AdammsGallery

Dowdy Opal Jewelry

    

 

  Joanne and Kevin Dowdy have been making opal jewelry since 1983. They became infatuated with opals when they were introduced to them in Australia. They were so enthusiastic that they bought an interest in a boulder opal mine in Queensland. The mine in the tiny outback town of Quilpie is so uninhabitable that the miners live underground because of the severe heat. Kevin spends about three months a year mining opals and brings them back to Tucson where he an Joanne create their magnificent jewelry. The opals were formed millions of years ago when liquid silica filled the voids in ironstone boulders. The opals are cut with the stone from the boulder. The stone gives the opal strength, and also adds to the deep color from the minerals that are present.

  

       In more recent years the Dowdys have begun using Ethiopian opals. The Ethiopian opals are amazingly vibrant and colorful. Truthfully there is no comparison between the boulder opals and the Ethiopian.

          

      The Dowdys use 22kt gold for the settings and 14k for the posts, fittings, and shanks. There workmanship is impecable. All the gold work is smooth and flawless, and their choice and cutting of the opals is top notch. If you, or someone you know is an opal lover Dowdy opals is a no brainer.

 

Dowdy Opal Jewelry is available at Adamm's Stained Glass & Gallery Santa Monica, CA 90401     adammsgqallery.com

Olive Parker- Montana Leather Designs

    

We represent a number of jewelers in the gallery, but none of them create anything  even close to Olive's work. I had heard of Olive from advertisements she had placed  in literature from wholesale craft shows. I was very interested in seeing her work in person. I attended the American Hand Crafted Show in Philadelphia this past February, and immediately found her. Her display was a real eye catcher. She brought a large assortment of her bracelets, and I was tempted to order all of them. Logic soon returned, and I made a more rational first order.

                                                                     

 

  Olive creates exquisite leather goods, in addition to her bracelets, but I stayed with the bracelets to start. Olive lives in Western Montana. Her bracelets have leather bands, ceramic, or enameled beads, and silver, brass, copper, or zinc clasps and accents. Each one is more beautiful than the next, and all are suitable for men or women. Her clasps are magnetic, which makes them very easy to put on, and are a very intelligent design. I loved all of them, and couldn't be happier with the selection.

Dianne Zack- Glass Jewelry Artist

              

 

I don't know why I haven't carried Dianne's work before now. After all I have known her and her husband Gary Zack for over 30 years. I carried Gary's fabulous work for many years until he retired. I noticed Dianne's work again by accident, and it came at the right time. I was looking for exceptional glass jewelry for the gallery, and Dianne's pieces are perhaps the best out there. Well, after receiving the first shipment, I think are are the best.

          

     Dianne' makes many of her beads herself,and combines them with semi-precious stones, and other beads, then she and assembles the work with 23kt. vermeil, gold fill, or fine silver. She also uses pearls, and various carved crystal pieces. Dianne males earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, and each is flawless. Dianne's sense of design is unparalleled. It is classy, playful, and elegant. Any of her pieces make the perfect present for birthdays, anniversaries, or any special event.

    I am so proud to represent Dianne, my wife loves her jewelry also.

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Edward Wohl Master Woodworker

       

  I first met Ed at a fine crafts show in Philadelphia about 10 years ago. Ed was working with bird's eye maple. I had never seen so much bird's eye. I had thought it was a relatively rare wood, and was surprised to see it used in such quantity. Not only that, but Ed's work was so superior to that which I had seen that I couldn't take my eyes off of it. The finish was as smooth as silk, and all of his joints were perfect. Ed made many production bread cutting, and carving boards. He also was showing the most beautiful furniture including rocking chairs, tables, and desks.

 

     I own a fine crafts gallery, and at the time I represented artists in wood, ceramics, glass, metal, jewelry, kaleidoscopes, fabric, and leather. I wanted Ed's work in my gallery. I also wanted to have his work in my home. I placed an order for a number of Ed's bird's eye maple cutting, and carving boards. I was thrilled when they arrived at the gallery. My customers were thrilled also and I did very well with them.

  

     As time went on the gallery evolved into a predominantly glass gallery, with jewelry and kaleidoscopes. Glass was and is extraordinarily popular, and the gallery earned a fine reputation. This past holiday season, while I was shopping for family and friends, I noticed that people were shopping in kitchen stores were quite a bit more than other businesses. This started me thinking that perhaps I should bring back some functional art products, such as ceramic and wood bowl, spoons,and cutting boards. Of course Ed Wohl's work was the first thing I thought of. I began a campaign asking my customers if they would like to have these products back in the gallery and their was an overwhelming  positive  response. It was with great pleasure that I opened the first shipment of Ed's boards. I must say that the display, along with ceramic serving pieces, looks terrific.

     

     If you are looking for a cutting board for yourself or a gift I can't recommend Ed's work more highly. His work will be treasured for many, many years. If you are in Santa Monica, California I'd be very happy to show you Ed's superior craftsmanship.

Mike Fisher of Heartland Creations

For over 3o years Mike Fisher has been creating wonderful wooden boxes.  His signature style is "secret Box".  His boxes are made so well that it is very difficult to decipher how to open them.  Indeed, the puzzle boxes,another fascinating invention, which come in a variety of styles, have the instructions on the bottom of the box.  Even after following the instructions it is sometime difficult to open.  One must follow the directions precisely. When you do the box opens all the time.

