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Home • ArtistsArtistsSunstone Gallery Artists
• Rachel Adamiak
• Ann Allen
• Dawn Benedetto (Poppi)
• Cynthia Bloom
• BMarie
• Kim Cevora
• Christine Guanipa (Little Man Originals)
• Joan Horn
• Fred Imhoff
• Laura Jackson
• Loretta Lam
• Louise Loewenstein
• Dayan Moore/Alison Grieveson (GG2G)
• Laura Morgan
• Mary Mundy (Lunacy Designs)
• Kathleen Plate (Smart Glass)
• Kathy Setta
• Sue Sevcik
• Roberta & Talley Starbird
• Carson Stately
• Christine Tourino
• Sharon Tuke
• Victoria Varga
Rachel AdamiakJewelry
designer Rachael Adamiak, a U.S. Northeast native, recently moved to Austin,
TX from New Orleans, LA where she started her jewelry business in 2005.
Now a member of the Pump Project Art Complex, Rachael creates her line
of jewelry in this East Austin studio space, which is home to 40 local
artists. "My goal as a jeweler is to create cleanly designed, wearable jewelry. All of my pieces are hand fabricated using sterling silver sheet, wire and, tubing. I am drawn to color and texture, and incorporate them into my work by utilizing a variety of finishes, semiprecious stones, freshwater pearls, and resin inlay. My designs are unified by my attraction to both geometric and organic forms." Ann AllenAnn Allen jewelry is a collaboration of jewelry designers Ann Allen and Mary Winstead. Both artists worked in the field of social work before making the decision that creating jewelry was the medium that they wished to use to express their creative selves. Mary and Ann's designs are a result of their recognizing that there are limits that our society places on the goals and aspirations of women. They have studied the importance of the "talisman" or "amulet" in ancient societies and wish to create that same magical feeling of worth and power for the women who wear their creations, women of all ages, color and social classes. The concept of the "talisman" is that it is a charm to be worn to remind woman that she has the power to create her own luck in society. Dawn Benedetto (Poppi)Poppi is the fun and clever alter ego of Dawn Benedetto. It's a line of jewelry that doesn't take life too seriously. The glass and sterling rings are Dawn's invention and are unique in that they stretch to fit most everyone.Poppi adds a splash of color to jeans or an extra spark to ignite a little black dress; heck, it'll even brighten up a trip to the grocery store. If nothing else, it's a statement. Poppi laughs. Poppi flirts. Poppi screams. Poppi says it all without you saying a thing. We know that you will enjoy wearing your Poppi ring - it's so comfortable and you'll get tons of compliments and attention when you have it on, but the rings are not really intended to be worn everyday. Not to worry -- if something happens, Poppi will recondition and repair them for free. What do you do if you have worn your Poppi ring to death? All you have to do is send back all of the remaining parts - - you must include the silver band and enough of the beads for us to determine what color it is. Put everything in a padded envelope or small box and mail to: Poppi 105 north union street studio 226 alexandria, va 22314 Cynthia BloomCynthia's designs feature antique hand-blown, hand-cut Czech glass beads, representing the extremely limited supply which survived the destruction of the original factories and warehouses during World War I, as well as vintage Swarovski Austrian crystals and other unique objets d'art. She has been able to obtain these beads and crystals from private collections, estates, and individuals who have shared with her their lifelong passion for collecting these rare and beautiful artifacts. BMarieBetty & Fred Vance, "BMarie," are a husband and wife team who have been professional craft persons for more than 40 years. "Handcrafted designer silver jewelry is our world. Every piece is done by one or both of us. Each piece is unique. Usually one of us will start with a concept and inevitably the other will get in the middle and change things. This insane way of working allows us to come to ideas that neither of us would have had on our own. Our learning never ends. We learn every day from what we see in nature, from where our travels take us, from sticks and stones we hold in our hands, from early morning sunlight flickering through the leaves in trees behind our studio. This is where ideas are born. Our work is our entire life. We live it, we breathe