Linda Brantley
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Crystal Cork Art Quarterly No. 2
Fresh Water Pearls: Unique creations by Linda Brantley
Where: The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe, 219 W. 1st Street, Dixon, IL
When: November 21, 2008 - January 31, 2009
BIO
I began my interest and eventual passion for jewelry in high school. At 15, I started working at Trein's Jewelry in
Dixon and the love of metals, gemstones and pearls developed quickly.
In my early 20's, I began studying gemology and achieved the titles coveted by our industry. In my mid 40's, I
earned the title of Certified Gemologist Appraiser, the highest title in our industry. Eager for more education, I
studied with the Gemological Institute in Antwerp, Belgium and graduated with their title of gemologist.
Working in the jewelry industry is more of a passion than a job. Gemology is fascinating and every facet of the
jewelry industry interests me. My two sons and I studied under master goldsmiths in Idar Oberstein, West
Germany. Learning more about working with gold and silver while studying about gemstones from around the
world was a summer well spent.
Numerous trips to South America to visit emerald and topaz mines offered another aspect of mining and
recovering gemstones. Many trips to Belgium to study and buy diamonds added to the excitement.
Fresh water pearl jewelry design was a wonderful pastime as I cared eight years for my husband with Alzheimer's
disease. Fresh water pearls are beautiful and individually fascinating. There are so many different shapes and
colors. Combining the shapes and colors of pearls and metals, gold, silver and some platinum make for exciting
and wonderful pieces of adornment. I get great pleasure from looking at the pearls, deciding what to do with
them, touching them and holding what was once part of a living mollusk.
Although I do not practice, I am a registered nurse, licensed pilot and certified scuba diver. When I turned 50, I
celebrated by climbing Mt. Kilamanjaro in Tanzania, Africa and then visiting the Tanzanite mines.
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Crystal Cork Art Quarterly No. 2
Fresh Water Pearls: Unique creations by Linda Brantley
Where: The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe, 219 W. 1st Street, Dixon, IL
When: November 21, 2008 - January 31, 2009
BIO
I began my interest and eventual passion for jewelry in high school. At 15, I started working at Trein's Jewelry in
Dixon and the love of metals, gemstones and pearls developed quickly.
In my early 20's, I began studying gemology and achieved the titles coveted by our industry. In my mid 40's, I
earned the title of Certified Gemologist Appraiser, the highest title in our industry. Eager for more education, I
studied with the Gemological Institute in Antwerp, Belgium and graduated with their title of gemologist.
Working in the jewelry industry is more of a passion than a job. Gemology is fascinating and every facet of the
jewelry industry interests me. My two sons and I studied under master goldsmiths in Idar Oberstein, West
Germany. Learning more about working with gold and silver while studying about gemstones from around the
world was a summer well spent.
Numerous trips to South America to visit emerald and topaz mines offered another aspect of mining and
recovering gemstones. Many trips to Belgium to study and buy diamonds added to the excitement.
Fresh water pearl jewelry design was a wonderful pastime as I cared eight years for my husband with Alzheimer's
disease. Fresh water pearls are beautiful and individually fascinating. There are so many different shapes and
colors. Combining the shapes and colors of pearls and metals, gold, silver and some platinum make for exciting
and wonderful pieces of adornment. I get great pleasure from looking at the pearls, deciding what to do with
them, touching them and holding what was once part of a living mollusk.
Although I do not practice, I am a registered nurse, licensed pilot and certified scuba diver. When I turned 50, I
celebrated by climbing Mt. Kilamanjaro in Tanzania, Africa and then visiting the Tanzanite mines.
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| Brought to you by the people at The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe, Trein's Jewelry, and Distinctive Gardens, working cooperatively to expand our area's strong community support for the arts. |
Artists
