Chinoiserie Chic

By Jennifer McKee  |  Photos courtesy of Designs by Laurel Leigh

 

For Laurel Gregory, creating art is therapeutic. 

“It’s a creative relief that I didn’t know I needed,” says Gregory. “It allowed me to decompress.”

After the loss of her mother-in-law and a move into a new house, Gregory took a hiatus from her demanding human resources job. She dabbled in painting, taking on multiple do-it-yourself home projects and discovered a new passion. 

Soon, Gregory was painting landscapes and abstract artwork, many of which hang in her vacation rentals and home today. Then, she started selling a few locally, and in 2015, opened her Etsy shop. 

“It’s so rewarding for somebody to praise your work and want to put it in their home. There’s nothing more flattering,” says Gregory. 

She then began making handmade chinoiserie ornaments, a nod to the blue-and-white china her mother-in-law collected. The ornaments flew off the shelves. Gregory then turned her focus to blue-and-white chinoiserie jewelry. She considers “chinoiserie chic” to be her signature style. 

But Gregory isn’t content to let one style define her. Spurred by a love of interior design, she plays with pairing unexpected patterns and colors, such as animal prints with blue-and-white chinoiserie. 

“That’s what really started my business,” Gregory explains. “People were so drawn to it, it’s an unusual combination that works.”

“I’m always on the hunt,” Gregory continues, speaking about what inspires her. “I just have to see something, and I shop everywhere. I may not have the full inspiration at the time. I may come back to it years later.”

Such is the case with a strand of blue-and-white beads that she purchased during her DIY projects, the jumping-off point for her jewelry designs. 

“For months, I stared and stared at it,” says Gregory. “I asked myself ‘What am I going to do with this?’ Then I started making jewelry.”

After a short stint in wholesale, a venture in which Gregory says she felt the “artistry got lost,” Gregory returned to small-batch production. She estimates that pieces are typically produced 3-6 in a batch, but many are one-of-a-kind statement pieces. 

“When I started this, one of my inspirations was to be really unique,” says Gregory. “I wanted to go to a party in Athens with my girlfriends and have a piece of jewelry on that no one else has. I love giving my customers that.”

This originality comes from sourcing as many vintage pieces as Gregory can find to repurpose. She’s also started working with natural materials, including leather, which is lightweight and popular with her customers. 

As for chinoiserie, Gregory has expanded into new colors. She also adores florals, which can always be found in her shop. 

And, as Georgia Bulldogs football approaches, expect to see a lot of reds in her designs. 

In addition to her online collections, Gregory does custom orders, including a lot of bridal parties. 

“I love to work with brides,” she says. “It’s always fun to create something for someone’s special day.”

Although she does a few holiday markets and pop-ups each year, the best way to find Gregory is on her website or through Etsy. 

“I just really love patterns and color, that’s my inspiration,” says Gregory. “Every artist has their own process, and since I’m not formally trained, my process probably wouldn’t make sense to a formally trained artist. It ebbs and flows. I design for myself. I design when I’m inspired.” 

Find Gregory’s designs online at designsbylaurelleigh.com or at etsy.com/shop/DesignsbyLaurelLeigh.