Wednesday April 23, 2008

JLK HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY

Jennie Lorette Keatts

Jennie Lorette Keatts was raised in New Hampshire, and graduated with a BA from the University of Colorado. She lived in Colorado until July 1999 working and traveling in the international tourism industry. In  1996 she took a basic jewelry making class  and began to do some very simple pieces using pottery and glaze drips for the shop at Jugtown Pottery, owned by her sister Pam Owens and husband Vernon.  She also began to collect beads and to make necklaces designed exclusively for  Jugtown Pottery using handmade pottery miniatures and beads created by Pam. As life in the tourism industry grew more stressful and unfulfilling, she decided to give it up and move to Jugtown to pursue her dream of jewelry making. In July 1999 she quit her job and moved to the very creative and serene environment of Jugtown Pottery in Seagrove, NC,  to pursue her dream of designing jewelry at Jugtown Pottery.  She now lives within walking distance of Jugtown with her partner Wes, their dog and four cats!

And she has never looked back!

Most of the jewelry designs incorporate pottery stones, or pottery beads  as well as natural stones and gems. The pottery beads and cabochons  are created by hand and dryed for the first firing. Following the bisque, the first firing that hardens them, the glazes are layered to create pieces full of depth and imagination. The glazes are a product of the earth and have varying melting points that create these wonderful stones and therefore blend beautifully with the semi-precious stones used. In mixing the glazes Keatts has found that she can create some of the randomness found in nature and her beautiful stones and gems. Her worldwide travels during her life in the  tourism industry, have greatly contributed to the elements used in her designs, especially drawing on influences from Asia.

The stones are set in sterling silver and often complemented with 14 or 18K or 14K gold fill,  and/or copper. Reticulation and texturing are some of her favorite methods of working the silver, to bring more interest to the pieces. The necklaces are created with the handmade and glazed pottery beads. These beads are paired with semi-precious stone beads, sterling silver and vintage glass beads. The necklaces are varied and include a sterling silver pendant or handmade figural, or the original Jugtown necklace which features hand turned miniature pottery turned by Pam Owens. Each piece is unique and brings forth many of the elements that come from the earth!

EXHIBITIONS-ARTICLES ( as of 01/2003)