Jewelry at art and craft shows usually runs the gamut from pricey to very affordable. What is nice about art and craft shows is the fact that many different types of jewelry styles are available for purchase under the same roof. It’s also fun to be able to talk to the artist and learn more about the jewelry making techniques used to make the piece.
J Cotter Gallery Colorado
Live in the Vail or Beaver Creek, Colorado area or just happen to be on a ski vacation? Check out The Bracelet Show continuing through April 20, 2009. The show features all one of a kind pieces of jewelry art. Perennial favorites Pat Flynn and Todd Reed (well known for his use of raw diamonds) are two of the six featured designers.
For those familiar with the works of these two artists, it’s a known fact that their designs are on the pricey side since diamonds are incorporated into their designs. However, owner Jim Cotter states the bracelet prices range from “very reasonable to very expensive” overall.
In addition to diamonds, Pat Flynn uses platinum. Platinum is a whitish precious metal that is much more expensive than karated gold. Juxtaposing with the luxury of platinum, Flynn also combines iron with the precious metal in his jewelry designs.
Interested in finding out more? The J Cotter Gallery in Vail is located on Wall Street and in Beaver Creek Village on Market Square.
CraftBoston Massachusetts
Fifty-four jewelry artists will be exhibiting at CraftBoston, with prices ranging from moderate to expensive. One of these featured is Investment Designs. Owned by Wendy Walden and Betsy Gribble this company handcrafts jewelry items fabricated from nostalgic found items such as subway tokens, typewriter keys, Scrabble board pieces and antique buttons. They also incorporate Bakelite dice charms into their designs.
Bakelite is a type of plastic containing formaldehyde that was used to form intricately carved pieces of jewelry in the 1930s through the 1960s. Vintage Bakelite in good condition is extremely expensive.
Another jewelry artist exhibiting at Craft Boston is metal smith Lisa Crowder. She works predominantly in sterling silver, shaping the metal by forming and hammering, connecting the pieces with riveting and soldering. She enjoys both oxidizing and buffing a matte finish on her pieces.
Taking place annually the last weekend in March, this is a great venue to shop for Mother’s Day jewelry gifts. CraftBoston will be held at the Seaport World Trade Center in South Boston March 27 through 29.
Velvet da Vinci California
Located at 2015 Polk Street in San Francisco, CA, February’s featured jewelry artist, Helen Carmac is showing a collection of brooches. The jewelry is fabricated from found and recycled items from her workshop. Some of the pieces are marked and drawn on; all are very unusual looking.
