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Lorca Design Artisan Jewelry
Welcome to Lorca Design!
Whether you're a slave to fashion or a free spirit who creates her own style, at Lorca Design you'll find jewelry that seems custom made for you. If you don't find exactly what you want, contact me, and I'll create a piece expressly for you. I rarely make more than one of any design, but if you want a piece you see that's marked SOLD, I'll recreate it for you, provided I can obtain the necessary materials.
I strive to make jewelry that's affordable, because moderate prices mean you can indulge yourself. Sterling silver and gold can quickly double, triple, or quadruple the price of a piece of jewelry. Silver plate, gold plate and vermeil* are affordable options, as is pewter. If, however, you prefer only sterling silver or gold, I'll gladly create jewelry for you that satisfies your desires. I'm sympathetic to those who develop contact dermatitis from metals other than silver or gold.
I love to combine materials: gemstones (there are so many!), bone (wonderfully carved), luminous shell from the sea, coconut shell, wood (it's so earthy—and funky sometimes), Czech glass, foil beads, cloisonne, Swarovski crystal (nothing sparkles more elegantly), sterling silver, gold, pewter, silver plate and gold plate, charms, magnetic beads, and more. I also use a lot of simple magnetic clasps. They're so secure, unobtrusive, and easy to use. Simply slide the two halves apart; don't pull them apart.
As for glass beads, jewelers worldwide consider Czech glass the highest quality glass on the market. Not only does it combine beautifully with the incomparable Swarovski crystal, but Czech glass beads come in scores of shapes, sizes, and finishes. And there's a host of artists making beads and pendants from glass, ceramic and more. That means more design possibilities for me!
So, how does someone become a jewelry designer? Serendipitously: I fell into jewelry design when my ankle bracelet broke several years ago. Realizing that it would be simple to fix, I purchased a 30-foot roll of Power Cord and restrung it. That left me with 29 feet of Power Cord. Buying beads seemed a fun thing to do and, within five minutes of entering a bead store, I was hooked. Next I bought lampwork beads, then gemstones, pendants, clasps, crimp beads, a host of pliers, the utterly lovely Swarovski crystal, and so much more.
Fortunately, I have sisters. Lots of them. They loved my work, purchased prolifically, and within three months I was selling my jewelry in a friend's store. Sales were (and are) quite good. But, I was making more jewelry than the store could house. So, Lorca Design was launched online.
*Vermeil is sterling silver heavily electroplated with 22kt gold.
