2024 Jewelry
Jen Lawler | Des Moines
Jen Lawler Designs
FB: Jenlawlerdesigns
IG: Jenlawlerdesigns
|
|
Jen hand carves and casts using a lost wax casting or hand fabricates each one of her jewelry designs. Jen strives to create modern, unique designs that are easily and wanting to wear every day. Jen is inspired by the gemstones she uses, the architectural shapes all around, as well as the textures found. Jen uses Sterling Silver, Gold, Natural Gemstones and Pearls. Jen also creates all kinds of unique custom work with her clients.
Modern clean hand built jewelry made from Sterling Silver, Yellow and White Gold raw metals along with natural Gemstones and Pearls. Traditional metalsmithing techniques and tools are used such as jewelers bench saw, torch, files, pliers and various polishing tools. |
Sara Letsch | Boone
Nymph in the Woods
FB: nymphwoodsjewelry
IG: nymphinthewood
|
|
I create wearable art that helps people show off their true styles. I've been creating jewelry for the past 8 years, learning and improving on my abilities with both wire wrapping and fused glass! I believe that jewelry can help you to feel more confident and beautiful when it really speaks to you, and I strive to create pieces that do just that! The glasswork is started using sheets and balls of glass. I fuse, cut, and shape the glass up to 4 times. Then, using copper or sterling silver, I weave, wrap, and shape the wire around the glasswork to transform it into jewelry. The pieces are then oxidized and polished to add depth and beauty.
|
Mary Nelson
|
I started making jewelry after taking a class at the Des Moines Art Center in 2010. I found that I really enjoyed working with metal & learning different techniques, and have continued to take classes at the Art Center for the last 14 years. I especially enjoy combining traditional metal-working/jewelry making techniques with vintage & found objects I collect at flea markets & antique shows/shops.
My jewelry reflects my fascination with vintage objects & the history behind them. I use a variety of techniques to combine my vintage finds with metal & gemstones/beads to create jewelry that is unique & fun to wear. Examples of the materials I use include early plastics like bakelite & lucite, vintage pinback buttons, lithograph tin & transit tokens, electrical resisters, & WWII ration stamps. Techniques include texturing, riveting, soldering, wire-wrapping, enameling, resin-casting, anodizing, & forming. Each piece of jewelry I design comes with a description of the materials used (including their history) & the techniques used. |
Shana Rainey | Boone
|
My jewelry is a mix of hand-soldered, stamped, patinaed copper and brass metal made into a one of a kind pieces: hand-painted wood, metal and leather to create contrast between textures and colors, hand dye resin to create the look of stained glass; utilize vintage lace and crystals to add a feel of timelessness; my paintings add color & whimsy. I want my pieces to make my customers happy to wear.
My handmade jewelry is a mix of hand-soldered stamped copper & brass one of a kind pieces; hand-painted wood, metal & leather to create contrast, color & texture; hand-dyed resin to create the look of stained glass; vintage lace to add timelessness and my original paintings add color & whimsy. |
Connie Rodgers
|
I took my first art class between 3rd and 4th grade and I fell in in love with all things color and design. Many college classes later I'm still learning - now mostly self taught which gives me great freedom to create my own way. I am an Iowa master gardener and get much inspiration from my extensive gardens. I share a home with 6 cats and the love of my life, my husband Dave, who travels the world with me collecting small vintage treasures to create wearable works of art.
My designs combine brass I manipulate and hand age with my own Moretti glass lamp worked beads. I make my own findings and paint, texture, wirework, patina, and solder brass. Vintage glass gemstones and handmade Czech beads I personally help design complete the Art Nouveau inspired designs. Vintage glass and brass treasures collected on my travels abroad highlight my work |
Rhonda Scott | Ames
Rhonda Scott Studio
FB: RhondaScottStudio
IG: rhondascottstudio
|
|
Rhonda creates jewelry which features her own glass beads, handcrafted metal focal pieces, natural gemstones, enamels, and precious metals. She uses a small torch and MAP gas to create the glass beads and the components used in the beads (including custom twisted cane and frit). She anneals the beads in a kiln for durability.
|
Sharon Smith | Urbandale
Joyful Heart Designs
FB: joyfulheartdesignjewelry
|
|
After retiring from teaching, I enjoyed creating floral designs for my gift shop and Inn in Wisconsin. I missed my daughter still in Des Moines, so I moved back, but floral art was no longer in vogue. After taking many jewelry classes from soldering, to riveting, to Precious Metal Clay, I got hooked on metal smithing jewelry, and finishing stones. Thus began the beginning of Joyful Heart Design. Where else can you pound metal, play with fire, and cut stones, and have so much fun?
|
Jess Wisdom
|
Callo Metal Art is husband-wife duo Jesse Richardson & Jess Wisdom, who have been creating together since 2019. Jess, a Chicana artist born and raised in the Sonoran Desert, brings her love of the Southwest as well as her eye for detail to their work. Jesse, an Iowa native and Renaissance Man, brings his vast knowledge and skillset to their work, elevating Callo Metal Art's craftsmanship and scope beyond their dreams. With her vision and his knowledge, they are a dynamic partnership who share the passion for creating in every facet of life.
Callo Metal Art has built a reputation for creating high quality, heavy-gauge heirloom adornments. This was accomplished by holding a very high standard every step of the way starting with the highest quality semiprecious cabochons that can be mine-traced to their origin. Only working with mines and miners whose ethical standards are on equal footing with Callo Metal Art's mission, each stone is carefully selected for their work. Allowing the stone to encapsulate the energy and vision of the piece, Jess uses a variety of mixed metals, most commonly sterling and fine silver, along with copper and brass, highlighting the stones natural beauty bringing the design to life. Relying on his blacksmithing and machinist background, Jesse builds specialty tools they need along with smelting and refining almost all of the silver used in their art. Using only recycled metals, Jesse pours raw ingots to be hand-forged into the sheet metal, wire and other materials used to create their wearable art. Jess & Jesse pour their love into each piece every step of the way. |