workbench - Cowgirls Jewelry
by Lew Larason
In Doylestown, nestled on the corner of West Oakland Avenue and South Main Street is the small, jewelry shop Cowgirl Chile Co. Named by owner Laura Rutkowski who explained, “My designs and jewelry have the free spirit of a cowgirl.” And the chile, “I learned to love chile from my years of living in the Southwest.” She proudly pointed out a wall with shelves holding several jars of this hot sauce that she displays and sells. One is her own recipe that she calls Chipotle Hot Sauce, which sports her Cowgirl Chile Co. label.
Laura has been making jewelry most of her life. She spent her early years in the Southwest and in northern Mexico. She remembers how she would find pretty stones and other natural objects when she was quite young. “I always have been creative. I used to string beads and often played with my grandmother’s costume jewelry when no one was looking,” she said. “I was given a rock tumbler as a child. I had a great time using it.”
Laura has been creating jewelry professionally for about 20 years. “I’ve been in Doylestown for seven years, after moving here from Albany, New York. Several years ago, I took some classes on jewelry making. After awhile, I decided to teach myself and learn as I went. That way I could design and craft my jewelry the way I wanted.”
To read more about Laura's jewelry, turn to page 45 in the Winter 2014 issue of Bucks County Magazine.