Coastal Living and Coastal Jewelry

VERONICA STEWART

Who is an artisan that Pearl Girls Shop admires most? It is Veronica Stewart who we met on a visit to Vancouver! This page just shows some of her work. Veronica Stewart Pottery and Designs is a home-based business located in the beautiful city of Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Veronica was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art Ceramics Programme in 1979. She emigrated to Canada, living in Toronto until 1981. After moving to Victoria, her first child was born in 1984, and in 1987 she returned to pottery, setting up her own studio and producing a range of functional porcelain. With the birth of her second child in 1989, Veronica chose to concentrate on the creation of goddess images in clay.

Pearl Girls discovered Veronica's work in a open air market in a tourist town in the Pacific Northwest. Veronica's beautiful sculpture and jewelry pieces stood out at the crowded market. But we went to eat first... a fine mist of rain started...so we dashed out to find Veronica. ...she was gone. As the Pearl Girls tracked her down; we found her packing her car AND together we found some beautiful treasures. Pearl Girls wanted others to share her beautiful wearable art too.

Veronic's latest venture into the world of silver jewelry was prompted by the discovery of a new material, Precious Metal Clay (PMC). "It is hard to describe how exciting this new 'clay' is and what it means to me, as a potter who has always loved jewelry: I can create designs in the same way as I do for pottery, make them in PMC, fire them and the result is silver! I am delighted to add a collection of silver PMC jewelry to my business."

Precious Metal Clay is made up of 3 ingredients, the largest portion being pure silver, which has been cut into tiny particles like flour. The second ingredient is a binder and the third is water. Once fired, all that is left is the metal ingredient, the binder and water having been burned out. After firing, silver clay can be handled like any other silver work, usually burnished and polished.

Artist’s Statement

In the year 2000, after over 20 years of working in clay, I started seriously exploring jewellery and became increasingly fascinated with precious metal clay (PMC). I am now working exclusively with this material in silver, wire and semi-precious stones. My current body of work explores the fusion of several techniques, which I have been refining since 2003. Crocheted and knitted fine wire is combined with shell, silver or sometimes used alone in sculptural form, to create cuff bracelets, necklaces, collars, earrings and rings which I then weave with gemstones, pearls and crystals. I have a lifelong knowledge of knitting and crochet which gives an endless supply of inspiration for stitches as well as for pattern and colour. This medium holds seemingly unlimited possibilities. In 2006 I explored more textural and sculptural directions as the crocheted wire allows for strength and form while still maintaining a delicate beauty. I am excited by this combination of techniques and gratified by the response to the work.

Biography

VERONICA STEWART was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from the Ceramics Program of Edinburgh College of Art in 1979. VERONICA emigrated to Canada, living in Toronto from 1979 to 1981 where she taught crafts to children in the schools program at Harbourfront and worked at Mirvish’s art bookstore. After moving to Victoria in 1981 she worked for Robin Hopper for two years, completing 15,000 glaze tests for his book, “The Ceramic Spectrum.”

From 1984 to the present, VERONICA STEWEART have raised two sons and set up my own home-based pottery studio. Initially she produced a range of functional porcelain and later moved on to a line of slip-cast goddesses which she still produces and sell worldwide. She has spent considerable time during this period also making one-of-a-kind gallery pieces, particularly working with smoke-fired terra sigillatas.

In 2000 VERONICA STEWART started seriously exploring jewellery, after becoming increasingly fascinated with PMC (precious metal clay): the clay connection is clear and she enjoyed the challenge of working on a very different scale. Having always loved jewellery, this seemed like a perfect stepping stone into a new area of work and she is now working exclusively with silver, wire and semi-precious stones. Veronica in her home shop.
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Garden Landscape Collar

PMC Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, pearl, peridot, crystal - notice the exquisite workmanship of this masterpiece

$ 55 Copper Crochet Pearl & Amber Stone Ring

New Garden Landscapes Cuff $625 A completely original cuff designed in the garden landscapes theme and matching the Collar. The handmade silver flowers have amethyst stones, pearls and Swarovski crystals in their centres and the leafy green is created with woven peridot stones, pearls and swarovski crystals. The finishing touches of matching peridot green wire mesh woven through the lower edge of the piece and a row of amethyst beads rolled inside the upper edge, giving weight and a whimsical touch you will love. A fabulous full length slide clasp ensures a perfect fit and absolute security - width of this cuff is a dramatic four inches. Fine silver crocheted wire and flowers - your choice of stone, pearl and crystal colour. Length can be selected below

Pearl Watches custom made to your wrist size and colors $195

White multi-chain necklace by Veronica Stewart, can be worn six ways

WATERFALL PENDANT ....Crocheted fine silver wire scattered with white freshwater pearls flows from this hand-made fine silver textured pendant in this unique 3-dimensional piece. Size : 2 inches high by 1 1/2 inches wide. Hangs from a gorgeous sterling silver neck ring in your choice of 16 or 18 inch length $245

$175 This original pendant features a frame of hand-made textured fine silver enclosing a "garden" of crocheted silver wire woven with freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals. Size : 2 1/2-inches high with bail by 1 1/2-inches wide Hangs from a sterling neck ring in your choice of a 16 or 18-inch length

$225 Fairy Necklace Such a delicate necklace perfect for a warm summer evening worn with a floaty dress! This unusual style features fine silver mesh woven through sterling silver chain. The moonstone drops and Swarovski crystals add a hint of sparkle and movement. Worn close to the neck, this necklace has a 2-inch chain extender which fastens with a sterling lobster clasp and can be ordered in 16-inch or 18-inch length. Alternate stone and matching Swarovski crystal choices are available below.