Linda Blumel
I personally design and create all of my jewelry in my studio and have collected hundreds, maybe thousands of fascinating pieces. (I am a little afraid to actually count them!) I select each stone for its unique quality and beauty. Most of my pieces are designed around the individual stones and constructed with sterling silver and 18k gold. I use 18k rather than a lower karat because I feel its warm, golden color contrasts nicely with the silver. I take great pride in the finishing of my work. Each piece goes through numerous stages of hand polishing. This can be very time consuming, but I think the result is obvious in the final product and completely worth the time invested. The stones are usually the focal point of each design. I am drawn to clean, simple lines and prefer strong, but understated settings that enhance and protect the stones. As I strive for a visual balance in my pieces, I will often play with layouts and color combinations for awhile and then set them aside. I’ll come back to them days later and adjust them until I reach what feels like the right balance. It is often a very intuitive process and one that gives me great joy, especially when I know I have gotten it just right.