December 8, 2011

Dear Customers-

It has been almost a year since I wrote an open letter to you about changes that I planned to make in my work life. I had in mind to do a greater variety of work, including drawing, printmaking, and furniture making. Some of this has come about, but I have been unexpectedly drawn to return to the jewelry making much more than I anticipated. This is so in part because I am very comfortable in the process of imagining, visualizing, and creating the jewelry pieces, and also because I enjoy the process of communicating and dealing with you, the customer. The drawing and printmaking, at this point, is more of a solitary pursuit.

So, I guess I'm not going to worry about it too much, just to do each day what I feel like doing... now that doesn't sound too bad, does it? In fact, I get a lot of pleasure of working on these little "worlds" (as I think of the pieces as they are made) and how they are received and appreciated by my customers. As I enter my 71st year of life, I am more than ever grateful for the many blessings in my life, of marriage, family, friends, and satisfying work... and that I am still able to enjoy all of this!

As before, I am concentrating on engagement rings using antique (late 19th century) diamonds, and making a selection of other pieces as they come up, which will be listed as numbered pieces with descriptions, ready for sale. I'm not taking on the making of rings or other pieces with customer's stones, although I am taking custom orders on diamond rings made with stones that I find and supply. As before, I will also take orders for wedding bands, which can be made in a style complimentary to the engagement ring. You will notice an archive of examples of wedding bands.

This fall my wife Anne and I traveled once again to Italy, looking at, drawing, and photographing the great variety of historic art and artifacts which provide us with so much inspiration in our creative work (Anne makes beautiful pottery pieces in her workshop). I'm enclosing a few photos of things which we found. And, as always, I appreciate the support and encouragement of our many customers... and look forward to questions and comments from you.

          Best regards,
                                             Jim