Treasure Chest

Treasure Chest, a great name for a jewelry and lapidary supply store. Every time I go there (which is fare more often then my wife would like ) I feel like I am on a treasure hunt. I always scower the shelves and walls for anything new I just can not do without. When my basket starts to overflow my wife Say's I have enough stuff to last a year. My answer is always Yes but!!! She smiles and follows me to the cash register. She is always good to me.

They are located on the Plaza Shopping Center in Springfield, MO. and have been in the business for years. They are really great people, anyone in the business or hobby of jewelry fabrication should get to know them. Every one there knows their stuff and can help with the hardest of questions or even the dumb questions a newbie like myself will come up with. Several times I have gone there with a new project rattling around in the back of my head that won't quit jell. We talk thru it and generally find a solution. Of coarse I have to buy what I need to complete the project( and anything else that might fall into my lap). My wife rolls her eye's (what beautiful eye's they are. I know where my breads buttered) and I give her my Yes but!!! and we keep on shopping.

This place has just about anything you could want and a whole lot of things you didn't know you had to have until you see them. Jasper. agate,stone, gems, cabochons, in all types and colors. Everything from raw material to beautiful finished jewelry. Don't find the exact perfect stone they will order it or make what you want. They carry silver and gold fill in all shapes and sizes of wire, sheet and cast components. They have something for every skill level from beginner to master craftsman and they will help you to master new skills as well. They host class' with people like Jan Porter of Earth N Wire who teaches how to make wire wrap jewelry. Hers is the first class I took and it was a turning point in my life. She is great and has continued to help me to do bigger and better things.

Of coarse there are the tools. What I call the toy room. Yes I am a tool junky ( there is no known cure. I just have to live with it). They have tons of tools for every thing from basic hand tools to sophisticated lapidary tools. You think of it, they have it or will get it for you. I really can't say enough about them. They are really good people. Give them a call. 417-823-3800

One last thing. There store is set up for wheelchair access. Its great to be able to go around and look at things for my self. They also work with disabled Veterans and many of the schools in the area. Like I said good people to know.

Jewelry design and fabrication. What a wonderful hobby or profession. You get to work with and explore the many different types of jewelry, Rings, bracelets,necklace's,earrings, as well as many other forms. I also like exploring the many different methods used in jewelry design such as repousse, chasing, wire wrap, wire form jewelry as well as many others. In my learning process over the last several months I have tried to master as many different techniques as I could. I am mostly home bound with a disability so I have had to learn from books and trial and error. Yes I have thrown out allot of jewelry pieces that did not work but I am still ready to wade in with both feet. I have been able to take some class' but not as many as I would like. With some jewelry pieces I become obsessed and will make and rework for days until I get it right. My wife and family members think I am crazy sometimes because I can see flaws where they can't. It has been interesting going from simple wire and beads to fabricating pieces of jewelry from raw materials. It is very satisfying to finish a jewelry piece that is totally your own design. You get to where you look at something and see how it would make a great piece of jewelry, and then to be able to fabricate it into a finished piece is beyond explaining. I love it. Everything I've done to date has been one of a kind. I like it that way and will continue to make exclusive, one of a kind jewelry. I also enjoy taking old jewelry and turning it into something new. I have several pieces that have elements from old jewelry Incorporated into them. It is a great outing for me to go to flea markets and garage sales to hunt for treasures. I pick out something because it catches my eye or an idea comes to mind immediately without worrying what its made of. Sometimes you get something home and find out it is truly a treasure. Then again sometimes it is plastic. The main thing is to make it work in a beautiful jewelry design.
This blog is where I will showcase my jewelry designs. I will also be posting about the many different things I have learned and had to adapt to meet the needs of working from a wheelchair. I will also be showing allot of the tools I have modified and why. In my previous life I was an equipment designer. This has allowed me to take many things not necessarily meant for jewelry and turn them into very useful tools. I hope the rambling of this first blog post will not scare you away and you will return to see what is knew. The same as my jewelry has improved my posting will too. Hope to see you often.