Stowellen

Benjamin grew up spearfishing, carving, and capturing Santa Barbara's landscapes in his artwork. His artistic talents include scultpture, illustration, pin-up art, comics and figure drawing.Within STOWELLEN, each piece of jewelry is hand carved and one of a kind due to the unique nature of Benjamin's materials and his personal carving style. He takes his inspiration for the line from his love of sculpture and the forms in nature he sees around him every day.

STOWELLEN (pronounced 'stolen') was created in January 2009 by Benjamin Stowell Kendall and Ashley Lambert. The Santa Barbara couple started the line after an overwhelming response to the initial abalone feather necklace Benjamin carved for Ashley as a birthday present. Comprised from all natural materials; primarily abalone, ebony, and feathers, STOWELLEN focuses on crafting elements from nature into wearable pieces of art. Feathers represent having the ability and strength to take flight; either spiritually, emotionally, or creatively, and STOWELLEN reflects those qualities in the uniqueness of its designs.

abalone

jackie — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:12:53 +0000

Necklaces

Ebony
Abalone
Mixed

Charms

Bracelets

Hair Pins

Materials

jackie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:29:20 +0000

ABALONE: Comprised from layers of nacre, or mother of pearl, abalone shell is associated with the ocean's healing properties. Abalone is said to bring relaxation, imagination, and emotional expression to its wearer. An edible gastropod, abalone is considered a delicacy in the culinary world. The shells have different colors which are determined by what type of algae the abalone consumes and are only fully revealed once the shell is polished. There are roughly 100 different types of abalone around the globe, many of which are protected from over-fishing. Stowellen acquires all of its abalone from local fisherman and abalone farmers with proper licensing.

EBONY: Possessing a deep, lustrous black, ebony is highly valued for its density, hardness, and color. An element of the earth, ebony is said to offer strength and protection to its wearer. While the sapwood of the tree is white, its core is one of the darkest woods known in existence. Originating in the South Indies and Sri Lanka, ebony has been used for centuries for ornamental carvings and instrument making, such as with piano keys and guitar fret boards.

FEATHERS: The ability and strength to take flight are represented in feathers. They exist as reminders of lightheartedness and a feeling of letting go. Stowellen uses a variety of exotic bird feathers, from peacocks to scarlet macaws and morning doves, to name a few, all of which are acquired through local aviaries or found on foot. Different feather colors possess various meanings. For example, white (Cockatoo) brings purity. Black (Crow) offers protection and banishes negativity. Peacock brings nobility and confidence. Red (African Grey) offers courage and passion. Yellow (Scarlet Macaw) brings intellect and ease with communication. And green (Amazon) offers health and stability.