As part of our ongoing Saul Bell Design Award retrospective, we're devoting today's post to past winners Eva Martin and Heather Bayless. . .
Eva Martin and Heather Bayless: 2006 and 2007 Saul Bell Design Award Winners
Apichart Warrachart and Elizabeth Gualtieri: 2003 and 2004 Saul Bell Design Award Winners
The 2011 Saul Bell Design Award will be presented at a gala dinner during JCK in Las Vegas June 4th. Leading up to the event we’re taking a look back at some of our previous prize winners. Apichart Warrachart came to America from Thailand and found a freedom to follow the next [...]
An Affair to Remember—Jewelry Designer Ronda Coryell’s Love for Argentium® Silver Takes Ancient Techniques into the New Millennium
Travel in time back to March of 2003. Jeweler, teacher and world-traveler Ronda Coryell had just won first place in the silver category of the 2002 Saul Bell Design Award competition. Eight years after that interview, literally to the day as I write, I learn that Ronda’s love f[...]
Interview with Megan Corwin, Author of Chasing and Repoussé–Methods Ancient and Modern
We are pleased to welcome Nancy Megan Corwin (Megan to her friends) to The Studio. Megan is the author of the book Chasing and Repousse – Methods Ancient and Modern. Welcome, Megan...
Jeweler Spotlight: Wendy Toman Oestreicher
“I don’t like doing things simple. I like a challenge. I like to be pushed.” Wendy Toman Oestreicher is one of those folks who like to be intrigued by something they’ve seen or thought of, then just dive right into trying it . . .
Rio Steampunk and Metal Clay Artist, Jaimie Verlander
Shortly after I was first hired here at Rio, I experienced my first Rio Associate Arts and Crafts Fair. I was so excited to see what kind of jewelry my creative colleagues were making and selling and was amazed by the beautiful craftsmanship and uniqueness of it all. But, there w[...]
Patricia Rogers: Old-Time Craftsmanship Becomes New Design
Patricia Rogers is accustomed to re-purposing a variety of found objects to create accessories for the costumes she dreams up. She isn’t, however, accustomed to the kind of stir she created when she showed up at the Santa Fe Recycled Art Show wearing her latest piece...[...]
Rio’s One-And-Only Sessin Durgham
Sessin Durgham joined Rio’s Technical Support team in 2006. Prior to that, he worked five years as a retail bench jeweler making custom designs and altogether has spent 27 years attending juried outdoor art shows, teaching forging workshops and selling his wares (or taking home[...]
Hobo Nickel
The hobo nickel, a unique American folk-art form, gets its name from Depression-era hobos, who used a pocket knife to alter the image on Indian-head nickels. Often the Indian was altered to depict a bearded hobo wearing a derby, but religious and political figures, animals, celeb[...]
Once Upon a Time—Eva Martin Designs a Story into Every Jewelry Piece She Makes
Eva Martin is a storyteller. But rather than using words on a page, she embeds them in her jewelry designs. She gets to know her clients very well, through emails and conversations. And she gets to the heart of their stories to design pieces that will come to life with such de[...]
Meeting Dr. Morikawa: The Brilliance Behind PMC
Back in 1995 I became the precious materials product manager at Rio Grande. As a new manager, I began reading National Jeweler magazine, and one day, I came across an article about a new jewelry-making material from Japan, Precious Metal Plasticene. It was invented by Dr. Morika[...]
Thanks for Giving!
We love that we get to play a role in the creative and productive process of so many jewelers, and we honor the contributions jewelers share with the world. On occasion, however, we learn about a customer who uses their creative skill in a particularly generous way. In the spirit[...]
