Guild Members
The Spokane Jewelers Guild formed in 1982, and consists of an ever-varying membership with a variety of specialties, backgrounds and interests. Guild members this year work in sterling silver, titanium, copper and mixed metals, as well as vitreous glass enamel, polymer clay, fibers, found objects, crystal, and precious and semi-precious gemstones. Techniques include beadwork, weaving (wire, fibers, beads), designs strung with gemstone beads, fusing, riveting and much more.
Guild members' work can often be found at the following galleries and shows in the Spokane area:
Annual Challenges & Monthly Programs
- Every year, each member of the Spokane Jewelers Guild creates a new piece -- based on a theme that changes annually -- that goes on display at the annual Rock Roller's show held at the Spokane County fairgrounds. This year's theme is Fire & Ice.
- Members challenge themselves to create beads for an annual bead exchange. The beads can be made of any material. The challenge is to teach yourself a new technique and perfect it, by creating a bead for each other participating member.
- A fun optional challenge is to create a Christmas ornament for the December meeting. Part of the challenge is simply to create a Christmas ornament rather than a piece of jewelry. Another part of the challenge is guessing who made each ornament, as they are wrapped anonymously, and each participating member draws a random number to see which ornament they will receive.
- Monthly programs are generally 30 minutes long, and can be on any topic, from jewelry-making techniques to pricing your jewelry, taking good photographs, or how to create the perfect earring card that will work in every gallery....
- Each member is encouraged to share 5-minute "Tips & Techniques" (great new books or tools, time-saving tips we've learned by trial and error, etc.).
Women's Shelter Jewelry Project
Help create a glimmer of hope by donating jewelry that is no longer worn because it is unloved, unwanted or broken. Any and all jewelry can be contributed to the project -- even a single earring.
Bring your unloved, unwanted jewelry in to the Rings & Things Showroom and deposit it in the Women's Shelter Jewelry Project donation box. Donations of jewelry supplies (necklace chains, ear wires, jump rings, pretty bails, etc.) are also useful! The Spokane Jewelers Guild will sort, clean, repurpose or repair the jewelry as needed. It will then be given to various women's shelters and agencies that serve disadvantaged or abused women. 300-400 pieces annually are cleaned, repaired and donated at Christmas time, Mother's Day and other special occasions, to the Teen Prom Closet, I Remember Mama, VOA’s Hope House, the Alexandria House and more. Your old jewelry will be given new life, and may help provide the confidence to find a new job or a new life, or just show that someone cares.
For more information about the Women's Shelter Project, contact Kris at 509.747.5028.
