Awash in vibrant colors and multilayered shapes, these brooches and collars by Danielle Gori-Montanelli have a magnetic effect on nearby eyes and hands. A successful metalsmith in New York City, Danielle decided to move away from the dangerous materials involved in metal working when she had children; once she discovered felt, she knew she had found her new favorite material. In her own words: “No more gas tanks, dirty goggles, dangerous chemicals or leaky sand blasters” — all of them replaced by scissors, needles, thread and a thimble.

Although a native of Washington D.C., Danielle has lived in Tribeca, Soho, Brooklyn and Florence, Italy–immensely energetic and creative environments which clearly had an impact on her present felt creations. Her most stunning creations are her collars–each of them positively packed full of detail. While colors range from elegant grays to brilliant rainbows, the individual flowers and leaves are inevitably composed of multiple layers which give a real sense of dimension even when viewed from afar.

Danielle also creates brooches and necklaces which are slightly tamer by comparison and much more affordable. Smaller size in the case of the former and less layering in the latter accounts for this, although on their own both types of wearables have no problems catching the eyes of passersby; if you’re on a budget, these are the pieces you’ll want to own. All orders are placed by email; visit her shop here for more details!