Lil DePietro

My Featured Work:

My Story

“At this point in my life, I can honestly say that I am happy and at peace. Creating jewelry certainly contributes to that”

My name is Lil DePietro, and I am a jeweler.

I have been creating since my teenage years, and I have always enjoyed it.  My Grandmother and Aunt taught me how to sew when I was younger, and my Mother taught me how to knit later on.  Seeing the colors in the fabrics and yarn influenced me.  I also learned how to do needlework from another Aunt. And I have always enjoyed making jewelry from time to time.  

I have been in the retail business for only a year, but I have been creating jewelry for over a  decade. Fifteen years ago, I took a class to learn Viking knit, a technique that involves weaving wire, then pulling it through a series of holes that makes a tight woven chain. A few years later, I started making some Viking Knit pieces using beads from around the world. I especially enjoy working with Venetian beads, which are glass beads from Venice, Italy. I also use Murano glass, another Italian glass. It was around that time that I started getting serious about my work.  I began bringing it to the little local knit shop, and soon after I was invited to join an artisan shop in Wickford, Rhode Island, before finally arriving at Ohanga. 

My son was one of the biggest influences on my work. Nine years ago, he passed away. While I could sink into sadness at this loss, I try to use his spiritual power to guide me. Everything I make, I make with him in my heart so that I can spread my joy to other people. Because of him, I take pride in every piece that I create, and I want to ensure that whoever is buying a design will wear it and truly love it. I also set up a memorial fund in his name, and a portion of my sales goes to this fund, which donates musical instruments to under-resourced children through schools or foster care. 

Much of the inspiration for my work comes from going to places and observing art. I love stopping at stores with color inspiration.  It helps me get color ideas for my pieces.  I find great pleasure in visiting a museum and seeing different mediums of art; sometimes I will go to the Rhode Island School of Design when they have special exhibits and get inspired by the art I see there; other times I enjoy going to farmers markets and seeing their craft shows. 

I also love being around people that have creative knowledge. In Boston, I took a metalsmithing class, and I was awed by how easy the artists made it look to take metal and transform it into beautiful pieces of art.  It’s the same for the woman who taught me Viking knit and introduced me to many different designs within this art.  Or being around knitters and sewers, and seeing the elaborate pieces that they can create, from small projects to rugs and wall hangings. These deeply inspire me.

Currently, I run my company called Harmony Designs by Lil. I work in an area  in a spare bedroom at my home, and I keep all my supplies right near me. My workspace is contained, which I love. It allows me to work whenever I can, instead of going to a studio outside my home. Sometimes I have to do some drilling, my husband has a wonderful setup in the garage that I use, but I mostly deal with hands-on crafts. When I create, I listen to soft  music; I save the loud stuff for later.

Ultimately, all I want is to share what I love to do with other people, and I hope they too enjoy my work. I am very humbled when someone compliments my work, and I appreciate those who help me grow my business.  I learn from them and will always be grateful for this experience! At this point in my life, I can honestly say that I am happy and at peace. Creating jewelry has certainly contributed to that.

Lil