Mike uses beautiful woods for these wonderful gifts cocobola, birdseye maple, walnut, bubinga, cherry, and mahogany. He also works with intricate inlays that add to the tasteful designs. In recent years Mike has added laser etched design for the tops of many of his boxes.

In addition to his boxes Heartland also makes magnificent jewelery boxes in all sizes. All of these pieces will certainly become family heirlooms. They are also tyhe perfect gift for the person who has everything. Many people also use them as presentation cases. Just slip a ring or a pair of earrings into a box for that special person.   They make for a truly unique gift.

Adamm's Stained Glass & Gallery

1426 4th St.

Santa Monica, CA 90401

310 451 9390

adammsgallery.com

 

Wendy Lin Jewelry Designer

  

I met Wendy LIn in Baltimore earlier this year at the American Craft Council show. Immediately I was struck with the originality, and wonderful quality of her work. Wendy creates what she calls caterpillar bracelets that are filled with fascinating beads that move with wrist movement, and are comfortable to wear. They are easy to put on with a convenient and safe snap. 

Her lariat necklaces are made with thousands of tiny beads with either pearl or jade accents.  Her earrings are expertly designed for color, texture, and above all style. Wendy uses combinations of pearls and semi-precious stones such as aquamarine, carnelian, and garnet along with Venetian glass.

 

        



All of her pieces have the same style and sopistication that she has. I am vary happy to have her work in my gallery, and already see how fascinated my customers are with her work.

Wendy is a life long knitter who applies textile techniques to jewelry. A journalist for 25 years, she began her second career when a friend brought her gold mesh bracelet to the editors of InStyle magazine.

Wendy exhibits at juried craft shows. She lives in Great Neck, NY.

American Craft Buyer's Shows

 

Randi Solin                                Wendy Linj                            CVhris and Alexandra Pantos      

I returned last weekend from trip to Philadelphia and Baltimore to attend this years buyer's markets. The first show "Buyer's Market of American Craft" was held at the Philadelphia Convention Center.  Among the 768 artists that set up booths were glass artists, jewelers, potters, wood workers, clothing and accessory  designers, iron artists,  candel makers, and mixed media artists. It is always fun visiting old friends and enjoying new work.  I was happy with the turn out, although the show is down from over 1200 artists.

The second show was the American Craft Council show in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore show had just over 700 artists. As is always the case the ACC show had a higher quality of work due to their more rigid standards for admission.  This is not to say that many of the artists in Philadelphia were not of equal talent.  In fact many artists do both shows, or choose to do one or the other and are easily accepted into both.  Here again I found some new artists for the gallery. In addition to ordering work(old standbys and new pieces) from my current artists, I was happy to find new artists both recognized and emerging that attended the show. Philly and Baltimore both have great restaurants, museums, antique shops, shows, and historic sites. I highly recommend both these sites, although not necessily in February.     Some of the new artrists I picked from both shows include Jennifer Duffy and Niev Duffy www.urbanlinksdesign.com  jewelry, Scott Maryjaszek www.artephax.com multi media photography, Sean Browen www.seanbrownartist.com jewelry, Chris and Alexandra Pantos www.tourchworksglass.com glass, Eric and Trudi Cooper www.seaofglassstudio.com jewelry, David Lindsay www.lindsayartglass.com glass, Paul Counts-glass,Wendy Lin www.wendylindesigns.com jewelry, Randi Solin  www.solinglass.comglass,  Margaret Neher www.margaretneher.comglass, Tamara Baskin www.tamarabaskin.com glass, and Art of Fire Glass for Christmas Ornaments. In looking for new work this year, more than  in years past, I looked for work that really blew my socks off.  I hope you will agree.  Most of these artists work will be arriving in the gallery in the next few months.  Of course there will be many new pieces from the over 190 artists I currently represent.

     Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter if you want to stay in touch with what going on  monthly.  Remember, all subscribers are entered into a contest to win  a Glass Eye Celestial Series  Paperweight given away each month.

     I'd also love to hear your feedback on the blog and nesletter.  Until next time  stay healthy.

Adamm Gritlefeld

Adamm's Stained Glass & Gallery

1426 4th St.

Santa Monica, Ca. 90401

310 451 9390

www.adammsgqallery.com

Kevin and JoAnne Dowdy Boulder Opals

      

Kevin and JoAnne Dowdy have been working with Boulder Opal since 1983. Their adventure started when they met an opal miner in the tiny Outback town of Quilpie, Queensland. After seeing the beautiful gems the miner displayed, Kevin and JoAnne both caught what is commonly referred to as "Opal Fever." It wasn't long before they set up shop as opal cutters. In order to supplement their supply of rough opal, mining soon followed. Now living in Tucson, AZ, they have expanded their business to include Boulder Opal jewelry. JoAnne's first jewelry class was back in college. What started as a hobby has grown into a thriving business, making one of a kind 18kt Boulder Opal jewelry.

Boulder Opal, found only in Queensland, Australia, formed millions of years ago, when liquid silica filled voids or crevices in ironstone boulders. When cutting this type of opal, the natural rock is removed from one side of the opal, exposing the face of the stone.

The natural stone is left on the back of the opal to give the opal its strength and boulder colors. Boulder Opal is a unique gem, found in every color of the rainbow. It is the most durable of all opals. This jewelry requires no special care, can be worn for all occasions, and may be passed on from generation to generation.