Carolyn Morris Bach Jewelry

Sometimes jewelry is
thought provoking.
That's how I feel about
the work created by
Carolyn Morris Bach.

Over the years I’ve come across her jewelry

again and again, and I feel drawn to her

instantly recognizable work

which is dominated by a strong

mysterious earth-goddess motif.

This feminine figure is frequently accompanied

 by symbolic creatures from the animal kingdom

including owls, rabbits, deer, bears and foxes.

 

Using all natural materials such as

wood, bone, metal and stone

this artist builds each of her pieces

one at a time, and each

 piece tells its own magical story.

yes, the owls are my favorite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Morris Bach's creative jewelry

may not actually

bestow magic upon the wearer.

But then again maybe it will.

 

See more of her work at her website.

 

Susan Chin Jewelry

We've long admired jewelry created by Susan Chin.
Her trademark work revolves around the use of
ebony and bone, and her signature forms are
sprinkled with silver or gold dots set against each
other in symmetrical yet seemingly
random arrangements.
But this artist works with other materials as well.

We gravitate towards her pieces
featuring freshwater pearls dotted with
those symmetrical mixed with random
accents of metal.
We enjoy following the sequences and repetition
of these elements which evoke a sense of
something ancient and tribal.

Whether densely packed together or set with ample
breathing space between them, we appreciate
how each metallic accent carries its weight
and brings delightful texture to the jewelry.

Together they become a synergistic creation -
the whole effect becoming so much greater
than the sum of its parts.
Let's take a look at some of our
favorite pieces of her work.


This is her “Forged Links” bracelet
featuring sterling silver, freshwater pearls
and18K gold.

We adore her Kelp Necklace
also featuring sterling silver, freshwater pearls
and18K gold.

 

These amusing "Pearl with Curl" earrings are
made with freshwater pearls and 18k gold.

 

These earrings are from her
one of a kind collection
and feature ebony, 18k and 22k gold,
and Australian boulder opals.

This piece features ebony, 18k and 22k gold,
and sterling silver.
It evokes a furry impression
that we find lighthearted and amusing.

It's fascinating to feel rough

texture created by the combination of several
types of smooth elements.

It's also fascinating to see
seldom used materials like ebony and bone
take center stage in an artist's work.

It would be most fascinating of all
 to wear works of art
such as these and to feel the spirit
of the artist in each piece.

We'd own her entire collection
if we could.

Enjoy!

Suzanne Linquist Jewelry

Jewelry created by Suzanne Linquist features

an unusual combination of materials:

 ebony and silver.

The subtle metallic shimmer of silver
complements the intense black of the ebony,
and by joining them together Suzanne
creates a broad range of designs
from a singularly simple palette.

There are so many pieces to see and admire -
here's a pin we simply adore.
It showcases

pierced silver, carved ebony

with a pearl and brass.

We love the incredible symmetry in

these earrings made with ebony

inlaid with silver.

We find inspiration whenever an artist shares

their background, their motivations, or their

serendipitous discoveries along

their journey into the art of

handcrafted jewelry. 

Suzanne's explanation of her unexpected

discovery of a supply of ebony

provides a snapshot for us to share. 

On her website, she explains,

". . . browsing in a hardwood store I noticed a box of black wooden rectangles. When I picked one up, the wood was heavy and felt dense as I rubbed my finger across its dark surface. It was ebony, the salesman told me, and the rectangles were old piano key blanks. I bought the whole box and took it back to my studio. Over the next year, I learned to carve and turn ebony on a mini-lathe to create small sculptural forms for necklaces, earrings, pins and bracelets. Silver glowed and took on new life when I inlaid it directly into the black wood or wound fine shining wires around lathe turned shapes. In turn the silver embellishment brought the ebony sculptural forms to life. "

It's moments like these

that can bring jewelry to life.

Here is another piece we admire.

It's made with

silver, ebony, brass and a pearl.

And here is another.

The idea of making such wonderful
handcrafted jewelry by using
a re-purposed material is both
imaginative and inspiring.

By re-purposing old piano key blanks
into lovely works of wearable art,
Suzanne inspires us with her
choice of materials,
range of designs, and the moods they create.

  Let us know what you think

and what inspires you.

Feel free to share your thoughts.

We'd love to know.