necklace in the 2015 Art Walk that received honorable mention from both the public and the jury.

“My favorite necklace is from copper wire and beads,” Harvitt said. “I like to see how just a few weird things can come together to make something great.”