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A Family of Artists - West Coast Jewelry

Posted on April 09, 2016 by Nigel Hayes | 0 comments

Eron Hamill

My creative instincts have their roots in my family home in Port Townsend, Washington. My father is a writer, and our house was always filled with artists. I grew up surrounded by painters, musicians, writers, and ceramists. That early exposure to a wide variety of creative disciplines had a strong impact on my aesthetic sensibilities.

 https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/eron-hamill

I first studied Art History at Western Washington University, and then moved to Victoria, BC to continue my education at the University of Victoria. Later, I made the decision to move to Toronto so that I could attend the Ontario College of Art and Design University.  I completed four years of studies in art.

https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/eron-hamill

 I didn’t find my passion for metal and fire until years later when I took my first silversmith course. The inherent dichotomy of metal work remains deeply satisfying. The sterling silver is rigid, but with the right tools and techniques it becomes very malleable. Creating handcrafted jewelry requires strength, sometimes brute force, and delicacy of hand. The masculine of fire and hammers becomes the feminine of the jewelry itself.

https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/eron-hamill

 Although I am an emerging silversmith, I have participated in a number of art festivals and markets in British Columbia including the following:

 

  • Out of Hand (Victoria),
  • Steveston Farmers’ and Artisan Market,
  • Lonsdale Quay Farmers’ Market,
  • Burnaby Farmers’ Market,
  • White Rock Farmers’ Market.
  • Numerous small seasonal markets.

 https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/eron-hamill

My work may be found at Side Street Studio in Oak Bay B.C.!

 https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/eron-hamill

I live and work in Richmond, BC.

https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/collections/eron-hamill/products/copy-of-sterling-silver-circle-earrings-chalcedony

Posted in bracelets, earrings, gifts, hand made jewellery, jewellery, local crafts, necklaces, oak bay, pendants, shop local, side street studio

Silver Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Sue Hayes | 0 comments

Stuart Duncan of Wren Silverworks produces some of the finest Silver jewellery on the Pacific Northwest West Coast!

Engraved sterling silver jewellery of animals, birds, flowers and sea life – From herons, whales, cedar trees, frogs, eagles and bears to cherry blossoms.

 

 

Realistic designs, specializing in wildlife of the Pacific Northwest including earrings, brooches, pendants and bracelets. Each is individually engraved and highly detailed.


 

 

As a child, Stuart was always drawing, deriving inspiration from the natural world around him. His ability to draw the world around him led Stuart into a career as an illustrator. He also co-owned an art gallery for a few years. In the early 90’s he apprenticed with master First Nations silver engraver Harold Alfred.


 

In 1997, Stuart was inspired to produce a line of jewellery that carves realistic lines onto silver. Wren Silverworks jewellery celebrates of the beauty and strength of nature and our connection to it.


SILVER CUFF BRACELET WITH WOLF DESIGN

Stuart also continues to draw and paint. He lives, surrounded by wildlife, on the outskirts of Victoria, B.C. 


TINY WREN SILVER PENDANT

Wren Silverworks jewellery is individually engraved, each line separately carved, and each open area cut out with a jewellers saw. Every piece is handmade – an individual piece of art. On the back there is a sterling stamp, and the artist’s signature.


SILVER ORCA EARRNGS

The first step is to create a detailed line drawing of a plant or animal. Then, the drawing is transferred onto a flat sheet of sterling silver. 22-gauge silver is used for earrings and brooches and 16 or 18-gauge silver is used for bracelets.


SILVER FERN WITH PERIDOT PENDANT

Next, the silver is engraved along the design lines, each line individually carved with a variety of gravers (very sharp chisel points). Using a tiny saw, the silver is cut out, following the periphery of the design as well as cutting out any pieces from inside the design (piercing). The edges are filed to a smooth finish. The piece is shaped: this involves using a hammer to bang the silver from the back into a pre-carved shaping “holes”, giving the flat silver gentle curves. If needed, any findings are soldered on, and it is then polished with a buffing wheel and tripoli (clay) compound. The silver is then washed in an ultrasonic washer, dried, polished with rouge (a finer clay) and washed again.


SILVER MAPLE LEAVES CUFF BRACELET

All  earring hooks and studs, and brooch pins are sterling silver. Chains are also sterling silver. Brooch backs have a locking clasp. Brooches and earrings are made in 22 gauge silver, and bracelets in 16 gauge and 18 gauge silver.


SILVER BEES WITH TIGERS EYE EARRINGS

 

A World Made By Hand

Wren Silverworks West Coast Jewellery

Posted in bracelets, earrings, gifts, jewellery, kelp, local crafts, necklaces, oak bay, orcas, pendants, shop local, side street studio, silver, silver jewellery, STUART DUNCAN, tree of life, west coast jewellery, wildlife, wolves, wrens

HONICA UNIQUE JEWELRY

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Sue Hayes | 0 comments

A week ago I was talking over a cup of excellent Canterbury Coffee with John, the husband of Honica. I asked him if Honica would consider writing a short piece relating to her designs, her inspiration and basically how ‘Honica goes about creating her beautiful jewelry’.

 

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Posted in bracelets, clip on earrings, earrings, fine jewellery, honica, jewelry, local crafts, necklaces, pendants, shop local, side street studio, wedding gifts