The Artist

 

 

My Background

I have always been a tactile, hands on creative person. I excelled in graphic design in school. I thought that would be my career path until one fateful day shortly after my graduation. I was living next to Granville Island in Vancouver, a hub of creativity, when I met Phillip. His father was a goldsmith and he was an architect. He had created an unorthodox style of colourful geometric jewelry that had three dimensional movement which often looked like small machines and sculptures. I was captivated, inspired and I could see designs in my mind but lacked the skills to create them. This was the beginning of my mentoring and our life-long friendship, Philip still recalls me telling him how to make his jewelry and also saying ‘why don’t you do it this way it would be easier’ and with a little consideration, he decided it was. 

 My Studio

Silver Suspensions is a full service jewelry design company. All products are made in my custom designed 400 sq.ft. studio. I have a great team, consisting of three people (myself and two part time assistants) each having their own specific talents. I am the team leader, head designer & senior metalsmith. Sheila has been with me for over 15 years and helps me package, price, ship orders and order supplies/materials. Heather has be on board for 12 years and is my production assistant. I have taught Heather how to finish jewelry, complete designs as well as make sleepers, hoops, hooks and other components.

Our jewelry is made using Canadian sourced sterling silver and 14k gold. Ethically sourced precious stones, semi-precious stones and hand cut American turquoise. I learned to make jewellery when silver was $4 dollars an ounce and gold was $400. I build them solid always using heavy gauge so your jewelry lasts forever. You will see and feel the difference in all my jewelry.

In 2020 my focus shifted from wholesale production to creating small batch and One-of-a-Kind and Custom jewelry. I love how people cherish my jewelry for years and to be able to have their dreams come to fruition with a custom design piece is very rewarding and heartwarming. 

My Process

The techniques I use throughout my work are traditional metal smithing, hand fabrication skills including sawing, forging, soldiering, fusing, hollow form, and sand casting. I also use a variety of stone settings such as gypsy/flush setting, tension set, claw setting and the classic bezel settings. I mostly work in sterling silver but occasionally I will mix metals and add some gold accents. Colourful stones have always been used throughout my designs. A huge aray of stones from cabochons, raw stones/crystals to faceted precious stones and coloured diamonds. 

I buy my stones, beads, Cabochons directly from the source, ethically mined and cut. My turquoise stones are bought from lapidary artisans who mine or purchase rough, many of the USA mines are no longer operational and sadly mined out. I seek lovely collector pieces and incorporate them in my work. Stones such as tourmaline come ethically sourced, mined and cut in India, diamonds all certified by the Kimberly process. I love to use and highlight as many Canadian stones as possible. Our country is rich with beautiful resources and I am proud to highlight and share them with others. 

I also love to play with a variety of finishes from a hand forged, antiqued, patinas and of course the classic high polish shine. 

I believe my product offering is like no other in the jewelry/gift industry. I have been attending shows for over 30 years and have a great reputation and rapport with customers. I’ve had faithful long-term clients who search me out to purchase my designs. Customers tell me stories of how they love wearing my jewelry, the compliments they’ve received and how 20-30 years later the jewelry still looks and feels great. This is very fulfilling and I am grateful for the opportunity to create and sell my jewelry. Inspired by nature. Created with love for everyday life.

 

Galleries & Shops

I have participated in many juried artisan shows including Art Market in Calgary, Creative Chaos in Vernon, Art in the Garden in Nanoose Bay, Silk Threads and Craft Culture in Kelowna, Jewellers Guild Shows, Signatures Shows Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary & Ottawa amongst many others.

My wholesale career has allowed me to sell in many fine galleries, gift stores and museums across Canada. These include the prestigious National Art Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Edmonton Art Gallery, Remai Modern in Saskatoon, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria, Canmore Museum and Geosciences, Science North in Sudbury along with many others.

Some gift galleries where you can purchase my jewelry include The Crystal Ark on Granville Island, The Vancouver Aquarium Gift Shop,Third Addition in Mill Bay, Artina’s in Victoria and Gastown, Old Salty on Salt Spring Island, Blue Moon in Calgary & Canmore, Our Native Land in Jasper, Canadian Naturally in Banff,  Chemainus Theatre Gallery, Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre, Teslin YT Bearpaw gift in Carcross & Whitehorse YT are just a few of the wonderful galleries who carry my work.

 

Teri, Silver Suspensions
Telephone: 1-604-943-5183 • Toll Free:1-866-943-5183 • Email Us: terena.agle@me.com

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