JET Artisan Profile:Jennifer Smith-Righter of WearableByDesign

Hello! I'm Jennifer and my Etsy shop is named WearableByDesign. Most of my jewelry is made with fine silver, gold or sterling silver, and many of the pieces feature top quality gemstones. I also enjoy working in metal clay.

I took a jewelry class as an elective while going through a program in Art and Architecture.

When I got out of school I decided I preferred to work on a much smaller scale and I loved working in metals. I also needed to be able to have a skill that is portable as I move around a lot.

I took my first jewelry making class in college. Later, I took the Jewelry Technical Intensive at the Revere Academy. I've since taken a few Master's Symposium classes at the Academy. 

Working for myself making jewelry seemed like just the right thing for me. And I've loved it!

I opened my shop - WearableByDesign on Etsy in May of 2008. I sold my first piece of jewelry in my Etsy shop (pictured at right), and Etsy has become a very important part of my business.

Since that first sale, I've sold many pieces in WearableByDesign. My jewelry is traditional in many ways, though I do have some pieces that could be considered "unusual". They are ALL unique designs that will not be found in chain jewelry stores or in department stores.

If you wear one of my pieces, chances are you'll never see anyone else wearing the same thing!

 I was a creative sort of person at a very young age. Like most kids, I made a pair of earrings out of copper wire and beads in elementary school.

They were pretty crude!

But I loved them and never forgot how making my own jewelry gave me a satisfied feeling.

Of course I became much better with practice and education

I make pendants, necklaces, and earrings - but my favorite things to make are rings.

Rings are more personal than other types of jewelry. People bond with rings. My rings are very classic in appearance, but the designs are mine. Some are bands, like the Handmade Silver Squares Ring pictured on the right. I make this style to order in a limited range of sizes.

One of the bands I make in a full range of sizes is my pretty Silver Olive Leaf and Berries Ring.

I also enjoy making rings with gemstones. Some of my rings feature faceted gems in prong settings; others are bezel set, and can be made with faceted gems or cabochon cut gems like the ring below ...

My Silver Tourmaline Ring with Dark Red Plum Cabochon is made with a hand formed open back bezel setting.

The band is an embossed sterling silver shank that measures just over 2 mm wide and architecturally supports a gallery wire compartment, above which is the platform holding this spectacular 12mmX10mm tourmaline. This is a unique, one of a kind ring!

  Only one is available. Some things just can't be made in multiples.

Like most artisans, I'm inspired to create by my surroundings. With me, its mostly from seeing a new

scene. I can get in a rut so I often go to museums and travel as often as possible.

Also, other people's work can inspire me so a trip to a museum I've never been to is exciting!

 An example of this type of inspiration is my Silver Alhambra Pendant, pictured at right.

From the item description:

"Irrigation may not be particularly interesting or beautiful, but the Alhambra Palace sure is, and so is this pendant, inspired by the palaces architectural forms. Made from sterling silver, the design is a geometrical arabesque – a rhythmic linear pattern of interlacing tendrils of foliage common in Islamic art."

Just like other jewelry artisans I have my favorite tools ... and for me that would be my rotary hand piece and my engravers ball. These tools are used very often at my bench!

I am always expanding my skills and looking for new ways to make my jewelry unique.

The latest techniques I am learning and bringing into my new designs are micro chasing, piercing and repousse. I took a class from Tom Herman of Seven Fingers. His work is just AMAZING!

Next I want to learn more about mechanisms. Anything that is mechanical intrigues me. I've made several pieces that touch on this, and I want to explore this genre.

There are many things you would never expect to see in or as jewelry that are fabulous miniaturized, polished and made into wearable jewelry art. Pictured on the right is my award winning
Chain Reaction Industrial Gears Necklace, and in my shop there are other examples.

My Silver Industrial Chain Necklace is based on a classic suspension bridge design and my cool Silver and Brass Transformer Riveted Kinetic Necklace is a unique movable necklace that can be transformed for a different look!

 

I recently opened a second shop with my Daughter Shannon named SimplyWearable. This shop features smaller, lighter, feminine styles in sterling silver and Argentium silver (tarnish resistant) at a very affordable, lower price point - with the same quality level of design!