Creating jewelry and working with gemstones has always been intriguing. As an elementary school student in the mid-1950’s, I began the lengthy process of teaching myself to make jewelry. Early on, my father showed remarkable patience when his woodworking tools were damaged in the process. Persistence in learning to make jewelry continued through my years in public school. I developed a goal: to make a gold ring. When a high school art teacher (the first person I met who had actually made a gold ring) told me to forget it because special tools were required, my enthrallment was complete. I’ve never looked back without smiling.
