Blair LaBella [1981, Ceramics]
Blair designs and makes primarily one of a kind pieces fabricated from found beach stones and other found objects that are set in her immaculate hand made sterling, fine silver and gold bezels. Pieces range from individual stone settings to multi stone settings that are clustered together . Focus is on the compositions of the stones, their color, textures and patterns and how they relate to one another. Recently she has added enamel pieces that she predominantly fabricates to resemble the shapes of the beach stones, made from either fine silver that has been textured and enameled with transparent colors or copper that has been reduced and enameled. Often 24K gold foil is added for surface design adding an interesting variation to the natural elements of the pieces.
Blair finds inspiration with the materials at hand and the natural environment of both the woods and the sea, creating individual pieces that feel like a talisman to those that choose them. There is an elegance in the simplicity of the natural materials chosen and the understated and immaculate metal smithing that come together to create an heirloom piece of jewelry to be enjoyed for generations.





