Behind the Scenes: Sarah Stieber Shares Colorful Insights on her Latest Collaboration with Dunn-Edwards

Dunn-Edwards recently partnered with Sarah Stieber, San Diego-based artist, painter, interior designer, muralist, and jewelry designer, on earrings designed and crafted by Stieber. The earrings were inspired by Dunn-Edwards 2024 Color of the Year, Skipping Stones (DET567), and offer a way for the serene and steely blue hue to be incorporated into fashion. We recently discussed the collaboration with Stieber to get an inside look on her process and inspiration.

Photography: Jeff Lewis

When did you first start creating custom jewelry?

I released my first piece of jewelry, the Superpower earrings, in December 2019. I designed my first collection in 2020 and have been adding new pieces ever since!

What was your initial inspiration behind starting jewelry creation as a form of art?

There is a part of me that’s always wanted to be a fashion designer.  I just love how wearable art gets to move through the world and be part of people’s everyday lives. I'm so excited to finally be scratching that itch; making wearable art that shares the empowering message of my art!

Why did you want to collaborate with Dunn-Edwards for the 2024 Color of the Year?

I wanted to collaborate with Dunn-Edwards for the 2024 Color of the Year because we share an obsession with color and with the intersection of art and design. I have collaborated with Dunn-Edwards on several Stieber Spaces projects, and I’m honored to celebrate this year’s color by creating a special jewelry piece!

What do you think about Skipping Stones (DET567)?

I LOVE this color. It’s more muted than tones I typically gravitate towards, but the complexity of this cool tone is just so mesmerizing and soothing. It was so fun to translate into jewelry, and I can’t wait to use the paint color in my upcoming interior design projects!

Can you share some insights into the creative process behind designing earrings inspired by Dunn-Edwards chosen color?

I selected acrylic materials in blue shades that capture the essence of Skipping Stones (DET567) and worked with a local laser cutter to cut all the blue ribbons.  Then my small team and I sat at my kitchen table and got to work assembling each pair by hand!

Can you describe the symbolism of emotions you aimed to convey through your earring design in relation to the Color of the Year?

The Skipping Stones earrings are inspired by my Rainbow Ribbon Magic series of paintings, about using your hands to create! I loved reimagining this concept for Dunn-Edwards since their paint enables this kind of creativity. I want these earrings to feel fun, whimsical, and to inspire their wearers to create!

In what ways do you think this collaboration contributes to the broader conversation about the intersection of art and design?

This project melds so many aspects of art and design. The earrings are designed as an extension of my paintings, and this collaboration emerged out of my love for interior design! I find that when I follow my creative curiosities the lines between disciplines start to melt away, and everything is art and expression.

What message or experience do you hope individuals will take away from wearing or owning a piece from this collaboration?

I hope these earrings will make people feel like badass and empowered works of art, and that the Skipping Stones earrings will remind people of the magic they can create with their own hands!

Photography: Jeff Lewis

How do you see Skipping Stones and your accompanying earrings resonating with audiences with different tastes and styles?

There’s something really cool about handing something over, be it a paint color or a pair of earrings, and then watching people really make it their own. I love seeing the creative ways people incorporate the Color of the Year into their own designs, and I love watching how people style the “Skipping Stones Earrings” to jive with their personal style!

As an artist, what do you find most fulfilling about collaborating on projects that bridge different creative disciplines?

Each discipline opens up new creative pathways and inspires and informs the next! I’m so grateful to get to pursue creativity across so many forms, and I’m just getting started!

Sarah Stieber’s Skipping Stones earrings are available for purchase here. To learn more about Stieber and her work, visit her Instagram and her website. Also, check out her latest San Diego mural, The Painting Ladies of Hillcrest!