Inspired by my paternal grandmother who became a silversmith in the 1960's through courses taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art, I have been creating my entire life and stated in the fourth grade that the only thing I wanted to be in life was an artist. I have explored many different mediums along the way ~ drawing, sculpture, photography, mixed media and have finally settled back into metalworking and jewelry design after a twenty year hiatus from the metal studio.
My work can be seen in several galleries in New Mexico. Curriculum Vitae
Born: 1961 Ann Arbor, MI Education: 1983 BFA in Metalworking & Jewelry Design, University of Michigan School of Art 1988 MFA in Photography, Virginia Commonwealth University
Each Taliswoman piece of jewelry is made completely by my hand at my studio in Madrid, New Mexico. There will be slight variations to each piece within a production series that add to the uniqueness of your purchase, therefore each piece is usually numbered within a particular series.
Taliswoman Materials & Care Sheet
Congratulations on your purchase of a piece of Taliswoman hand-made art jewelry to wear and enjoy forever! In order to protect the integrity of your new piece, please do not wear while swimming, as salt water and chlorine can damage the metal and loosen the epoxy. In addition, wearing while gardening can create unintended scratches as dirt and sand are an abrasive.
Taliswoman designs are created using sterling silver, which is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by weight of sterling and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. Taliswoman Jewelry is oxidized (darkened) with a Liver of Sulphur Patina to bring forth the complex hand-texturing and stamping to create a contemporary, yet organic look. To protect the finish and oxidation, I seal my pieces with a micro-crystalline wax called Renaissance Wax, used by museums all over the world. However, the Renaissance Wax will wear away over time like any other protective coating. Additional oxidation may occur as well, as is the nature of sterling and other metals even when protected with the wax. If the darkening bothers you, you can clean and buff the piece by lightly scrubbing it with a fine #000 grade steel wool. Don't worry about scratching the finish, as all the textures and marks on the surface become an intrinsic part of the design esthetic!
Cuff Care
While cuff bracelets are meant to be lightly adjusted, repeatedly opening and closing the wide band of the cuff can weaken the metal over time, potentially cracking the fold-formed center ridge. To avoid weakening your Taliswoman cuff, here is an easy guide to fitting your cuff ~
1) Before putting the cuff on for the first time, take a look at the side of your wrist. Find the narrowest part on the thumb-side: this is where your cuff will slide on.
2) Turn the cuff sideways and slide it on, turning your arm into the bracelet until it is correctly positioned.
3) To make it tighter, put your whole hand over the bracelet (so you don't weaken ope spot) and squeeze just enough that it won't slide off. Be sure you can still slip it back off the side of your wrist, reversing the process.
You shouldn't need to adjust your cuff again so you can enjoy it for many years to come!
Taliswoman Metal Studio Return Policy
I want you to love your new piece of unique, handmade jewelry as much as I loved creating it. I am happy to provide more photos and information about each piece, and if the item does not satisfy your expectations, I am willing to work with you on remedying the situation or exchanging the item for a comparably priced replacement within 30 days. In the event of breakage, please contact me and send a photo and written description of the problem so I can assess the damage and determine if the damage occurred due to my fabrication process. Please refer back to the section on "Cuff Care." Any cuff that has broken at the fold-formed middle seam is the result of not properly putting it on or taking it off; therefore there will be no recompense for the piece. Any return shipping of an item back to me will be paid for by the purchaser.