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Nan creates her own designs using only precious and semi-precious stones and metals. All items are limited production and are either fabricated or cast using the "lost wax" method. She sometimes uses commercially available ear wires or other findings and these will be noted in her product descriptions. She personally fabricates each piece, carves her own wax models, and hand finishes each casting. All work is done in the United States.
"It's never too late to be what you might have been." ~~~ George Eliot
"I love that quote", says Nan, "it gives me a great feeling of possibility."
"When I was little I used to love to look through my mother's and
grandmother's jewelry boxes. I loved the beautiful colors, the shapes, and the
feel of the "jewels." But that love was long forgotten by the time I went to
college - - and the need to "be practical" and get a job led me to pursue a
degree in Business Administration and an administrative career."
Over the years, Nan has explored several creative outlets including
mechanical drawing, rug hooking, stained glass crafting and painting. But since
re-discovering her love of "jewels", Nan has decided to pursue jewelry-making
full time.
"I inherited my mother's beading supplies (she had taken up beading in her
later years as a hobby) and took a class so I could learn what to do with them.
I was hooked from there!"
Nan studied jewelry making techniques intensively at Studio Jewelers, Ltd.
in New York City and graduated in 2004. Her training there included metal
fabrication, stone setting, wax modeling, and pearl/bead stringing techniques.
"I want to create jewelry that has intrinsic value by using only precious and
semi-precious materials and I strive to create designs that are different from
what is commonly out there in the jewelry stores. People ask me what influences
inspire my designs and I have to say, I'm really not sure yet. I never went to
art school so I don't know how to "sound like an artist." I like traditional
and "old fashioned" styles but I'm also drawn to simple, clean shapes. I'm
still exploring and discovering my own style. If I like a piece and think, "I
would wear this," then I offer it to my customers. I particularly love the lost
wax casting method of making jewelry. Like a sculptor, you carve a design out
of a piece of wax. Once it is cast it becomes a beautiful, solid, lasting,
precious creation. It's like magic!"
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