While the wearing of jewelry may be considered the finishing touch, it often makes a fashion statement itself. To this end, as a jewelry designer, my approach is founded in the idea that each piece should be unique, one-of-a-kind utilizing interesting, colorful components found around the world. Thus,
“Classy Designs for Classy Ladies”.
The components may include lampwork beads made by individual artists who use the finest quality glass to express their creativity in the finished bead. Also, jewelry designs may include semi-precious gemstones uniquely cut and polished, as well as a broad selection of accenting components.
Lampwork Beads
Glass as a media for artists dates back thousands of years. In the 19th century, a whole industry of glass beading evolved on the island of Murano, the birthplace of Venetian beads. With technological improvements in
, artists in modern times are able to have safe, small studios in their homes and the Internet has provided broad, global, commercial exposure.
Lampworking initially involved the application of molten glass using a small oil lamp, thus the name lampwork. Modern technology centers on the use of single or dual torches that are very controllable giving_thumgnail.jpg)
the artist more flexibility in their creativity. Lampworking can be done with many types of glass, and different colors of glass must be compatible with each other, both chemically and at various levels of heat.
Lampworking is a skill that takes a great deal of practice and patience. A lampwork bead artist understands the glass and the torch, and must learn how much heat it takes for glass to flow. As an artist masters the skills of lampworking, they also are developing their unique artistic ability and expression. This website features a different lampwork bead artists and how their unique beads have been utilized by me to create “Classy Designs for Classy Ladies”.
Semi-Precious Gemstones
A gemstone or gem, also called a precious or semi-precious stone, is a piece of attractive mineral or organic
material, which has intrigued mankind for thousands of years. While this intrigue has broad implications, gems or gemstones, when cut and polished is used to make jewelry. Gems or gemstones are worn not so much to demonstrate wealth but the artistic pleasure, in appreciation of their beauty. In using gemstones, I use them either as the main focus of the piece of jewelry or as accents to lampwork beads created by my favorite international artists. These gemstones, which come from mines around the world, are integrated into individual pieces or art work to be worn and enjoyed. They include a broad spectrum of gemstones, i.e. tiger-eye, onyx, lapis, coral, quartz, turquoise, sunstone, jasper, agate, citrine, etc.
