Decouverte : Andrea WILLIAMS – pebbles !

je suis poursuivie par les galets !!!

Andrea Williams will exhibit at the Smithsonian Craft show 2011
« I live on the water.  I stack rocks for fun. I collect seedpods.  I raise chickens and keep bees.  I find beauty in improbable places. My jewelry is an expression of the wonder I sense in the intricacies in nature.  When we see stones in infinite numbers underfoot at the beach, we cannot help but to miss the unique perfection in each.  I create eco-conscious, nature inspired works out of my belief that jewelry should be worn not as a status symbol, but should instead bring us closer to the earth that gave us the materials. I use a variety of lapidary, cold fusion, and fabrication techniques to inlay found beach stones with reclaimed / recycled precious metals, Venetian glass, lab grown gems, and innovative organic materials. My desire is to create a wearable reminder of the often overlooked and ephemeral beauty in nature. « 

« Sa » necklace – Sa is a Tibetan word meaning « earth ». As I walked the beach I found these stones lying in perfect lines on the sand, left there by the outgoing tide, sun sparkling on the still wet stones. The stones in this choker are individually hinged and riveted giving great flexibility to this surprisingly light piece

« Kebyar growth » necklace – I spend many hours on the beach collecting stones for my jewelry. I created this piece as a reflection of the flowing seaweed in the surf. I use lapidary, cold fusion, and fabrication techniques to inlay found beach stones with reclaimed / recycled Sterling Silver and lab grown Peridot.

« Starry night » necklace – The inspiration for this piece was born out of my earliest memories of the night sky. I collected the stones on a beach close to my childhood home in Maine. I inlaid reclaimed Sterling and lab grown white sapphires (no mining) into the stones, then fabricated and riveted links on the back of each. This neclace was nominated for a 2010 Niche Award. The neclace is shown with matching stud earrings.

« Kebyar night » necklace – This necklace is a finalist for a 2011 Saul Bell Design Award. This necklace finds its inspiration in moonlight shining on the open field. The beachstones are carved and inlaid with reclaimed sterling silver. I then fabricate and rivet links onto the back of each stone.