A Treasure Trove: Beautiful Jewelry in Unexpected Places

Pamela Squires’ studio is quite like a treasure chest.

Everywhere you look there are overflowing charms, chains, bits and beads just waiting to be transformed. It is like being inside a jewel box.

Pearls are waiting to be strung, shiny new baubles are spilling out of their holders, glittering gemstones, and the dull sheen of antique treasures all overtake the senses at the first glimpse of the brightly light space. It is organized chaos -- in a good way.

The treasures sit in a tiny neat brick home on the corner of Beaver and Grimes streets in Sewickley, at the corner of the Baptist Church parking lot. Squires, the maker of the magic, is a little dynamo.

Squires had to step off the corporate ladder in 2004 due to a health-related downturn involving Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory intestinal disease. 

Not letting illness slow her down, Squires fashioned a wire necklace that garnered attention while she was recovering from surgery.

Quite by accident, Squires found a new passion. She launched "Pie In The Sky Jewelry," a whimsical, fun line of hand-strung beaded cuffs in vibrant colors.

As the collection expanded, bridal jewelry, pearl strands, contemporary necklaces,
and an infusion and vintage and antique pieces emerged. The newly evolved line is now called "Pamela Squires Jewelry." 

Squires creates an array of distinctive jewelry from diverse materials -- found objects, black diamonds, papier-mâché, gold, sterling silver, and precious and semi-precious gems and stones.

“I work with anything that can be molded, shaped and is sustainable,” Squires said.

She’s most intrigued by antique jewelry and the stories behind the jewelry. Squires
has an instinctively creative eye for incorporating hard-to-find, authentic sterling
silver antique medals, fobs, and watch pieces into some of the most gorgeous pieces.

Another "Pamela Squires Jewelry" hallmark is a lavish, long necklace that can be adjusted to accommodate different looks.  With prices ranging from $32 to $375  -- it costs more for custom work -- there is a piece available for just about any budget.

Apparently the same talent runs in Squires' family.

“My love for antique jewelry was ingrained in me at an early age. Growing up with extremely talented parents influenced me at a very early age," Squires said.

"My mother, Barbara Squires, is an extremely talented artist who has won several awards at national art shows, including the Three Rivers Art Festival, and my father, Jack Squires, is a well-known antique dealer with exceptional credentials. So I put the two together and created my own niche,” Squires said.

There are several ways to get hold of your own one-of-a-kind Pamela Squires piece. A website is in the works, but purchases can currently be acquired through www.pamelasquiresjewelry.etsy.com.

You may also make an appointment with the artist herself by calling 412-741-4088. Try hard to choose from shelf after shelf of amazing bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Have something you already own redesigned, or have her come up with a custom design to treasure forever.

“My artistic pieces of jewelry are not complete until they have been worn. Only then are they speaking the language they were created to do," Squires said. "They are an expression of who you are and how you express yourself.”