Michel McNabb

Jewelry has always been an obsession for me. As a little girl, I could sit for hours on my mother's bed going through jewelry box. I began making jewelry at about eight years old from colored telephone wires and gum wrappers. As a college student at Denison University, I majored in fine art, specializing in intaglio etching printmaking, where metal is etched using a fine stylus. My jewelry is made in a similar fashion by carving wax with a very fine tools in order to create detail within the design. The process begins with an idea, inspired by the beauty around me. It could be pattern from the gorgeous architecture in Spain, where I lived for 18 years, or simple forms found in nature and everyday objects. Theses ideas keep me awake at night until I can see the finished piece in my mind. Then I sit down at my workbench and begin creating. My newest work includes enamel. I am combing my cast pieces with glass fused onto metal to add a little color to my work. It is a fascinating technique. Once again, I am using etching techniques to work in Champleve. The metal is etched and enamel is placed over the etching. When I work with my hands, I am reminded that i can create objects that will last forever. Jewelry can be passed down from one generation to the next. These pieces can be sentimental and hold precious memories. It can be a talisman or bring luck. As my Aunt Bernadette once said, "Jewelry, and our ability to accessorize, is what separates us from lower forms of life."