Lake Norman Magazine - Accessible Art

Dawn Vertrees of Dawn Vertrees Jewelry in her Cornelius home studio working with a lost wax process to sculpt a decorative wine glass ornament commissioned for use in an upcoming wedding.

-Grant Baldwin Photography - Grant Baldwin

Dawn Vertrees, 54, Etsy store: DawnVertreesJewelry

After retiring from a lengthy 
corporate career, an unexpected mentor came into Dawn Vertrees’ life. Volker Kracht, a senior master jeweler from Germany, put off retirement for three years after seeing a stunning orchid pendant that Vertrees made from three sheets of wax.

Since 2001, Vertrees has pursued different artistic media, starting with ceramic jewelry and moving on to the world of Lost Wax, which she works in today to make fine artisan jewelry like intricately designed rings and pendants depicting tree frogs, turtles, starfish, and other nature-inspired subjects.

Along the way, she’s picked up numerous awards at festivals and art shows across the Southeast while making a living 

from her craftsmanship. But when the constant travel started to take its toll, Vertrees turned to the Internet to keep her business going.

“I got so tired of being out on the road that one day while my husband was filling up the motor coach with gas, I created an Etsy site and at each rest stop and break I had, I photographed my pieces so I could continue to make money without having to constantly travel to shows,” Vertrees says.

The Internet opened up more doors for Vertrees, allowing jewelry retailers in St. John, Virgin Islands and Disney resorts to discover her pieces and add them to their collections. 
In the coming months, Vertrees says her business will come full circle as she’s in the process of building a wholesale market and will eventually only sell through brick-and-mortar stores.

“It’s the circle of life of being a jewelry designer. Art shows come first, then Internet, and then wholesale and possibly, a a few wholesale shows,” Vertrees adds.

Read more here: Accessible Art

DV Catalog: Dawn Vertrees 2014 Catalog

Wholesale Contact: Julie King Julie@buydawnvertreesjewelry.com, or by phone at 340-344-0410

Ocean Reef Flip Cuff Bracelet

Ocean Reef Flip Cuff Bracelet

Have you ever thought about buying an heirloom?

An heirloom can be a piece of jewelry you purchased or a piece you had made...either way, this special piece of jewelry should bring out your emotions, your thoughts or just put a smile on your face. It's something that has brought you joy and you want to pass it down to the next generations for them to cherish and enjoy as well.

Needless to say, my daughter will be getting quite a few heirlooms especially this one. It only took one trip to the islands to fall in love with the ocean and everything in it but the most fascinating part of the ocean to me has to be the sea fan coral...its soft skeletal design gracefully moves with the currents. It's that movement I wanted to capture with this new Collection. I wanted to recreate that movement without it actually moving but I also wanted the piece to tell a story.

Such as the Starfish finding a safe place to land or the tip of the sea fan capturing a large pearl for its own enjoyment. I hope that whoever wears a piece of my sea fan jewelry, sees the movement that I see and simple takes you away for just a moment.

So whether it's a piece of jewelry that I create or one that I have made especially for you, I always imagine it being passed down to the next generations and bringing joy to the one wearing it.


Materials: Sterling Silver & 14k Yellow Gold
Pearl: Natural Color Freshwater Pearl, No Dyes.
Finish: High Polished
Size: Medium

A Few Options

The starfish is cast in 14k Yellow Gold and the Pearl shown is a 11mm Natural Fresh Water Pearl. Other pearl options are South Sea or Tahitian. Pearls that are 10mm-11mm work well with this design.

I have sculpted several starfish in various sizes, so a cluster would also look fabulous on this cuff.

Additional Pearl Options: Please let me know if your would like another pearl besides Freshwater. I would be happy to locate your pearl at the best price available.

My process for creating my Sea Fan Coral Jewelry

A piece of 16 gauge wax wire is cut into 2-4mm lengths and each one is soldered together to create the fan coral design. There are no shortcuts for me when creating my wax pieces. It's a labor of love and the results are something that I am very proud of. It takes great equipment from my caster to get these right. I push the limits when it comes to sculpting and casting.

