joeyfivecents is a brand of storied jewelry and vintage style 

that features original vintage paper imagery & resin and mixed metals. every ‘joey’ design is one-of-a-kind and honors the integrity of the original materials used and reimagines them.

Susan Forker is a collector, curator & maker, but began her career as a video editor in New York and then Los Angeles after her graduation from Syracuse University. After moving to Bucks County, PA with her family in 2006, her background as a visual storyteller and interests as a vintage collector led her to create joeyfivecents, a brand of storied handmade jewelry and vintage style that repurposes antique paper and resin.

By only working with original paper imagery, Susan focuses on finding the story in each handmade piece and honors the integrity of the materials that she layers under resin. Combined with a variety of mixed metals and vintage components, she creates one-of-a-kind designs that include a range of visuals culled from quirky vintage pulp book covers to gorgeous Victorian postcards. She explores themes that celebrate the beauty of asymmetry and imperfection found in the natural world through powerful black & white imagery and whimsical vintage graphics that always invite you to look closer.

‘I work in an 1850's era barn studio on my property that provides a sense of creative curiosity. Inspiration comes from the natural beauty that changes throughout the seasons and the history that’s inherent to where I live. I consider myself a curator and source locally for much of my imagery while working closely with women owned, USA made companies for some of my custom designed bezels. I thrive on the connection in my work between past and present – creating modern jewelry from antique papers that come to life with doming resin and mixed metals honors their integrity and celebrates their unique story.’

Want to know more about my studio and process? I was honored to have been featured on etsy’s blog series ‘inspiring workspaces' - find the story here:

https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/inspiring-workspaces-joeyfivecents/38314649296

what’s in a name?

my shop name ‘joeyfivecents’ is borrowed from the 1977 film ‘annie hall’. there’s a scene involving ‘joey nichols’ and the main character as a boy. joey repeatedly reminds the boy about his last name which ends with a dramatic slapping of a nickel on his forehead proclaiming, ‘you can always remember my name, just think 'joeyfivecents’! It’s a silly and irreverent moment from that film, that always struck me as the perfect name for a business!