As a young girl growing up in the Pocono Mountains, Carleen Birnes spent her long summer days gathering bouquets of Queen Ann's Lace, turning over rocks to see what worlds lived underneath, and making friends with the busy beaver family at the creek nearby. Her experience outdoors fostered a sense of innerconnectedness to the earth and a love for the organic form. Now living by the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, she draws on her current surroundings along with her childhood to honor and explore the shapes, forms and textures that contribute to the poetry of our lives.

With two small children whose spirits fill her life with love, boundless energy (and a healthy dose of chaos), Carleen carefully balances her family time, along with designing jewelry and teaching the craft to students in the Annapolis area.

She was recently named the "Next Hot Jewelry Designer" by Lilac Bijoux, a fabulously hip boutique with locations in Annapolis and Baltimore.