Announcement    ✨✨✨Welcome to Nina Carina! ✨✨✨


Hand made jewelry, inspired by nature.


All things on this site are made by hand, and most of it is one of a kind. I believe that each of us are on our own life journey, and I find joy knowing that what I make might weave its way from my path into yours. I repurpose as much as possible... fabric, paper, metal, beads. My background is in Biology, so I have a love for nature and the organic, natural feel it gives me. I try to reflect this feeling in what I make, and hopefully- what you'll love and wear! Thank you for checking out our site. Please see the story section (or below) for more on the history of Nina Carina in shows, Etsy, and retail boutiques. xo
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~~ Follow us for upcoming show schedules, sales, and promotions!~~
INSTAGRAM: ninacarinajewelry
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ninacarinajewelry/
WEBSITE: www.ninacarina.com
EMAIL: alice.ninacarina [!at] gmail.com
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💕OUR STORY:
I started this beautiful path about 13 years ago, right after I left teaching science to stay at home with my brand new baby girl. Nina Carina is named after my daughter, Carina, who was born with a head full of dark brown hair, ("Nina Carina" literally means "little Carina" in Spanish). I found myself making her hair-clip-flowers out of felt and canvas, then putting those canvas flowers onto bracelets and necklaces. I started selling them at the Contemporary Art Center in Cincinnati. Then I did a few art shows in Hyde Park and around the Cincinnati area, and even in Yellow Springs, where we eventually moved. I found myself inspired by my background in science, and the love I had for this new little human.

Growing up around a very-creative mother and grandmother (who were always full of ideas and beauty), there was inspiration everywhere. My grandmother grew up in an era where it was harder for her to express her creativity, but she found outlets in designing/sewing outfits for my mother, my dolls as a child, and myself. She was an incredible interior designer, though this wasn't a career she was able to have in the 1930's/40's, she was always coming up with something amazing. My mother was a medical illustrator and paralegal who made a career out of her skill, drawing, designing and all the while, having an eye for eccentric clothes, jewelry and art.

Going from full time science teacher to full time mom/artist allowed me to experiment with materials and techniques that have allowed a jewelry evolution over the years. I started in canvas and fabric but have now enjoyed playing around with copper, sterling silver, rocks, crystals and as many found and repurposed objects and materials I can find. In between the show schedule, I opened this Etsy shop at the beginning of this journey, but I didn't seem to find the time to list items as readily as I was making them. I primarily focused on Art Shows and retail sales, finding that it was fun to get out there and share what I love to do face to face. I always was asked about my Etsy shop, but didn't get it together quite the way I wanted at that time! But now, I'm feeling so excited to expand a little more into Etsy again and be able to share what I love to do on this platform! Thank you so much for checking this out!

Today, my grandma is gone and my mom was recently in a terrible car accident which left her unable to communicate or create-- it's been a super tough year, but I am trying to push forward and use their legacies as inspiration and motivation to keep this creative thread woven into the fabric of my family. One way I'm doing that is to share more of this love-of-creating, through Etsy!

Now, two kids and two moves later, this is still my journey and I'm so happy to be able to share a little bit of it with you.

Thank you for checking this out and for all the support and love you've shown me along the way! I'm looking forward to sharing more with you day by day.

Much love and gratitude...
Alice
💕xo

If you have any questions, please contact me. I'd love to hear from you!

*All items copyright 2004 (and beyond) Nina Carina LLC. Please see Nina Carina policies for return/exchange information. All items guaranteed. xo*