Carol Martin

Using the Pate de Verre and Cast Glass methods is labor intensive and rare in jewelry design. The ability to design and sculpt unique shapes with unlimited colors, however, makes the effort worthwhile. I start with creating the design in clay or wax, making a onetime mold into which I precisely arrange and place combinations of glass frit (crushed glass.) The mold is then fired in the kiln until the glass flows together creating each individual design and color pattern. Before the mold is destroyed, it is cooled slowly to ensure glass strength. The rough glass is ground to the final shape and finished either with a second firing in the kiln to glaze the surface or hand polishing using lapidary tools. Along with my glass technique, I fabricate and forge the settings in sterling silver and 18K gold. I feel jewelry is not only an adornment, but also a personal expression of ones self. Color and light in nature, the beauty of landscapes, and the symbolism in geometrical shapes are all inspiration for my work. I like offering unconventional designs that express a fresh and colorful style with functionally being wearable.