What do you get when you mix horseshoes and chandeliers? A unique jewelry line that is created by a mix of hand-picked cultured pieces and reconstructed chains.
Chris Parker, 54, student from the Levan Institute at Bakersfield College, has been involved with jewelry design for ten years. She is currently taking the silversmithing classes at BC.
Parker has also received her business license to continue with her passion in jewelry design, in order to expand into selling. Parker has taken the initiative to create her own jewelry line, Horseshoes and Chandeliers, which she has been developing throughout her designing practices.
Marlene Tatsuno, Emeritus of Art at BC, is the master of the craft who has taught Parker her special techniques. Tatsuno has been a designer and craftsman for the last 40 years. Her jewelry training was in Europe, and at the Revere Goldsmith Academy in San Francisco. With her work shown in many galleries, she has decided to share her knowledge and experiences to her students in silversmithing.
“It’s good people keep coming to learn about the process of jewelry making,” said Tatsuno. “I always try to teach them to make things in good craftsmanship. Chris and others take what I teach and add their own styles.”
“There is so much to learn from her experienced years in designing,” said Parker. “Marlene lets the students be creative along with guiding us through the process, all while having a good time.”
Parker’s styles in jewelry creations go beyond expectations. She makes sure she goes far and beyond with all of her pieces, in order to please herself and customers. A mix of current styles along with her own personal touches of vintage and antique styles, is what makes Parker’s jewelry pieces so unique. Parker takes time to create jewelry that cannot be bought at local town stores.
After years of learning how to use the proper machines and tools for jewelry design, she has now been able to create a studio in her home. It took Parker some time to gather all of the equipment due to the expense of the machines. Subsequently, she is very pleased to be able to work from home with the tools that are needed.
“I have always been a creative person,” said Parker. “I was pursuing a career in business and stayed intrigued by jewelry, so I finally decided to get myself involved completely.”
Parker is also proud to hold open houses of her jewelry line to Bakersfield residents each month. The open houses showcase the decadence and current reconstructed pieces she has put together to make her jewelry line.
The random mix of influences from cultured crosses, is what adds a statement to her line. Customers will find multi-colored pendants, necklaces with handcrafted beads, bracelets with a choice of inspirational writings, Ethiopian crosses and numerous detailed reconstructed chains.
Parker is set to have a gallery showing this upcoming April in Minnesota. The art show, called Art Crawl, will showcase Parker’s one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.
“Jewelry designing is part of my life now,” said Parker. “I am so passionate in what I do and I plan to continue to expand my learnings and talent.”
The Levan Institute program, for adults who are interested in continuing their knowledge in certain fields, are able to get far and beyond with the techniques they gain.
“I strongly believe in the program,” said Parker. “I hope people who are passionate in jewelry making continue to take this class. I’ve met so many talented individuals that I’ve personally learned many techniques from, and it is so fun to feed off each other’s talent.”