Alex Design
Lawrence, KS
2023 Booth #48
One-of-a-kind enamel cloisonné jewelry handcrafted with 24k gold wire and enamels, fired at 1500°F, Setting is 14K, original in design, Hand fabrication.
Alex Design
Lawrence, KS
2023 Booth #48
One-of-a-kind enamel cloisonné jewelry handcrafted with 24k gold wire and enamels, fired at 1500°F, Setting is 14K, original in design, Hand fabrication.
As a silversmith, I design and hand sculpt simple, clean sleek lines of jewelry that are wearable art.
I primarily work with sterling silver employing texture and color for effect.
For balance, pieces may be accented with gold, brass, copper, glass, and/or stones.
I cut and polish most of our stones with the intent of keeping the natural shape. When a stone is used, the design is created around the stone; not the the stone having to fit into a setting. It’s important that the stones and metal work in harmony.
Every part of the jewelry piece is planned visually to create something that may appear simple but is beautiful and engages the wearer’s intrigue.
The elements are chosen based on the visual effect they will have within the overall composition of the piece.
I hope that the client will enjoy their piece of jewelry as much as I do in designing and fabricating it.
Sterling silver and stone fabricated jewelry. Textured, wrapped, soldered. stones set, and polished.
All of my work is fabricated by hand using sterling silver sheet, wire, and natural stones. All of the plant and animal forms I create are textured using a burr in my flexshaft to sketch the details into the silver, and often have multiple layers of silver to add dimension. I also use some Precious Metal Clay and mixed metals in my designs.
Northern Lights Studio
Faribault, MN
2023 Booth #97
Forging precious metals with textures from my handmade tools that surround unique and rare gemstones from around the world.
Each piece individually created using an acetylene torch for one of a kind designs. Techniques include drawn metal, forging, hydraulic press, Shibuishi, rolling mill texturing with handmade stone settings done in Sterling and Gold.
RedHawk Beadwork is created using glass seed beads, semi-precious and precious gemstones, freshwater pearls, art glass, precious metals , wood beads and found objects such as rocks or small pieces of driftwood. Most work is woven using a single needle and thread, but I also crochet and knit with beads, weave on specialized beading looms, and create using micro-macramé techniques and waxed linen or nylon cord. Colors are influenced largely by the natural world; shapes are influenced by many textile traditions including Aztec, Japanese and my own Celtic traditions. Characteristic of my work is the use of tiny, antique seed beads, that were made by hand in 19th century Italy, to create intense surface detail and interest.
Minneapolis, MN
https://www.debreutterjewelry.com/
2023 Booth #35
Primarily, I use Japanese glass beads that I loom and/or hand stitch to create each piece. As much as possible, I make the metal components of my work using metalsmithing techniques.
JotMardoKingJewelry
Minneapolis MN
2022 Booth #52
My designs are fabricated by me using semi-precious stones combined with gold, sterling silver and/or copper. Techniques include forging, soldering, doming, bending and etching. Each piece is either high polished or matte finished. Water is an important influence on my one of a kind gems.
Starting from sheets and balls of glass, I hand cut and shape the glass. I then layer it in different color combinations and styles, which are then fused in a kiln. Once they come out of the kiln, they are ready to either be coldworked and fused again or to be made into jewelry.
Taking copper or sterling silver wire of various gauges, I weave, wrap, and hammer the wire to create the jewelry, forming the wire around the glass cabochons. These pieces are then put in a liver of sulfur solution to add patina. They are then polished to create highlights and low-lights, bringing out the intricacy of the wirework.
Kiln-formed Glass Jewelry: Colorful glass layers are kiln-fired, cold-worked and fire-polished, then set in custom designed silver settings or wire-wrapped to create necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Jewelry pieces are designed to combine kiln-formed glass techniques with metal clay processes and traditional silversmithing.
2023 Booth #91
I use centrifugal casting machine to cast rings earrings and pendants in 14K whitel gold, 14K yellow gold and sterling silver as well as several doublecast using both white and yellow making each piece an original. Many different special cut stones set into these pieces.
Iron MN
2021 Booth #55
Hand formed from sterling silver and 14K gold wire and sheet, I use new and traditional smithing techniques to make heirloom quality fine jewelry. A micro pulse arc welder allows me to go to tiny extremes. All chain is completely hand formed from precious metal wire.
Narrative jewelry that is made by combining recycled & fabricated objects, horology & storytelling
To create my pieces, I utilize many jewelry bench techniques including: soldering, sawing, piercing, filing, sanding, engraving, etching, lost wax casting, riveting, various cold connections, chain-making, several types of patinas & hand-finishing techniques in my creative process. I also utilize my knowledge of horology and watch restoration to re-work antique pocket watches into working pieces of wearable art.
By combining vintage repurposed items & pieces crafted from my imagination, I create themed jewelry with character, depth & playfulness.
Brooklyn NY
2022 Booth #88
I love making jewelry. I feel privileged to take part in the universal humanity of adornment, the long history of wearing some small portable artwork - maybe with magical properties or maybe it just makes you feel good or beautiful or strong or loved. In this world where so much is made not to endure, I strive to make jewelry that will last through generations. To do this I use silver, copper and gold metal to build with, and wire, that I weave and stitch. I rely on the historical techniques of a metalsmith: sawing, soldering, casting, forming, filing. Using kiln fired enamels for colors as deep and rich as the hues of birds, sea life and botanicals where I often find my palette. I’m also inspired by textiles, buttons and fond of geometric patterns.
I've had the pleasure of exhibiting at art festivals across the country since 1990....it's been one big adventure filled with memorable experiences and even more memorable people....after 6 years studying Architecture and Structural Engineering at the University of Minnesota, I took a detour and began designing jewelry....it's been great!
Hand fabrication using high karat gold and sterling silver...cutting, forming, and connecting precious metals then applying different finishes and patinas, all work conceived and completed by me alone.
I mostly rely on these materials....5 kinds of gold and 2 types of silver..... 3 patinas, myriad textures, and any stone I find interesting....assymetry and irregular shapes such as those found in the natural world are design elements I'm attracted to.
Dripping Springs TX
https://www.Baileysartjewelry.com
2022 Booth #104
We use silver, gold, copper, enamel and stone to hand fabricate contemporary jewelry while still working in a traditional form.
St Louis Park, MN
2023 Booth #95
Hand Woven, free from design bead weaving; I create various tapestry forms by weaving seed beads. I use meaningful stones, metal, fiber, found & handmade objects in my wearable jewelry art designs.
Key West FL
2021 Booth #
Traditional metal-smithing methods such as hand sawing, drilling, soldering, cold-forging, and riveting are used on sterling silver, copper, and brass to fabricate elegant botanical-themed jewelry. Most pieces are matte-brushed to produce a satin finish that elucidates form, while others are oxidized to offer contrast to the metal's natural hues. Organically shaped seaglass in rare colours, high lustre baroque pearls, and vintage finds are often used as accents.
I am inspired by industrial and social culture materials but driven by my love affair with color. My material choices have unique graphic and color qualities in which exploring and forming them are the heart of my studio practice. All of my material choices have inherent beauty and strength beyond their functioning identity. Pushing boundaries of color and pattern with the existing worn, street patinas of the broken, recycled skateboards that I use paired with handmade sterling silver designs, creates playful but powerful jewelry. These dual factors are the reasons why the jewelry resonates memory, time, and place to anyone who encounters it. Harnessing every day with a unique sense of self is what my work strives to aide. My focus is to create fine hand crafted jewelry that empowers individuality and brings a refreshing point of view to contemporary jewelry. This is my idea of what everyday jewelry should be.