Inspiration comes to those who seek it.
IN THE BEGINNING
Long before the rise of Antique malls and online stores, most Antique shops were single owner stores. Having had the opportunity as a child and young adult to visit single owner Antique stores allowed me to ask a lot of questions about pieces that interested me directly with the owner of those stores
Jewelry as a career and life long passion started with what seemed like a predetermined destiny.
As a teenager in the early 1970's, a family member worked with a large security company that specialized in the transport of important gems and jewelry. On numerous occasions I would go to his office in New York City where I was privileged to see world-class jewelry up close.
About the same time I met an incredibly talented Silversmith/Artist that offered to teach me the basics of Custom jewelry making and design. At this point I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.
As luck would have it, while looking for a job in 1973 I found a jewelry store that was looking for Christmas help. I applied for the job and was hired. When the Christmas rush was over I was offered a permanent job along with the offer to take my Gemology courses from The Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This was an amazing experience but for the next five years I was doing appraisal work and sales, not Custom jewelry design or Antique jewelry.
A TIME FOR CHANGE
In 1978 I decided it was time to move on and at the same time get back to what I loved, creating jewelry and dealing with antique and vintage items. I opened my first store that year in the town I grew up in. In addition to creating Custom and Handmade jewelry I began to take in trade collectible coins and vintage jewelry. Antique Jewelry fueled my interest in the History of Jewelry Design and Creation. From these exciting jewels of the 1800's to the early 1900's I learned how jewelers worked using some tools similar to what we use today as well as tools that are quite primitive by today's standards. It was fascinating to think of the people that once owned these family treasures and how these tiny works of art brought them joy and happiness as well as marking milestones in their lives.
THE RESTLESS ARTIST
In 1981 a very good client offered to buy my store. Without hesitation I agreed and moved to Texas. I opened a store and stayed very busy doing custom design work as well as expanding my market in coins, bullion and vintage jewelry. While in Texas I took numerous jewelry workshops held by Swest Inc. Learning new skills and techniques such as wax carving and lost wax casting.
A PLACE FOR INSPIRATION
As the oil economy of Texas started to falter I knew it was time to move on. In 1988 I moved to Colorado.
It is easy to have inspiration when you live in a place as beautiful as Colorado.
As soon as I moved to Colorado I opened a new store where I created my own jewelry designs and continued to expand on my bullion, coin and vintage jewelry business.
I had always enjoyed the creative process and I stayed very busy as a custom jeweler but it was my coins and vintage jewelry that continued to fuel my interest.
During the 1990's when the internet began offering the possibility for someone to reach out to people across the country and world I decided it was time to make a change in the way I was running my business so I opened my first online store during this time.
After a series of experiments and website incarnations I decided in the year 2000 to go strictly online selling and in 2012 I added my Etsy shop.
It has been a truly amazing career and I am blessed to have been able to do what I love.
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