Shauna Giesbrecht, Artisanne Extraordinaire

By Kate Houston, AWG Member

Shauna Giesbrecht didn’t plan on being an artisan.  Instead, she studied architecture in her native Vancouver, pursing goldsmithing merely as a hobby.  But when a start in architecture proved difficult at best, she turned from designing buildings to designing jewelry and never looked back.

 Fifteen years later, Shauna works comfortably in her Montmartre studio, specializing in creations from lovely, simple gold wedding bands to exquisite jeweled pieces.  Moving to Paris on a whim, she arrived with no knowledge of French, no money and no friends.  She started designing out of her bedroom in her shared apartment.  “Learning French was long and arduous,” she says, and getting tools and materials together was difficult too.  But once prepared, she began selling her creations in boutiques along St. Germain, slowly garnering a following of private clients as well as shop owners, “Wedding rings especially were and are the most popular.  It’s nice to have a unique, handmade design.”  As luck would have it, rings happen to be her favorite pieces to design, a love that has proven successful for her.  While she works in both silver and gold, she favors gold, not only because of its preciousness, but also because of its beauty and uniqueness. “I especially love that it is more durable than silver,” she says.

Today Shauna has her own boutique where she designs, creates and showcases her uniquely styled pieces.  Her inspiration comes from architecture, nature and often the stone itself.  She points out that handmade fine jewelry is not very common in France, which gives her a niche in Paris’s competitive artisan market.  Her specialization in one-of-a-kind pieces allows her the ability to tailor her designs to the desires of the client.  In addition to new designs, she also redesigns and repairs clients’ existing pieces, and often buys clients’ old gold to put towards new projects.

While Shauna speaks candidly of the difficulties of owning a business in France, she likes the freedom having her own boutique allows.  As a case in point, this past year she began to branch out into textile design-- a chance she would not have had if still selling to private shops, “With La Crise, I took my 20 years of sewing and decided to diversify a bit.”  This diversity adds to the already chic décor (and offerings) of her atelier.  Her jewelry displays are now graced with lovely, diaphanous scarves in tulle, mohair, cashmere and silk, while a beautiful white bolero compliments a satin skirt on a dressmakers form in the corner.  On the day of our interview, she herself sported one of her textile creations—a tulle and linen jacket in blue with lace, ribbon, and silk organza details.

            The pleasure she finds in the diversity of her creations led Shauna to her latest venture: hosting a sewing tour this month and in October for AWG members, “I love sharing things and want others to know about the sewing shops that I’ve discovered during my time here.”  In addition to leading the tour, Shauna sits on the Events Committee of the American Club of Paris, and she hosts a monthly Ex-Pat lunch group, whose members meet to sample the menus at famous restaurants throughout the city.

            AWG is obviously quite proud to have such a talented member as Shauna as part of its ranks, and she too is quite happy to share her enthusiasm for the organization.  For her, AWG provides an opportunity to make friends, speak English and see parts of the city she would normally miss, “I ate at Maxim’s for the first time two years ago on an AWG event.  It was a wonderful lunch, and something I would not have done on my own.”

            While she says she now considers herself a Parisian, AWG affords Shauna the chance to stay connected to her North American roots, “I’ve gained clients and made good friends from my participation in AWG.  It’s nice to have American feedback.”  She says she has been enriched by every year spent here in Paris, and AWG is certainly happy to be a part of that experience. 

In addition to designing costume pieces for the Lido, Shauna has had her work featured in Madame Figaro, Elle à Paris, Oui Magazine and Mariage.  If you would like to see her designs firsthand, visit her boutique in the 18th at 24, rue Véron or go to her website at www.ms3.com/900-Shauna_Jewellery.