Barbara Hance

Attraction for the creative process began very early for me. I was so intrigued as I watched family members create something beautiful or useful seemingly out of thin air. Beautiful cakes, functional woodworking projects, paintings created from snap shots, or even the building of a simple kite in the kitchen on a Saturday morning, fueled my imagination. The spark was ignited, I wanted to be able to create that magic myself. 

Anything created by hand interested me. Quilt making and cake decorating were my first two creative outlets. I loved working with colors, creating designs and manipulating shapes into a visually pleasing, comforting quilt or a cake that could add an element of beauty or whimsicality to a special occasion. My cake decorating hobby eventually led me into a 30-year career in the commercial baking industry. As retirement approached, I began to look for a new creative outlet and discovered metal clay. After taking several classes in jewelry design one of my instructors suggested I try a new silver material, metal clay.

I was skeptical at first, but that quickly changed! Watching the ring I designed from the clay like material, then fired in a kiln, transform into pure silver was magical. I realized I needed to learn more about this amazing medium. While quilt making, cake decorating and jewelry design seem to be unrealated, I have discovered the creative process is the same no matter what medium is used. Consideration for color, texture and design apply to all forms of art work. Metal clay is a medium that lends itself to the imagination of the artist. A clay like material consisting of particles of fine silver, suspended in an organic binder can be textured, molded, carved and sculpted allowing endless creativity by the artist. The Modernists artists influence much of my jewelry designs. I especially love the elegance of the 1930's and 40's. The sleek jewelry designs were bold and had unexpected shapes that complimented the simple line and beautiful drape of the women's fashion during those two decades. 

This jewelry line is created with fine silver and, depending upon design, can include semi precious stones, Lab created gemstones, hand fused glass and enamel inclusions. The designs retain the uncluttered elegance of this time period. As I created these pieces, I envisioned the woman who loves to accessorize a casual outfit with a splash of quiet elegance, or add sparkle for just the right touch to complete an outfit for a special occasion. These pieces are designed to be worn and enjoyed for generations.