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Orchid Presents: Karen Olsen Ramsey Visit Artist's Website Email the Artist
   

I live amidst the beautiful wooded environment of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California. My jewelry designs reflect the small wonders that I encounter in my daily life. As a professional wood sculptor in the past, I like dimension in my work. I do a little bit of wax work, but I prefer working directly with the metal. All of the shapes in my current work are formed through chasing and repousee'. I use shakudo and gold together for their wonderful contrasting qualities, and I cut most of my own stones. Details are important to me, so I strive for excellence in my craftmanship and I design the back sides of my pieces to be as beautiful as the fronts. Often I set stones in hidden places, create original clasps, and make each chain individually.

 
   
 
   
 
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"Vitti Belle"

This pendant measures 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" and is suspended from a 24" handmade double chain. It is fabricated from 18K gold, 22 K gold, and shakudo (an ancient Japanese copper/gold alloy). The gold leaves and vines are formed through the techniques of chasing and repousse, which creates three dimensions with the use of punches, files, and other tools. The central stone on the front is a 10 mm. round emerald weighing 3.87 cts. The small upper stone is a 4.9 mm. Cat's eye chrysoberyl, and the pearl is a 2.7 ct. American natural freshwater pearl. On the back side, the design is carved into the metal with files and punches to create a low relief dimensional design. Some of the gold vines and leaves from the front side wrap around to the back to form the loops that the chain hangs from. The central stone on the back is a 1.24 ct. Lightning Ridge black opal, and the upper stone is a 5 mm. round rose cut diamond weighing .25 cts.

The double chain is entirely hand fabricated and terminates in a fabricated double ivy leaf clasp that echoes the front side of the piece.

The necklace comes in an individually made silk lined box, form-fit to cradle the necklace within it.

 
     
 
"Les Tres Baigneurs"

This pendant is fabricated from 18K gold, 22 K gold, and shakudo(an ancient Japanese copper/gold alloy). It measures The gold leaves, flowers and sculptural elements are formed through the techniques of chasing and repousse, which creates three dimensions with the use of punches, files, and other tools. The central "stone" is actually a beautiful piece of sculpted Lalique glass depicting three seated nude bathers. The upper stone is a mm. Round Lightning Ridge black opal weighing cts. The pearls are American natural fresh water pearls from the Mississippi River.

The back side has been pierced and dimensionally formed with chasing and repousse techniques. Some of the gold vines from the front side wrap around and through the back side to create the loops that the chain is attached to.

The 18" chain is a twisted curb hand fabricated chain that is doubled at the pendant and becomes a single chain at a small pearl. The clasp is fabricated in a double leaf form that echos the elegant leaves on the front of the pendant. A small pearl is suspended from the clasp on a chain segment to caress and enhance the back of the neck when worn.

It comes in an individually made silk lined box, form -fit to cradle the necklace within it.

 
     
 
 
 
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  Please note that all works presented here are Copyright © The Artist. Please respect their copyrights to their work and contact the artist for permission if you wish to copy their images.  
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