Barbara Umbel

I hand fabricate jewelry using sea urchins and shells, capturing the feeling of movement of mythical sea creatures, whether they be swimming, plunging, or floating in the water. I build the settings for the shells and stones out of gold sheets and wires. I sculpt the tentacles by forging round sterling wires on an anvil to achieve a fluid sense of motion. Traditional blacksmithing techniques and hand tools are the foundation of my metals practice.