Jewelry designer creates lightweight accessories for all occasions

In a Newport Beach home garage Gina Hueston is building.

The designer is constructing jewelry using methods similar to a traditional sculptor, drafting the concept, hand-shaping the design and sealing the model.

“Watch this,” she said as she picked up a pair of hoop earrings, placed them on a concrete floor and gently hammered the set for a textured design. “This is what I do. It’s not a joke.”

Hueston has been making jewelry for nearly 30 years — long before her business Gina B. was founded or she learned the proper way to do it.

But she first experienced success after a crafting lesson from her dad.

While studying sociology at UC Santa Barbara, she perused vendor booths set up in the campus quad and bought a pair of earrings. She showed her father, an engineer, her new treasure.

He assessed the assemblage of the handcrafted aluminum earrings and taught her how to remake the pair in his garage.

After attending Los Angeles trade shows and teaching herself how to create swirls, hearts and spirals, Hueston sold her first pair of earrings in a boutique for $25.

Her life went a different direction after graduation. She was hired to sell medical equipment and she moved to Newport Beach where she met her husband and raised their two children.

Jewelry-making remained a lifelong goal.

She continued to make jewelry on the side out of her family’s home and sold the pieces to local stores and friends. But with her kids grown, she returned to her practice.

For the past few years, Hueston has built her business by focusing on something that’s resonated with customers: delicate jewelry that is feminine and casual enough to wear every day.

Hueston’s simple tear drop earrings are whimsical and lightweight. Turquoise stones or Swarovski crystals dangle from gold or silver wires that are individually hammered and a variety of items, adorned with a large and abstract flower, are best-sellers.

The earrings range from $32 to $58.

With a handful of pieces completed, Hueston quickly saw signs of recognition: Kelly Dodd of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” fame has worn Hueston’s “Wishbone” and “Golden Gate” earrings on television appearances.

“People like the look because it doesn’t look manufactured,” Hueston said. “They’re delicate, hand-made and they’re a favorite go-to.”

A few years ago, Hueston had taken her earrings to a manufacturer, but the company couldn’t make the pair thin, lightweight and as authentic as she wanted. She learned it was worth hand-making each piece to achieve the unique and personal touch.

Hueston has since added necklaces and bracelets to her jewelry collection. Clients will send her a picture of a planned outfit for an occasion and she’ll design jewelry to correspond with it.

Though much of her business is online, Hueston said Gina B. also is carried at Shirley’s Heart on Balboa Island. She said she plans to focus on selling more of her collection at spas and resorts.

“I always wanted to do this again,” Hueston said. “I can be in here all day and be happy.”

For more information, visit ginabjewelry.com.

kathleen.luppi@latimes.com

Twitter: @KathleenLuppi