artist statement again

I was surrounded by collections as a child. The primary colors of the
old fiestaware in the kitchen, the muted tones of the antique oil
paintings in our living room, the colors and textures of vintage rugs
and fabric. All of these things formed within me a love of design.
From my first childlike trophies of bottle caps came a career in
professional jewelry design.

My favorite style component is to make metal appear as liquid or
ribbon creating a sense of movement beside the quiet nature of a
stone. This procedure assures that the beginnings of my jewelry are
rooted in natural materials; metal, stones and fossils.

Jewelers must be extremely sensitive to quality. At the same time we
are asked to be tougher than the metal in our hands. The rules are
not as one would expect. Mere strength does not master metal.
Training, patience and an understanding of chemistry is the path to
metalsmithing and jewelry making. I have traveled this path for
almost ten years.

While I am inspired by natural materials, I transform them into my own
style derived from an eclectic mix of modern fashion, 1930's glamor,
art deco and abstract expressionism. The resulting works are hard to
place in time. They seem modern and antique, still yet moving. My hope
is all who wear Layne Designs feel a sense of freedom, a sense of
history and a connection to the natural. These are wonderful
qualities in heirloom jewelry, a treasure to be passed from generation
to generation.