about my jewelry

I started making jewelry in 1980. My first attempt was with clay which I formed into beads, burned in a kiln and then painted with bright colors and fun patterns. The end result became necklaces.

Thereafter I started working with lots of different types of materials. I took a silversmiths class. I had lots of fun working with plastic clay. I experimented with just about everything from precious stones to plastic rods. Then I got my hands on a book that would change my life......

It was a hobby book from the 70's that explained the many possibilities of casting jewelry with polyester resin. I borrowed it from the Brooklyn Library. I was completely overwhelmed with the pictures of the brightly colored rings made of plastic.

With 12 years to experiment my work has gone through many radical changes and along with the casting techniques I used I eventually developed my own style. The material I use is polyester.The designs are hand painted. Most of the designs are my own but I also use traditional geometric designs and get a lot of inspiration from folk-art around the world. I also cast objects into my rings, from pretty sea shells to dead insects. (which have all died of natural causes)

After the plastic hardens there is still a lot of work left to do. The plastic bits must first be sanded ,then polished several times to give them the almost glass appearance. The actual ring pieces are cut out of sheets of acrylic commonly known as "Plexiglas". Then all of these must be sanded, polished warmed up and then bent to different sizes forming the actual piece that goes over the finger. Since a few years ago I've been making jewelry on a full time basis. I don't have any employees so it can get rather lonely but,
I discovered cassette books at the library which keep me company instead.