What I Do: Designing jewelry with customer in mind

Nov. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- I custom-design jewelry using precious metals such as gold, platinum, titanium and silver to create unique pendants, rings, bracelets and earrings. To enhance my designs, I custom cut gemstones. Opals are my favorite to use because there are so many different kinds to work with and they each have their own personality. I also enjoy using tsavorite garnets, which are a beautiful green. All of the jewelry is crafted on site and is one of a kind.

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The Jewelers Workshop opened in 1970 and is owned by Richard Armstrong. Customers are very much part of the design process for custom jewelry. Sometimes a young man will come in and say “I need a ring,” not knowing how to shop for an engagement ring. I ask questions such as “What brought the two of you together?” and “What is she like?” to help me get to know the person who will be wearing the jewelry. As the customer responds to my questions, I have a sketch pad in front of me drawing out some ideas. I never design the same thing twice.
From a very young age, I picked up a pencil and began to draw. I took a jewelry course at UW-Platteville and made pieces for myself and to give as gifts. I graduated with a bachelor of arts degree and decided that I wanted to custom-design jewelry. For 10 years, I searched for a jewelry apprenticeship.
During this time, I was involved in a head-on car accident and spent two years in intense pain with soft tissue damage in my knees. A family friend suggested that I attend vocational rehabilitation, so I entered the Howard Academy for Metal Arts in Stoughton to learn how to make jewelry. I figured I could sit through the pain while doing something I loved.
Academy owner Bill Howard is an old-world craftsman and my mentor. I was his first student. Through the academy, I learned how to use jewelry-making tools. I learned how to use a torch, hold a loupe in my eye and how to forge metal. I felt like I was given wings because this was what I had wanted to do for so long.
I’ve won many regional and international awards for my designs. My sons, Valdemar, 8, and Sydney, 5, have each designed and made jewelry, so they are starting off early on the custom-design path.