Our story

I am Maureen Farr – the Mozelle in Mozelle Fine Jewelry.  Born and raised in Portland, Maine, I now live and work on a small island in Penobscot Bay off the Maine coast.  All of the work you see here is designed and handmade by me in my Maine island studio. 

​And never far away... always at my feet? 

My sweet Standard Poodle, Fern – a black + white parti-poodle – who gets me up and out every day.

Why Mozelle?​

My best friend, Diana – who speaks several languages, including Italian – decided that I needed a beautiful nickname. “Mo” – the most common nickname for someone named “Maureen” – just wouldn’t do. 

She started by calling me “Mozella Bella” and a shortened version, “Mozelle,” stuck.  I love the sound of it as it rolls off the tongue, and have happily used it as my artist name ever since.​

My Story

I have been making things since I was about eight years old, when my parents gave me my first sewing machine.  Although that first sewing machine was a toy, it did not stop me from designing and making my first dress. 

My favorite aunt – Wilma – taught me to knit.  My mother taught me crochet.  And my maternal grandmother taught me the patience to cook – and cook well.

By seventh grade, I had my own Singer sewing machine, and for many years I made most of my own and (later) my daughter’s clothes.  

For all of my adult life, I have had my hands in and on materials of all kinds – from yarns, fabrics, paints and paper, to clay, fleece, and most recently my hands have been involved in all forms of metalsmithing.  

A lover of old things – things with patina and history – I began making found object jewelry about 15 years ago. 

Today, my work includes sterling silver rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces hand-forged from silver sheet, wire, and Precious Metal Clay. Some of my silver work contains gemstones or 24k gold Keum Boo accents. 

During the Covid pandemic, I was fortunate to “discover” some amazing teachers through ZOOM. Bette Barnett of San Diego, CA introduced me to the pleasures of working with low carbon steel. I have taken several Zoom workshops with her – learning how to use sheet steel, perforated steel, and woven steel mesh to design and fabricate some elegant, lightweight jewelry.

I think my love of color shines through in earrings and necklaces made from fold-formed, and enameled copper. All of my jewelry reflects my love of the history of a piece, and may incorporate marks of the maker's hand, patinas, and the oxidized copper edges on enameled pieces.

I currently have my sights on my stash of beautiful turquoise stones, and am planning and designing a new direction in my work from those stones. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I see found objects making a comeback as well.

I am fortunate to be able to do what I love, and I hope that love shines through in my work.  If you are inspired by it, please share my site with your friends.