Elizabeth Ngo was born in the East Bay and raised in Venice, California. She has been involved in the arts all her life, beginning with pottery as a child, then exploring techniques in fabric dying and clothing design, and eventually taking classes in metalsmithing and beadwork. Her innate good taste and sense of style have enabled her love of color and design to find expression in many mediums, consistently creating innovative work just ahead of developing trends.
In the late 1980s, Elizabeth began representing Los Angeles designers and artists by bringing their wares to the Markets in New York City. It was a great job that afforded her the opportunity to investigate creative possibilities while finishing her degree in sociology at UCLA. It was not long before Elizabeth began designing clothing and accessories, launching her own Elizabeth Ngo line, which reflected her love of rich textures and materials. It was on this journey that Elizabeth discovered the Antique Buttons, finding they provided a perfect accent to her signature Bohemian look. She found that even one unique button could set off a belt, necklace, or garment in an amazing way.
While researching the buttons, Elizabeth became intrigued with the stories each button holds. The buttons of the late 1800s to early 1900s reflect the history of that period, in the materials used as well as the imagery portrayed – this was a time when “one’s wealth was worn in one’s buttons”. By the mid nineties, Elizabeth was incorporating Antique Buttons exclusively in her jewelry designs. She loves preserving the beauty and history of these buttons. By putting the buttons back in the world, Elizabeth enables you to appreciate a unique piece of upcycled art, and to wear a touch of history.
Presently, Elizabeth lives in Santa Cruz, California, and is always in search of amazing buttons and the stories they tell.
18" Silver chain
This moon shaped carved pearl has a Purple hue with a green tourmaline center.
1" x 1/4"