A J 0 B w E L L L o V E D onegemher blissfollowing at a time Jewelry designer turns her passion into her vocation by EVY wARshAwskI garage sales, and making art sculptures as gifts. “I Market or in her studio, where, she says, “the Hcentered on what we love, and that art was in my future.” Fast forward to high restorations, the trust that clients place in her lapmagic happens.” She’s maintained strongrelationships with past vendors, and as Wearcontinues to handle jewelry repairs andwas poor, so I had to be creative,” she said. Shebegan making jewelry at age sixteen. “Even then,”Wear reminisces, “I had the instinctive feelingow many of us can boast ofcreating a daily work schedule getting paid for it—all without ever leaving the school graduation, after which Wear took on —and imagination—have given her a penchant comfort of our couch? three separate apprenticeships at jewelry stores in for fulfilling more unconventional customer Meet Lori Wear—goldsmith, bench jeweler Indiana. “These were stores that had been around requests with her custom designs. and master craftsman—who takes “working from fifty, seventy-five and a hundred years,” Wear "l recently made a ring using motorcycle parts, home” to heart. In a cheery, bright indoor sun recalls, “where I learned ‘old school’ methods and I'm designing one out of comic strip art," porch, conveniently located off the first floor that are not taught in school—ones that many Wear said. "These are the special treats!" living room of her 1930s Alta Heights bungalow, goldsmiths don’t have as tools under their belts. I Home and jewelry have been catalysts for Wear Wear has fashioned what she describes as “my was a journeyman by twenty-two and considered —for artistry, sharing stories and friendships. In favorite room in the house.” a master by twenty-five. It’s what makes me that light, she’s currently working on two literary Through large windows, the rooftops of accomplished at what I do.” projects: a coffee table book of designs from the her neighbors’ homes form geometric patterns At twenty-seven, Wear landed a job with past fourteen years (“a personal diary of my jewelry reminiscent of a Leger painting. The room is filled Castro & Company, a jewelry repair and sales life”) and a tome of thirty to forty stories about the with the daunting-looking tools of her trade, business located in downtown Napa. It was here building of her philosophies and belief systems. including a laser welder (her favorite), polisher, that she honed and polished her skills as well as She recently joined Kiwanis to help build rolling mills and the centrifuge, which casts metal discovered an innate talent for turning customers playgrounds and support scholarship programs, into molds. Regally presiding over the proceedings into clients (and friends). When the lease became and while she maintains a solid working base of is canine mascot Albert Mason, an energetic collie- available, Wear heard “the universe speaking,” and shepherd rescued from the animal shelter. named her new store after a favorite gemstone, clients, she sees her future expanding globally. “I’m content,” she said, “but there’s lots of room When I visited, Wear had just returned from spinelle, a rose-tinted mineral found near to incorporate more.” The “more” also includes an enviable trip to New Orleans as part of a potential diamond mining sites. “When I met a bucket list: glass blowing, scuba diving and commission for a long-time client. Her assignment jewelry,” Wear said, “I knew it would satisfy my a sailing class. “I’m back on deck, working my was to study the local architecture and find the yearning for learning and force me to ‘push my “essence” of place. “He wanted me to ‘discover walls.’” But after seven years of running a retail dream one-on-one,” Wear said, “where creativity edgy’ and create an original necklace, but I’m going store coupled with the recession, Wear changed has no bounds.” to convince him to do a ring instead,” Wear said. “I her focus to finding more personal balance in her To contact Lori Wear, visit her on Facebook know this is the gift she really wants.” own art and life. She moved back home! at https://www.facebook.com/lori.wear2?fref=ts. For “play dates,” call 707-253-7789 or email Wear’s creativity emerged at an early age. She Wear’s office can be found via mobile device or remembers collecting “random things” from at a client “play date,” hanging out at Oxbow lori@spinelle.net. J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 17
NVLife Jan-Feb 2013
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