Laura James makes pretty things.

“I was always captivated by jewelry,” says Laura. As a child, she used her father’s tools to take apart her jewelry and re-assemble it into one-of-a kind creations—but it wasn’t until she bought a jewelry kit on a whim that she considered making jewelry as a career. “People started buying pieces off of my neck,” Laura says. Now, she keeps pace with the newest techniques, and her jewelry can be found in stores throughout the Southeast and at www.LauraJamesJewelry.com.

“I really pay attention to the runway fashions, and nature is a huge inspiration for me. A lot of the pieces that I use are organic,” says Laura. She also stays true to her roots: Many of her pieces are re-purposed vintage items from her grandmother’s jewelry collection, or that she’s found in thrift shops.

“Right now what has really been a hit are the vintage rosaries that I’m using,” she says. “Most of my pieces are one of a kind. That’s what I love.”