I am a jewellery designer, glass bead artist, and silversmith. The work of creating a piece of jewellery is extremely engaging and stimulating. Making jewellery provides me with the opportunity to play with colours and textures, and to express myself as I experiment with the age-old fascination of personal ornamentation. It is always my intention that the person who wears my jewellery will be positively affected. 

The history of glass beadmaking goes back 4000 years. Silversmithing is also an ancient art. The approach to these two practices has not really changed over the years. The tools used have virtually always been the same. Interestingly, the processes for creating adornments from silver and glass are similar, although the specific techniques are hugely different. Respect for fire is essential!

Flameworking to turn solid, cold Murano glass rods into a molten state in order to meld them into the desired form and fuse them with other colours has taught me about patience. Working with silver wire and sheet to cut, bend, hammer, and solder my way to constructing an article has taught me about perseverance.

The adornments that I make are painstakingly, individually, hand-done: each silver clasp, silver bead, silver link is made one at a time. I make each lampwork bead from Murano glass, one bead at a time. The handcrafted silverwork with the lampworked beads combine to become a one-of-a-kind art piece. I also work with a variety of stones and pearls.

Nothing is cast, nothing is mass produced. I do all the work on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada. I hope you find pleasure in the results.  
Maureen O’Connor

About the Artist

In 2000 I started seriously exploring jewellery after becoming increasingly fascinated with precious metal clay (PMC). The clay connection came from more than 20 years as a successful potter, and I enjoy the challenge of working on a very different scale. I am now working exclusively with 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, PMC silver or sometimes used alone in sculptural form, to create cuff bracelets, necklaces, collars and rings which I then weave with gemstones, pearls and crystals. I have a life-long 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 and in 2006 I have been exploring 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. I have designed a collection priced to appeal to a wide range of customers, from simple pendants selling at $50 to elaborate collars and cuffs up to $2000.

Apple Blossom Necklace

 

Daphne Elaine Raymond brings the spirit of Vancouver Island to each unique jewelry piece she thoughtfully designs and creates.  A native to the west coast and a resident of Sooke, Daphne’s artistry is inspired by an appreciation for the natural elements of her daily surroundings.  Accentuating the beauty of semi-precious stones, local shells, Czech crystals and glass her wirework jewelry creations reflect a classic, fresh and elegant design approach.

Dragon Fly Set