About Colleen Toland
Colleen Toland has had a long and varied career as a fashion designer. She is New Zealand born and immigrated to California with her husband, Paul and their four children in 1979. During the eighties, she designed and produced a successful collection of designer knitwear. Many of these fabulous artwear pieces were collected and treasured by their owners. Every now and then her pieces show up on eBay.
With a wealth of beads and trims from her sweater embroidery work, Colleen first created beaded belts for her sweater outfits. Customers pleaded for earrings and necklaces to match. When the knitwear look faded in the late eighties, Colleen had a mature and established collection of fashion jewelry in place. Her earlier pieces can be identified by the use of thread. Later pieces after 1992 are constructed with wire.
Colleen currently exhibits in major and regional shows in the USA and at The Bijorhca in Paris. Her work can be found in leading boutiques in the USA, most European and some South American countries, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Colleen's studio is in the Wine Country, in Northern California.
Colleen has three daughters, Karen (Paul), Karla (Bruk) and Lisa Toland. They follow their mother’s tradition of creating beautiful art. Each daughter expresses herself in a different form.
Karen Paul is an illustrator and is known for exquisite watercolors.
Karla Bruk works in glass creating her unique lamps and jewelry.
The designer Lisa Toland is Colleen’s third daughter and is known for her lace wire accessories.
Her only son Paul A. Toland is an attorney and her husband Paul says,” I just do as I’m told”.
With a wealth of beads and trims from her sweater embroidery work, Colleen first created beaded belts for her sweater outfits. Customers pleaded for earrings and necklaces to match. When the knitwear look faded in the late eighties, Colleen had a mature and established collection of fashion jewelry in place. Her earlier pieces can be identified by the use of thread. Later pieces after 1992 are constructed with wire.
Colleen currently exhibits in major and regional shows in the USA and at The Bijorhca in Paris. Her work can be found in leading boutiques in the USA, most European and some South American countries, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Colleen's studio is in the Wine Country, in Northern California.
Colleen has three daughters, Karen (Paul), Karla (Bruk) and Lisa Toland. They follow their mother’s tradition of creating beautiful art. Each daughter expresses herself in a different form.
Karen Paul is an illustrator and is known for exquisite watercolors.
Karla Bruk works in glass creating her unique lamps and jewelry.
The designer Lisa Toland is Colleen’s third daughter and is known for her lace wire accessories.
Her only son Paul A. Toland is an attorney and her husband Paul says,” I just do as I’m told”.