Octopus and Seahorse Champagne Glasses

A commission job from Claysie & Dan...yup, they are getting married!

Completed!!!

These are almost finished! Here is my husband adding the Oxidation to bring out the details in these two little sculptures.

 They are wanting two very special champagne flutes for their wedding day. Dan's flute will have the Octopus and Claysie's wants hers to have one or two seahorses on her champagne flute. 

Updated July 31

About 20 hours of work but it's definitely taking shape.

It about half finished, I just need to lock myself in the studio for about three days to complete the wax model.

Claysie & Dan have allowed me to share their ideas so the Octopus and Seahorse Champagne Glasses will be available to purchase. I will have additional information once completed.

Thanks for looking!

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!