By Maria Paula Gonzales
Being one with nature is a popular saying most people try to live by, but few are able to stay true to it.
Julia Bate, Jupiter native and 25-year-old artist behind Earth Eye Jewelry, is one of the few.
In an exclusive with The Atlantic Current, Julia shared the origin story how making jewelry became a pillar in her life, how living in between Jupiter and Puerto Rico has influenced her work, and the main inspiration behind her most recent collection.
She took us back to where it all started: elementary school, of course. Luckily for Julia, being creative came naturally to her and she was always “artistically inclined.”
“I was that kid who taught myself how to French braid in first grade,” Julia said, admitting that braiding her hair was her unknown introduction to weaving. “It’s almost as if nothing’s really changed.”
From braiding hair to making friendship bracelets, a whole new world opened up. “I was very into the whole friendship bracelets thing… Making all the different patterns and the double-sided, like lizard or pony bead charms. I would also make myself earrings,” Julia said.
Learning how to make her own jewelry early on helped create that foundation for Julia to then transition to focus on 2D art in middle and high school.
Julia realized that making jewelry was more than just a hobby while she was working or another artist based in her area. “I actually didn’t do anything for about a year after I worked with her. I just made things for my mom and friends,” Julia said.
Then, in October 2022, Julia branched out on her own and began selling her handcrafted jewelry publicly. But life took an interesting turn for Julia in the spring of 2023 when she moved to Puerto Rico.
“I had visited Puerto Rico once and then ended up signing a lease for a whole year,” Julia said.
Inspiration was bound to strike once the creative set foot on those Puerto Rican beaches for the first time and the island would make its mark on her business at last. This is where her “business really blossomed” and “she found her own style.”
Once she moved to Puerto Rico, scouring the beaches for shells, sea glass, and lost treasures became an outlet. “I did it almost every day if there was the opportunity,” Julia said. “The jewelry business was more of a way to keep beachcombing and it became a part of my routine.”
Growing up in Jupiter, Julia’s parents influenced her to be outdoor and experience nature. She spent a childhood collecting things like rocks, feathers, and seashells, which all connects to her art she creates now. “In the beginning, I was very influenced by gemstones and an earthy bohemian style. After living in Puerto Rico, and getting back to my beachcombing self, it definitely took more of a coastal influence. I’ve really enjoyed tapping into that,” Julia said.
Earth Eye Jewelry’s newest collection launched August 23 after weeks of preparation. Julia begins by going through the things she’s collected like shells, sea glass, and stones to put together a mood board of sorts and see what works well together.
“For my most recent collection, I really wanted to capture that super moody, stormy summertime. When you’re walking on the beach but there’s a massive dark cloud,” Julia said. “Even though the water is still super blue and it’s that combination of a super hot summer day and then coming home in a rainstorm.”
Pieces from her newest collection like the BEACHCOMBER necklace and DROP necklace encapsulate those stormy summer skies us Floridians know so well, mimicking the shades of grey, silver, and blue that reflect along the coastline.
Julia is still working with the coastal influences and her signature macrame styles, but has been implementing mixed metals into her practice. “I started venturing towards some metal like sterling silver and kind of mixing the two, so it’s definitely always evolving,” Julia said.
You can shop Earth Eye Jewelry on their website and follow their Instagram for updates and a glimpse into the scenes from nature that inspire each collection. Julia says she’s excited to attend some local fairs and markets this fall, so make sure you’re following along so you don’t miss when she might be in your area next.
