Modern with a Victorian flair; edgy yet minimalist is how an artisan describes her jewelry collection.

Dubbed Victoria’s Creations, Calabasas Patch chanced upon the dazzling array of one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry pieces last Saturday.

Victoria Duque, a La Canada-based jewelry-maker has been creating these little gems full-time for the last 12 years.

“I have always been drawn to accessories for as long as I can remember,” said Duque, who was born and raised in the Philippines.

Duque’s mom was a dean at one of Manila’s top universities. She recalls being “commissioned” to work on accessories for cultural shows and other school events.

Formal instruction in jewelry making did not commence until her move to the U.S. in the 1990s.

“I signed up for everything and anything jewelry-related from glass-making to soldering,” she said, describing her eagerness in soaking up everything about the craft she has come to love.

Her unusual pieces are made from 14K gold, sterling silver, pearls and combinations of semi-precious stones. Meticulously handcrafted, her creations have made it to the inside pages of InStyle magazine several times.

Duque has a fondness for antique pieces including old watches that she can fashion into pendants, charms and other useful pieces.

Her sentimental eye leads her to estate sales or sometimes they just find their way into her skillful hands.

“I have a client who literally had a treasure trove of old pieces including rosaries, watches and other religious medallions,” she said. “I was just so happy to make something out of them instead of letting them sit in her jewelry box.”

Duque doesn’t just repurpose the antique pieces but also adds a new touch to them, like putting a semi-precious stone here and there or changing the chain or clasp.

When not preserving vintage pieces, Duque is a regular at farmers markets, gem shows, bazaars, street fairs and festivals like the Ojai Valley Lavender Festival, which give her jewelry some much-needed exposure.

“I have a lot of regulars that I met through these events who continue to order from me to this day,” said Duque of her continuously expanding clientele.

She also generates a significant amount of revenue from her website and from Facebook, from clients who are drawn to the attractive price points from $25 up.

What’s next for this jewelry maker? “I’m starting to design hand bags using vintage fabric of course,” Duque said of her latest creative foray.

“The quality of vintage fabric is excellent, with that leathery feel and old look,” she said.

While Duque’s newest undertaking is still in its infancy, she hopes to start selling the bags alongside her jewelry. Start looking for these vintage beauties in the springtime.

The Calabasas Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at 23504 Calabasas Road, across the street from the Sagebrush Cantina.