Custom-made-to-order, Organic free-form jewelry
This is an example of my flamed glass.
Pendant electro-formed fine silver on glass. Private collection (1984).
I developed the style and technique for my organic jewelry over 20 years ago, and as far as I know, there isn't another jeweler doing anything like it. It was originally inspired by heating a glass rod with my torch. I found that by stretching it and working it back on itself, I could develop smooth, organic, fluid lines that reminded me of art nouveau.
The lost wax casting process.
One of the basic techniques for creating jewelry is lost wax casting. This usually involves carving and filing away from a block of hard wax. Another technique is one used by sculptors. This utilizes a soft modeling wax. The wax model is developed by rolling the wax out into elongated strips or flattening wax into sheets, then bending and wrapping them into shape.
The wax model (ring) is then covered with a fireproof plaster; in a kiln, the wax is burned out, and then the metal (gold, silver, or platinum) is poured in. After the metal cools, the plaster mold is dropped in a bucket of water and washed away to expose the one-of-a-kind metal casting. The gate is cut off, and the rough casting is then filed and polished to perfection.
A thought occurred to me, what if I could stretch wax?
Over the next five years, I experimented with many possibilities, leading in many directions. Finally, at the end of a very long road, I came up with a mixture of natural beeswax and organic tree resins. It may sound a bit spooky, but every time I use this technique, I feel that it's the spirit of the tree (resin) that is animating the wax. In this process, unexpected creative accidents are constantly occurring. The way that the lines and surfaces will spontaneously play with each other, or the way totally unrepeatable folds and interesting textures will appear. The analogy that I like to use is that carving wax is like oil painting, you start with a sketch, and every brushstroke is defined. Where this process is more like watercolors, you just wet the page, apply the paint, and as the paint flows, magic happens.
My organic free-form designs are all one-of-a-kind. Customers usually start by picking out their favorites and then describing what they like (and don't like) about them. As an example, would they prefer to see stones set in open areas or on more solid, wider, broader surfaces? Would they prefer bezels or prong settings? With pavé set stones or without? Do they like the drawn-out tails that I create, or would they like more or less of them? Do they like the little spheres on the ends, or would they prefer these lines just blend and disappear into the surrounding material?
I then create a collection of waxes, email images of these, and have you pick out your favorite. This wax is then cast into the desired metal.
To place an order for our - Fluid Organic, free-form jewelry
If you are in the Toronto area, you could make an appointment to visit our studio/workshop. We would then, if need be, size your finger, and after working out all the design, materials, and pricing, you could then leave a deposit to get the work started.
For out-of-town special orders (Items not in my shopping cart), payments would be through PayPal. If you are interested in placing an order, I would need the email address associated with your PayPal account; I would then go into my PayPal account and generate a detailed invoice. Then PayPal will email this invoice to you. A 25% deposit would be required to get the job started, and then I would create a collection of waxes, pick out 3-4 of my favorites, photograph these, and email these images to you. I would ask you to pick out your favorite wax and then ask you to add another 25% deposit to bring your total deposit up to 50%. We would then cast this wax into the desired metal, and after finishing and setting the stone/s, then the balance of the invoice would be paid just prior to the fully insured FedEx shipping.
For out-of-town special orders, I would need your shipping address (the shipping address registered with PayPal). This is the address that PayPal would require that we ship to. I can also provide you with a FedEx shipping quote with this address.
Please email us with, Product SKU: (model number/s) that you are interested in
A phone conversation could also be helpful. Our North American toll-free number is 1-877-844-8743 - 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. EST – (Eastern Standard Time).
If you are out of town and require a ring size, I suggest you go to a local jeweler and have your finger properly sized.
We can size to in-between sizes. 6, 6 1/4, 6 1/2, 6 3/4, 7, 7 1/4…
We can also do a conversion for European and Asian ring sizes.
Metamorphosis "We Make Ideas Real"
Custom made - organic jewelry gallery