it. With each piece we have one goal: to make it better than the last. Our best piece is always the next one that will have perfect balance of color, form and shape and that important mystique. Our designs and bright colors are influenced by the costumes and personal adornment we've seen in our travels around the world, as well as the stark vivid colors of the land in our own southwest.Our work is 'High Style.' Our customer is the woman with presence, panache, and pizzazz." Kim CevoraAfter studying art in various forms, Kim turned to metalsmithing as a means of expressing his artistic vision. He studied silversmithing in San Miguel and then returned to the U.S. to learn lapidary. Accomplished in all aspects of metal work, Kim works with stones from the four corners of the earth to create jewelry for the ages.Christine Guanipa (Little Man Originals)Christine Guanipa is the owner and designer of the family run business called Little Man. Named after one of her husband's cartoons, Little Man is a family company that creates uncommon originals in the form of handbags and accessories. Each piece in the Little Man Collection is a limited production that joins beauty, versatility, and practicality. Little Man handbags are designed and manufactured by hand in our Massachusetts studio, separating our products from the market of mass production. Our fabric handbags and accessories also offer a happy alternative to leather and plastic. Our family's combined efforts help to create the beauty and joy that are a part of every Little Man product. Together we endeavor to have every woman know the pleasure of owning a Little Man.Joan HornSince graduating from Tyler School of Art (BFA 1978), Joan has been enamored with metal fabrication techniques.
She creates individual elements in sterling silver and 14K gold, from flat sheet, wire and tubing. She constructs her jewelry by soldering her handmade elements together with an oxygen/acetylene torch. (Just look at the back of her pieces to see the many tiny solder joints.) Then, the pieces are enhanced with color using faceted or cabochon stones. To finish, she buffs with tripoli and rouge to bring each completed piece to a brilliant high polish. Joan’s pieces are studies in line, form and color. We hope you enjoy wearing her jewelry as much as she loves creating it! Fred ImhoffFred Imhoff designs and sculpts high quality original flameworked glass from his studio in Portland, Oregon. Clean forms and patterns with a focus on minimalism are part of the aesthetic Imhoff creates. Having began flameworking in 1998, Imhoff has since earned a glass sculpture degree from C.S.U. Chico and studied with numerous master glass artists.Laura JacksonLaura Jackson is an emerging Philadelphia artist, distinguished in fashion magazines for her eclectic collections of fine handcrafted earrings, necklaces, bracelets and wedding jewelry.Laura J. Designs feature intricate and flawless detailed work rendered with a variety of metals and a vibrant assortment of semi-precious stones. Many designs are hand-hammered and most are finished with a matte or satin type of polish for a with a unique handcrafted look. Among Laura's favorite mediums: sterling silver, copper and 14k gold laced with a diversity of stones, such as ruby, sapphire, blue topaz, citrine, peridot, garnet, amethyst, tourmaline, chalcedony, freshwater pearl and many others. Unique and stunning, Laura J. Designs offer a range of styles from delicate and refined to bold and funky or sophisticated and feminine. Laura handcrafts every piece in her Philadelphia studio. With a warm and creative energy that translates into her work, she is a designer to watch. Loretta Lam"I remember a story I heard a long time ago. It’s about an artist who is asked, 'How long did it take you to make that picture?' He replied, 'About thirty minutes and thirty years.' The story stuck with me, because I didn’t get it. Oh, I understood the answer…but I didn’t ‘get’ it. Now I do. A lifetime of experience is the inspiration for my work. Memories of youth, past adventures, emotional imprints great and small – it’s all part of the creative process."Loretta Lam calls her current work ‘primitive modern.’ It explores the most basic and universal shapes – circles, ovals, triangles. There is an inherent balance and harmony to these forms. They are natural forms for jewelry, wearable and tactile and used the world over in adornment. She believes they evoke a connection to our collective past. The modern part comes from her choice of media. Polymer clay has only recently arrived in the artist’s toolbox, but for Loretta, it is a perfect choice. The color is spectacular. She can work with any palette her heart desires. It is soft and easily modeled in its raw state and hard and durable after baking. The surface can be textured and rough or polished to a brilliant shine. It is complex and surprising and great fun to work with. She just loves it and hopes you enjoy it too. Louise LoewensteinZipBling JewelryThe inspiration for Louise Loewenstein's ZipBling line of jewelry came from a trip to South Africa and an immersion into native crafts. Many items she saw for sale began with recycled materials. She returned home and started to see everyday items in a new way and her ZipBling designs grew from this exploration. As she worked with a variety of zipper pulls, the challenge became how to configure them so that it was not obvious what they were at first glance. When people realized the necklaces were made of zippers they were surprised and amused. Bringing a little whimsy into our world was reason enough to keep creating new designs! In addition to handcrafting jewelry designs, for 30 years Louise has been a contemporary fiber artist making baskets that expand the traditional image of this ancient craft. Dayan Moore/Alison Grieveson (GG2G)Green Goods 2 Give and 2 Get (GG2G)GG2G was founded in 2004 by friends Dayan Moore and Alison Grieveson who wanted to work together to create accessories that were in keeping with their reduce, re-use, recycle philosophy. With backgrounds in art and design, Day and Alison have developed a line of one-of-a-kind bags made from recycled materials that are both funky and functional. Each ReVinylized bag is made from a former billboard and vintage or organic fabrics that have been refurbished and refangled info a stylish tote or handbag to suit the fun, sophisticated, zen, modern, eco-conscious fashionista. Laura MorganLaura Morgan is an independent jewelry designer and metalsmith based in Austin, Texas. Her love of art and design began at a young age when trips to the library would mean hours with architecture and landscape design books. She has also been a painter since first taking classes at the age of seven.Laura’s love of travel pushed her towards a career in tourism and event management. While attending North Carolina State University and studying abroad in Australia, she found herself in courses such as graphic and landscape design, and then even gemstone cutting, cabachoning, silversmithing and ceramics. She never guessed that these experiences would all come together in the form of a new career just a few years later. Laura’s varied art, design and fine craft influences are apparent in the characteristic sculptural details, hand-wrought textures and unique composition of Laura Morgan Designs jewelry. Her designs are further inspired by both an appreciation of nature and her affinity for travel. These elements translate into organic shapes and a globally-inspired color pallet. Laura continues to be inspired by the sense of movement, the spirit of a favorite place or the pure emotion that can be captured through the careful and creative use of metal and stone. No matter where travels take her or what inspiration is found next, Laura continues to design beautifully classic and collectible Laura Morgan Designs jewelry through which she shares both a story and a passion with the wearer. Mary Mundy (Lunacy Designs)Lunacy DesignsIn 1989, Mary Mundy setup shop in Texas and begun work on metal pieces that incorporated her experiences of jewelry design and her memory of all the wonderful items she beheld in her travels, including purses and boxes of old. Her design and production methods yield pieces that hold the beauty, complexity and inspiration she found in them. All Lunacy Designs pieces are made from German Silver with bronze and/or copper accents (unless noted). Each purse is individually handcrafted using ancient methods, starting as flat sheet of metal, and using wooden blocks, fashioned by Mary into various shapes. After the shape is formed, the designs are soldered on. Every purse is felt-lined and coated with high quality clear acrylic. No polishing is needed for the life of the pieces (this is guaranteed by Lunacy Designs); just wipe with a dry cloth. Kathleen Plate (Smart Glass)"Smart Glass" Recycled Jewelry
