Molly Each

Claudia Kleiner doesn't just have an eye for beauty--she has the hands for it, too. While stocking her Bucktown boutique, Malabar, 1880 N. Damen, (773)321-6685, with elegant pieces inspired by current South American fashion, the Venezuela-born, Brazil-educated Kleiner also showcases her own line of handmade jewelry. Made entirely of organic materials, Kleiner's pieces begin with large, shapeless chunks of quartz. From there, she carves each stone individually in a process that can take roughly two weeks. She then polishes each stone to the desired color and shine and combines them with sterling silver or wire to create necklaces (on average $75-$150), bracelets ($80-$100), earrings ($50-$75) and rings (around $40 each). A single piece can take up to a month to construct, and because of the hand-carving process, each one is completely one-of-a-kind.

Kleiner's roots play heavily into her collection: The elements are imported from South America (the quartzes come from Brazil, while the corals originate off the coast of Margarita Island, Venezuela) and Brazilian philosophy is embedded in the pieces. "In Brazil there is a big belief in energies," Kleiner says. "We believe all quartzes have healing powers. Black coral is especially rare. It promotes good luck and prosperity, so when I see black coral I scoop it up!" A few of the eye-catching items currently on display at Malabar are black coral necklaces, hand-carved river stone rings, a Swarovski crystal and onyx choker, and a necklace, bracelet and earring set made from polished coral and pepa de zamuro, a large Brazilian seed.

In addition to designing a line of women's swimwear (the new line is expected at Malabar in early February) and discovering new designers to showcase at her store, Kleiner is currently hard at work on her new spring jewelry collection. And what can we expect? "Lots of wood, and more quartz than crystal," Kleiner says. "I use a lot of neutral colors, but I'll be using a lot of turquoise, too. And pearls. Pearls will definitely still be around." (2007-01-09)

Also by Molly Each

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Gayborhood Guide
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The No-Name Bar on the Corner
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