As an artist, pearls have always intrigued Harbor Springs Jewelry designer Elizabeth Blair Kirby, AKA "Dilly". A degree in Design from University of California at Los Angeles, where she studied fine art and design with an emphasis on photography, fashion, interior design, and painting, led the way for pearls becoming the primary focus for her over 35-year career. Initially committed to designing pearl jewelry for daywear in the 1980s to combat the stigmatism that pearls were too old fashion or too dressy when laden with clusters of diamonds, à la Harry Winston, Dilly created her own 18kt yellow gold and Australian South Sea Pearl collection sold exclusively through Neiman Marcus Precious Jewels Salons.
In 2007, Dilly opened her specialty pearl salon in Harbor Springs, allowing her to interact with customers one-on-one. This personal touch created a winning environment where new ideas and desires could be combined to great outcomes in both custom design and one-of-a-kind award-winning pieces. Inspired by the lustrous orbs, Dilly brings the pearls to life by adding gold, precious gems, and sometimes whimsical finds. She is known for her bee, flower, fruit, butterfly, and bird motifs, as well as her Michigan wildlife series. Dilly’s designs have been recognized with eight awards from the Cultured Pearl Association of America’s Annual International Pearl Design contest dating back to 2011.
This July, Crooked Tree Arts Center celebrates their 22nd annual arts fundraiser, DART for ART, with "Dilly", as the featured artist.
Coffee @ Ten is our free monthly lecture series. Enjoy complimentary baked goods and coffee generously sponsored by Roast & Toast Coffee and Cafe.