Growing up in Washington State, Kathleen Plate began learning about stained glass when she was a young girl. She observed the art of cutting and soldering the glass by her "70's craftsy mom" and brings those early skills to her designs today. Her hobby led her to start creating pieces in her spare time, which she sold to local stores in the mid 1990's. The jewelry sold so well that Kathleen decided to put her graduate work in American Literature on hold and take the leap into launching her handcrafted jewelry and accessories nationally. All Smart Glass pieces are designed with simplicity in mind - offering classic and contemporary designs and marry modern form and versatile function. Women of all ages and cultures enjoy the beautiful jewelry. And, more and more homes feature artistic and colorful Smart Glass decorative accessories. Using a combination of vibrantly colored stained glass, silver solder and sterling silver, Kathleen makes every single piece by hand. So, while Smart Glass styles are simple and easy-to-wear and use, each piece is also a unique piece of handcrafted art. Kathleen designs all Smart Glass items and either makes or directly supervises the assembly of each piece, assuring optimal product quality. Coca-Cola Licensed Products: Drink it. Wear it. Reusing everyday items is a smart way to look good. Each piece using a Coca Cola bottle features repurposed glass, sterling silver and solder and is handmade in the Atlanta, GA studio of Kathleen Plate. Kathleen believes in living a simple life, while placing meaning on certain fundamentals. Among these are honoring the earth, the human spirit and its diverse nature. These beliefs are inherent in Smart Glass designs, some of which use recycled material while portions of the proceeds from others will go to support many of Kathleen's favorite non-profit organizations. Kathy SettaRural childhood, urban schooling, rural residence, urban career. Kathy Setta's jewelry design draws itself from the mix and balance of nature and metro. After growing up in a rural part of Westchester County, NY, Kathy studied Interior Design at both Marymount College, just outside of New York City, and Texas Christian University, where she graduated cum laude. Before forming Details Interior Design, which focused on upscale homes, Kathy held the position of Senior Project Designer at an Austin area interior design firm for more than six years, specializing in high-end residential design. Previous to that, she spent an additional seven years as designer in the Dallas area for residential, commercial and hospitality projects.
Once Kathy was completely ensconced in her own interior design company, she was able to think with clear creative freedom, a luxury not often accessible when working for others. It was at this point that she began designing jewelry and exploring the medium for an additional creative outlet, not to mention mental respite!
As Kathy started wearing her creations, strangers approached her to inquire about the pieces, wanting to purchase one just like it, or right off her neck, if possible! Kathy took the hint and started designing jewelry as a career, giving the Interior Design business a much welcome rest. Sue SevcikSue's career as financial planner at a large corporation kept her artist talent buried for many years. She had long been an admirer of art, especially glass art, as a consumer, but not as a creator. Only after being "downsized" did Sue learn to build with her hands, as well as her mind. She found the excitement of kiln-worked glass and found her art.
The glass process in Sue's jewelry is called kiln work or fused glass. It is the process of layering different colors and types of glass and firing them in a kiln. This process is repeated until the desired effect is achieved. Most of Sue's work incorporates dichroic glass. This is a type of glass which has a metallic coating in it. The process of coating the glass is done in a vacuum chamber and different colors are achieved using different types of metal.
In some of her pieces, Sue also incorporates pulled cane or latticino (a swirl or spiral pattern of many white or colored threads of glass), which are made using a torch. In torchwork, pieces are manipulated in an open torch to achieve the spiral look. She pulls the pieces in the torch and then uses those twisted pieces as one of the layers of glass that then goes into the kiln.