When Volker (Master Jeweler) ask me, what did I want to learn? He said I can teach you everything about making jewelry! I asked if I could think about it overnight. I came back to him the next day and ask if it was OK just to concentrate on sculpting the wax to make jewelry? I told him I felt my time would be better spent on design, and spending the time needed to creating realistic wax models with the detail I felt they needed. He said it was OK and I never regretted my decision not to do it all.

Murex and Sea Fan Coral Fusion Cuff Bracelet

More Information, Click Here.

Murex & Sea Fan Fusion Cuff Bracelet

Creating Wearable Art

To this day, when I walk on the beach, I would see shells, starfish and corals washed up on the shore. The seaweed or coral would be intertwined with the shells as they rolled back and forth with the waves.

I guess some people would just ignore the mangled clump of sea life but I could see a painting laying on the sand, or as a scarf around your neck or a piece of jewelry wrapped around my arm. It was those fascinating little pieces that were the inspiration for making this cuff.

The Cuff is half Murex Shell and half Sea Fan Coral...just two fascinating pieces that came together as one.

So when I sit down at my bench, I have the opportunity to create just that, wearable art. It may take a month, sometimes several months but eventually, I will walk out of my studio with a piece of art that has never existed before.

Material: 92.5 Sterling Silver

Finish: High Polished

Size: Medium

Starfish Ring - Sterling Silver Starfish Ring - Truly Unique Starfish Jewelry

Item Number: DV-67-SS

Materials:

Starfish: 14k Solid Yellow Gold 

Sea Fan Coral and Band: 92.5 Sterling Silver

Pearl: Natural Freshwater Pearl (no dyes) 

Band: Adjustable

An all time favorite now made available in a 9.75mm - 10.25mm Natural Color Freshwater Pearl with hand sculpted sea fan coral on one side a starfish holding up the other side in solid gold.

This is a high-end adjustable ring, before it ships it is set in your size. If in the future you require a smaller or larger size, just take it to a local jeweler to easily re-size your rings. Re-soldering is not necessary.

Pearl Options: Different Pearls are available such as Tahitian, South Sea, Japanese Akoya , please send me a convo for prices.

International Orders may require additional Insurance. Optional Insurance by UPS/FedEx

Bronze Sculpture...David's Anniversary Gift

Completed.

And most important...I have a Happy Customer!

Total Height 7 3/4" 

Weight 3 lbs

Finish: High Polished Bronze with a light Oxidation

3.25" Checkers Each

I have never thought about sculpting people until this job came across my desk. I saw the sketch my customer gave me and it just spoke to me. I knew if I was going to get the opportunity to sculpt people...this was it. 

I went back in fourth with the detail issue, how much was needed? Should there be eyes, ears and fingers? So I decided to just start building the wax model and hopefully, it would hit me at some point how much detail was needed.

 

Well this is what I have learned...No, you don't need eyes to show feeling. A simple turn of the head, their arms embarrassing each other, her leg lifting up can all say "I love you"

 

Their hands blend into each others body becoming one.

The finished piece will be cast in bronze, polished and possibly antiqued.

Tuttle...My New Loggerhead Turtle Pendant

I would like to introduce Tuttle!

Tuttle, new loggerhead turtle pendant.

Measurements are 1 3/8" long by 1 3/4" wide

For more information about Tuttle, please email me at 

dawnvertrees@gmail.com

Thanks for looking!

Dawn

Fusion Shell and Pearl Necklace

"Hermit"

Fusion Shell and Pearl Necklace

I think it's time I made this piece. Designed in 2011, this is when the Fusion concept was entering my mind and now I think I'm ready to start sculpting. As always...in my mind, I get to change it 20-30%

I'm a woman, it's my prerogative...but I guarantee it will be better if I do.

Ocean Reef and Starfish "Flip" Ring

Look what I have! 

My Ocean Reef Flip is finally completed. The Starfish is 14k Yellow Gold, the Fan Coral is Sterling Silver and the Pearl is the buyers choice. Would look great with a Tahitian or South Sea Pearl.

