Introducing KB Wood Jewelry
My very first pair of earrings, a gift for my wife. Made from apple wood.
Years ago I had the idea to make earrings. I hand cut out of small pieces of wood, shaped them by hand using sand paper, drilled a small hole to attach the metal fish hook hangers, and sealed with super glue.
I enjoy making them, but they are time and labor intensive. So I didn’t make another pair until recently when I wanted to make my wife a special gift. Hand crafted, hand made items are the best gifts in my book. They represent more than the item, but the time and effort that went into the piece. And when you make the piece yourself, that object you made represents the hours of your time and the attention to detail to make a perfect item for your loved one.
If you cannot make something like earrings yourself, the next best thing is to pay an artist who put that time and energy into the piece.
Jewelry at the end of the day is art. It serves no function, it is simply pretty. The value of art is in the eye of the beholder. Does the purchaser enjoy what they see and appreciate the artists time and ability to create the piece? If yes they will buy it, if no, they move on and leave it for the next person. This goes for jewelry made from metal and stones too. Jewelers are artists.
Now there are ways around the labor part. I could buy a CNC or a laser, design the pieces in the computer, slap down a piece of 1/4 plywood, have the machine cut them out, and spray them with some lacquer. Then I’d just have to call them hand made and put them up on Etsy.
But that isn’t authentically me, nor is it art in my opinion. It’s a production, making a product in a factory like setting. Nothing wrong with that, and those pieces generally have price tags reflecting the quality of work. It’s costume jewelry.
But when say I make something by hand, I mean it. My fingers did the work and my mind made sure they were special. I pay attention to the grain, the coloring, the way the light plays off a particular section and I pick the best spots to make the piece unique. I then hand shape and sand each piece, using my eyes as a guide, but feeling the piece along the way, ensuring a beautiful, tactile feel. I do this so the wearer can see and feel the effort that went into the making of their earrings.
I wouldn’t consider myself a jeweler, but I do make jewelry. I put the time, effort, and care into each piece. And I have decided I want to share this art with the world, so I am now offering pieces for sale on my website. Go to my shop and check them out.
If you are curious to see how much effort goes into the making of these earrings, check out this video where I make a pair of Teardrops out of Sapele. Enjoy!