After each piece meet Sue's creative design, she finishes it with a bails or earring finding to create a one-of-a-kind earring, pendant, bracelet, watch, necklace or ring. The process of melting glass and influencing its fluidity gives release to Sue's creative spirit. She continues to grow, recently learning silversmithing to enhance her hot glass techniques. Roberta & Talley StarbirdStarbird Jewelry Design is a mother-daughter team (or, depending on who you talk to, a daughter-mother team) who design and create jewelry that ranges from whimsical to elegant. We like all kinds of jewelry — for themselves and others.They believe that with playful, elegant jewelry, you can’t help smiling when you put it on, and the people you meet will be smiling, too. When you wear a beautiful piece of jewelry, it is as if receiving a sincere compliment: it makes you feel better about yourself, which shows up in your smile and outlook. Carson StatelyCarson Stately is a formally trained jewelry designer, currently living in the metro Detroit area. He spent two years as an apprentice for award-winning designer Michael S. Wigler.Under Mr. Wigler's guidance, Carson developed numerous jewelry manufacturing skills which included metal fabrication and wax carving. He was immediately enamored with the art of wax carving, as he found it allowed him the freedom to release his creative energy and achieve instant results. After his apprenticeship with Mr. Wigler, Carson launched a freelance jewelry design business. He worked with retail jewelry stores, selling his hand-carved wax models and color renderings. It was in the development of his design business that Carson realized he had a very keen eye for intricate details and inexhaustible creativity. He determined that the next logical step should be to create his own line of jewelry using all of the skills and artistic instincts he had developed. Carson sincerely hopes you enjoy wearing his jewelry as much as he enjoys making these delicately designed, yet well-constructed pieces. Carson Stately Jewels is an environmentally conscious company. It is important to him to respect and protect the earth, so that future generations will inherent a cleaner planet. All of his jewelry is made from reclaimed metals and responsibly sourced semi-precious gemstones. Christine TourinoChristine Tourino, founder of Passion for Pearls, has had a love for jewelry her entire life. She has been actively collecting fine vintage jewelry for more than two decades. Her love and appreciation of beautifully designed, well-crafted jewelry led her to start, her own jewelry design business, and in 1999 "Passion for Pearls and More" was born.
Armed with a passion for jewelry and head full of her own designs she set out to create a line of wearable art. Since then Christine has been honing her craft and developing her own unique style of mixed medium beaded jewelry. Not satisfied to produce a single style of jewelry, Christine is always experimenting with new design concepts and combinations of color, texture and techniques, creating an ever-broadening pallet of styles.
It's Christine's attention to detail and practicality that sets her designs apart from other beaded jewelry. Every one of Christine's creations is a one-of-a-kind work of art. She strives to use only the very best materials available, believing that her pieces must not only be beautiful but durable as well. She personally hand picks all of the components used in her pieces, ensuring they have the right feel and look for her unique eye. Dealing with traders and importers from around the world, she's able to mix and match semi-precious stone, glass and silver beads from such places as Turkey, India, China and the U.S. to give her pieces a truly international flair.
A slave to her art, she only makes pieces that speak to her, never accepting requests for "custom" designs or commissioned work. Christine's love of her craft and her ability to bring her vision to life has brought her great joy and happiness. She genuinely hopes her jewelry brings as much joy to their owners as they brought to her creating them. Sharon TukeSharon Tuke is inspired by architecture, bridges, industrial design, constructivist art, and found objects (especially smashed rusty stuff!). In her art, she emulates the nature of construction when cutting, bolting, and bending gold and silver into modern forms. Sharon builds an artifact of a moment through my work, like a dog that howls when hearing a fire engine's siren. I have a conversation with my environment - she sees it as a journal of my passage through time and of the many places I have visited. Though she works alone as an artist, she constantly collaborates with customers and fellow artists. Sharon enjoys the personal contact provided at trade shows and craft fairs balanced with the solitude of crafting the work in her sun-filled Boulder studio. Victoria VargaVictoria Varga received her BS in Fine Arts from Skidmore College in
1984. After completing her graduate studies in metals at Syracuse
University she moved to New York City with her husband, Daniel Brouder,
where the couple co-founded the studio that bears her name. After
fourteen years in Manhattan, Daniel and Victoria relocated their studio
to the coast of Maine where they continue to hand fabricate jewelry of
Victoria’s design. From her early years in New York, Victoria has crafted jewelry that combines precious metals with a variety of materials that are often discounted as ordinary. Victoria has perfected a process of combining sterling silver, 23 karat gold leaf, resin, crushed stone and common artist pigments to create her signature line of jewelry. Instantly recognized for its timeless good looks, Varga jewelry delights both men and women with its innovative combination of unexpected materials and whimsical design. Victoria Varga handcrafts jewelry that reflects, in its clean design and bold graphics, the very best tenants of fine art while redefining the modern spirit. |
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