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Painter & Jeweler Melanie Maus infuses her work with both elegance and a whimsical sense of fun no matter what piece she’s working on.

Melanie Maus started on the artistic path at a young age, painting murals in the hallways of her school and selling jewelry creations at local fairs. Her passion for everything creative has flourished ever since. As a jeweler, Maus’ work covers 2 distinct styles: elegant pieces in sterling silver, pearl, vintage crystal and natural stone, and a quite different range of fun, kitschy creations. The contrast fits with the artist’s own tastes and philosophy. “I like a combination of sweet and tough, understated and loud, classy and gritty — although I think it’s important to have some balance, it’s the dynamic and interaction between these opposites that interests me,” she says; MissMelanieMaus.com.