I live amidst the beautiful wooded environment of the foothills of
the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California. My jewelry
designs reflect the small wonders that I encounter in my daily life.
As a professional wood sculptor in the past, I like dimension in my
work. I do a little bit of wax work, but I prefer working directly
with the metal. All of the shapes in my current work are formed
through chasing and repousee’. I use shakudo and gold together for
their wonderful contrasting qualities, and I cut most of my own
stones. Details are important to me, so I strive for excellence in
my craftmanship and I design the back sides of my pieces to be as
beautiful as the fronts. Often I set stones in hidden places,
create original clasps, and make each chain individually.
Hello Karen: I just wanted to say that I think your necklaces are
very pretty. I alway like looking at the new gallery pictures to see
what people are doing. You are very gifted. Michael R. Mathews Sr.
Victoria,Texas USA
I live amidst the beautiful wooded environment of the foothills of
the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California. My jewelry
designs reflect the small wonders that I encounter in my daily life.
As a professional wood sculptor in the past, I like dimension in my
work. I do a little bit of wax work, but I prefer working directly
with the metal. All of the shapes in my current work are formed
through chasing and repousee’. I use shakudo and gold together for
their wonderful contrasting qualities, and I cut most of my own
stones. Details are important to me, so I strive for excellence in my
craftmanship and I design the back sides of my pieces to be as
beautiful as the fronts. Often I set stones in hidden places, create
original clasps, and make each chain individually.
“Vitti Belle”
This pendant measures 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" and is suspended from a
24" handmade double chain. It is fabricated from 18K gold, 22 K
gold, and shakudo (an ancient Japanese copper/gold alloy). The
gold leaves and vines are formed through the techniques of
chasing and repousse, which creates three dimensions with the
use of punches, files, and other tools. The central stone on
the front is a 10 mm. round emerald weighing 3.87 cts. The
small upper stone is a 4.9 mm. Cat's eye chrysoberyl, and the
pearl is a 2.7 ct. American natural freshwater pearl. On the
back side, the design is carved into the metal with files and
punches to create a low relief dimensional design. Some of the
gold vines and leaves from the front side wrap around to the
back to form the loops that the chain hangs from. The central
stone on the back is a 1.24 ct. Lightning Ridge black opal, and
the upper stone is a 5 mm. round rose cut diamond weighing .25
cts.
The double chain is entirely hand fabricated and terminates in
a fabricated double ivy leaf clasp that echoes the front side
of the piece.
The necklace comes in an individually made silk lined box,
form-fit to cradle the necklace within it.
“Les Tres Baigneurs”
This pendant is fabricated from 18K gold, 22 K gold, and
shakudo(an ancient Japanese copper/gold alloy). It measures The
gold leaves, flowers and sculptural elements are formed through
the techniques of chasing and repousse, which creates three
dimensions with the use of punches, files, and other tools. The
central "stone" is actually a beautiful piece of sculpted
Lalique glass depicting three seated nude bathers. The upper
stone is a mm. Round Lightning Ridge black opal weighing cts.
The pearls are American natural fresh water pearls from the
Mississippi River.
The back side has been pierced and dimensionally formed with
chasing and repousse techniques. Some of the gold vines from
the front side wrap around and through the back side to create
the loops that the chain is attached to.
The 18" chain is a twisted curb hand fabricated chain that is
doubled at the pendant and becomes a single chain at a small
pearl. The clasp is fabricated in a double leaf form that echos
the elegant leaves on the front of the pendant. A small pearl
is suspended from the clasp on a chain segment to caress and
enhance the back of the neck when worn.
It comes in an individually made silk lined box, form -fit to
cradle the necklace within it.
What a joy to see Karen’s exquisite work added to the Orchid
Gallery!
After a reference to her work here on Orchid some time back, I
visited her website and can only say that my appreciation for her
work continues to increase.
I was delighted to see Lapidary Journal feature her in the current
issue.