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Mercer Island residents at Carin's popup shop

Featured Article

From Lawyer to Jewelry Designer

Carin Parcel's Inspiring Career Change

Carin Parcel, founder of Parcel Susann Designs, took an unconventional path to becoming a jewelry designer. Originally from Omaha, Carin practiced law in Chicago. During this time, she became fascinated with gemology and enrolled in a distance learning program at the Gemological Institute of America. 

Carin's passion for gemology led her to leave her legal career to pursue working in the jewelry industry. She connected with a Chicago jeweler and embarked on her new adventure in jewelry design. In 2009, Carin moved with her family to the Pacific Northwest where she continued gaining hands-on experience in the field. Carin now resides on Mercer Island with her husband, Andrew, three kids (Sydney, Liam & Dylan) and their Bernedoodle, Guster.

After years honing her skills, Carin launched her own line - Parcel Susann Designs. The name cleverly combines her married name with her middle name, pronounced like "Suzanne."

Carin's business is mainly online, at carinsusann.com, although you can see her occasionally at a popup shop in the area. The pictures shown her are from a recent popup at Bellevue Club's Eclipse Boutique.

Carin's designs aim to complement the wearer's dynamic moods and changing personal style. Carin eschews the "straight and narrow" in favor of fluid, curved forms with unexpected textures. She sees jewelry as a way to honor the complexities of life and bring out people's unique attributes.

With her background and passion, Carin is poised to make her mark on the jewelry world. Her inspiring career change shows that it's never too late to follow your dreams. Keep an eye out for Carin's one-of-a-kind pieces that are sure to bring a smile to your face.

  • Carin Parcel at Eclipse Boutique Popup
  • Bellevue Club members and staff shopping at Carin's popup shop
  • Styling Angie Taylor, owner of Efeste Wines

Businesses featured in this article