Repairs

Hello Everyone,

I love to create new jewelry more than anything. But you may not know that I also enjoy fixing up old jewelry. I know many people have a drawer full of jewelry that never sees the light of day, just because there's one little thing wrong with it. This makes me very sad. I love repairing jewelry because it gives pieces like this a new life, and it gives the owner a chance to show off a jewel they might not have worn for years. Here are some repairs I can do:

  • repair/replace clasps
  • resize rings
  • untangle or fix broken chains
  • shorten or lengthen necklaces
  • re-string beaded necklaces or bracelets
  • repair woven beaded pieces
  • clean and polish delicate jewelry

Or if you are tired of a piece of jewelry, or inherited something that's not quite your style, I'm happy to take it apart and re-create something just for you. I also

  • Design and create one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry
  • Set stones

Here are some images of recent repairs I did:

Repaired broken 14k yellow and white gold chain necklace.

Repaired broken 14k yellow and white gold chain necklace.

Re-shaped 14k Yellow Gold earring. It had been flattened and broken in several places and I restored its volume and shape.

Re-shaped 14k Yellow Gold earring. It had been flattened and broken in several places and I restored its volume and shape.

Please take a look through your jewelry drawer and think about reviving those pieces that you never wear. I'm happy to help with small or large projects. Take a look at more repairs and custom work I've done here.

 

Vacation

Hello friends,

I have just returned from a month long vacation.  I traveled to France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark with my boyfriend. In all, we visited 9 cities in 32 days. It was a lot of traveling, but it was an incredible experience overall. After a month abroad, it's so good to be back in my studio making things. Traveling was such an enriching and inspiring experience. I saw the most amazing buildings, artworks, crafts, and jewelry. I met so many creative and hardworking individuals. I took time for myself to wander around cities I didn't know. I feel refreshed and invigorated and ready to express myself. I'm so grateful for all the experiences I had and am looking forward to the rest of this year. Enjoy these photos, and keep following me as I get back to my studio and make things!

New Locations to buy my work!

Hey Everyone!

Exciting things have been happening. Nina Raizel Jewelry is now available at Venue in Ballard, Momo in the International District, Retail Therapy on Capitol Hill, and BIMA Museum Shop on Bainbridge Island. Go check them out. And keep tabs on this page to stay up to date: http://nina-raizel.com/shop/.

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Wawona Necklace

I made a necklace for the Seattle Metal's Guild and the Wawona Show in Port Townsend WA. More details about the show (which is currently up through 5/29/17) can be found here: http://northwindarts.org/exhibit/gallery/050417-smgwawona/

From the website:

Original jewelry and sculpture by Seattle Metals Guild (SMG) members using left over old-growth Douglas fir from the Wawona for exhibition and sale.

The Seattle Metals Guild is about learning. It’s about sharing information, building skills and advancing the field of metalsmithing while broadening the horizons of its members. Founded in 1989, we are a non-profit community of jewelers, metalsmiths, artists, makers –practitioners and metals fans of all tempers, gauges and alloys– who are excited about the traditions and contemporary possibilities of this wonderful art form.

Along with providing affordable educational opportunities to our members and to the general public, our activities include: a bimonthly newsletter, exhibitions, an annual symposium and a series of workshops and lectures on a wide variety of subjects.

1897 – The schooner Wawona was launched at Fairhaven, California. It was the largest three-masted sailing schooner ever built in North America.
1897-1914 – The Wawona hauled lumber up and down the Pacific Coast.
1914 – 1944 – She was sold and employed in the Bering Sea codfishing trade. 
1964 – A group of concerned citizens from King County, Washington, purchased her in an effort to preserve her as a maritime museum. 
1970 – The Wawona became a National Historic Site. She was the first ship in the nation to be listed on the National Register. 
2009 – Stricken with water intrusion and a beetle infestation, the Wawona was deemed too expensive to restore and was demolished.

In 2012 artist John Grade constructed a nearly 64-foot high sculpture using salvaged wood from the Wawona’s hull. The sculpture is found in the Atrium of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle. The sculpture stands 56-feet within the building, 5-feet below the floor and 2 1/2-feet above the roof. It is meant to evoke an old growth tree and the hull of a ship.

Here is a picture of the original ship, followed by pictures of my process and the final piece.