art in silver~
when I was a young girl, I loved to sketch. I discovered what my hand could do by simply putting pencil to paper. I drew so much, i had a pretty defined callus on my right middle finger. that callus defined me. it was with me for years…thru high school, and certainly in my early college years as a fine arts major. as we all know too well, things don’t always end up how they started. I navigated speech sciences, and graduated with a master’s in speech pathology. as I drew less and less, that callus softened and slowly shrank. soon it was gone.
I was a speech therapist for years. my mom says “all” her children have the “gift of giving.” that I do. I loved my choice of “career,” but my craving for art in my life remained. I scoured art shows, collected art books, and dabbled in all kinds of “how to’s.” my callus was no longer there, but I still found such joy in what my hands could do…what they could create.
I left speech therapy years ago. it was time. family first, and my craving for Creating…to be an artist…of some sorts… was strong. I have always had a love of the old, the tattered, and little things. this love led to creating vintage assemblage jewelry. teaching myself one skill, led to the tackling of another, and soon i was holding a torch. art evolves, skills grow, and now here I am…a self taught silversmith. I make art in silver.
I am drawn to organic design. I plan very little. I just kinda “let It happen.” seems to work better that way for me. I call myself a “slow jeweler.” every. single. step. of the process authentic…by hand. I am a perfectionist, but imperfection inspires. I love a great line, but odd shapes intrigue. earthy muted tones calm. movement…my “sweat therapy”… is the “power” behind deer designs.
wonder why my biz here is named “deer designs?” well, I was so painfully shy and (so) sensitive as a child, that my dad nicknamed me the “deer.” Mid life, and I am still the “deer.” maybe not as shy, but still quite sensitive…I feel things quite intensely, and I see things others may not see. I thought about a name change once, maybe twice, but nope, my dad named “deer designs." my heart…my soul…loyal. just as it is in every. single. piece. of deer designs~