Now I'm ready to complete the Cuff and the Necklace!

Dawn Vertrees Starfish Earrings

New Starfish Earrings

I love these Starfish Earrings, they are about an inch wide (tip to tip) 

and hang from one tentacle 

which make these elegant beachwear jewelry!

Available in Post & Ear Wires

Verace Showcases my Nautical Collection

Verace

St. John, US Virgin Islands

I just received some really great pictures from one of the owners (Julie) at Verace in St. John US Virgin Island. They mainly carry my Nautical Collection but look how beautiful their store is...I'm going to have to add a pillow to my chair just so that I can sit a little taller in my chair.

I can't wait to do that Trunk Show!

  

Sterling Silver Ginkgo Ring with Seeds

Ginkgo Ring

Sterling Silver Ginkgo Ring with Seeds

I'm wearing this one as I write, It's Super Unique!

When I sat down to sculpt this ring, I download a lot of pictures of Ginkgo leaves and what I noticed about the leaves is that they are in clusters and they have the coolest seeds. So I sculpted three leaves and then added three seeds as a center piece for the ring. I put a satin finish on the leaves and then put a high polish on the seeds, which now look like little silver pearls.

One each side of the ring, I sculpted six very small Ginkgo leaves and added three leaves to each side of the ring shank. This ring came together beautifully, can't wait to make another one.

Also, we use a tarnish resistance sterling casting grains when we cast my pieces, they call this De-Oxidized 92.5 Sterling Silver, it's a bit more pricey but you'll love the non-resistance feature.

$149.00


Materials: 92.5 Sterling Silver
Finish: High Polished and Satin Finish
Size: little over an 11/8" wide x 7/8" wide
Current Size is 7.5
Please specify your ring size when ordering and allow 10 days to ship.

Becky's Cuff - Finished!

Click here to see all of the photos
from start to finish!

Fusion Ocean Jewelry

This most unusual designed ring defies definition. It's organic, yet un-natural, it's twisted, yet so sophisticated. The contrasting textures of the gnarly starfish tentacles wrapping around a ring shank of smooth, highly polished fan coral, combine in a look and feel we call "Fusion".

If you like unusual...but with a twist, this ring is for you!

Available in 6, 7, & 8

Available on Etsy

Fusion Starfish Pendant

Fusion Starfish Pendant

Hand sculpted Starfish Pendant using the lost wax process and cast in Sterling Silver with oxidation added to bring out my detail. Fusion is a new line I introduced this month to be combined with my Ocean Reef Collection. Fusion is a combination of a classic Starfish but with Fan Coral laying on the starfish, fusing itself to the starfish.

I wanted to create a true piece of wearable art.

The piece is 2" in diameter.

Available in our Etsy Shop

New Bamboo Ring

The EDGE Bamboo Ring with

sculpted bamboo leaves 

I'm not going to be shy about this ring...I love it.

I sculpted a graduated bamboo base and then added three little bamboo leaves to each section of the bamboo. The "Edge" comes from where the wide bamboo starts and the small bamboo begins. This is not a lightweight ring but I've sculpted a well made ring and I think at a great price too. You can check this out at my new Etsy Store, just click on the Etsy Store Logo.
Materials: Sterling Silver (shown) with oxidation to bring out the detail.
Widest Width: 7/8"
Available in 1/2 sizes, please specify.
Available Finishes: Sterling Silver, Bronze, Gold Plated & Rhodium Finish

Tree Frog Cuff

 This is going to be one cool cuff.

The back legs and feet are actually what goes around the arm holding the cuff in place plus the upper left arm and hand just add extra support. The right hand props his head up and although his back is facing you now, when wearing him he is looking at you. So whether he is on your left arm or right, he is always looking at you. As pictured now, he is on your right arm scooting down...on your left arm, he is scooting up your arm. No profile shots yet...still fine tuning his handsome features.

The first casting will be all Sterling Silver with antiquing to bring out the detail and depth in the philodendrons.

My Little Tree Frog Cutie Pie Cuff with little heart

Philodendrons trailing down his back.



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