My career as a fine jeweler began in 1975 and after all these years, I still love the process of creating timeless artful jewelry. Going back to the beginning, it must have been fate that led me on a career path to become a jeweler and designer. One day I walked into a jewelry store in Barrington, IL that had 3 floors full of giftware like clocks and china and a huge room full of fine jewelry. There were three registered gemologists, and numerous sales people and the owner learned that I had some jewelry making experience and quickly led me upstairs to a workshop where a watchmaker with a black loupe embedded in one eye working at his bench that overlooked the giant sales floor. I noticed in the same room was a 3-station workbench without any jewelers, and all kinds of tools and tanks. The owner, Mr. Wenzel said they were looking for a bench jeweler and were willing to train and offered a job to me on the spot. I started with small repairs and then they soon hired a 5th generation jeweler that I apprenticed under and I knew this field was meant for me. I learned the traditional classic approach to making jewelry that gave me a strong foundation to go towards my own style that was mostly contemporary with some influence of different eras with simplified lines. I am an artist that creates original jewelry designs, and I also love photography, painting, and sculpture. Being creative continues in the home and garden and those creative passions keep me going in a positive direction in life. My recipe for making jewelry is to create original designs that are balanced with timeless beauty, using fine materials that are finely finished. I can truly say that I love making jewelry and it is my desire to share happiness with people through the art of jewelry. I believe that I incorporate happiness into each piece that I make, and that contributes beauty and positive energy into the world for people to enjoy. In this era of high tech production, I still carve my own waxes because it is part of the design process that I love, and I sketch my ideas that flow easily to me. Most of my designs are contemporary with smooth lines. Simple elegance has described my jewelry but simple does not necessarily mean it is easy to create. I strive for precision with quality craftsmanship in a balanced design. Once you tap into that process of originality, unique and harmonious ideas flow easily. Jewelry reflects one’s personal style, and tells the world a little about the person wearing it. I enjoy “talking shop” and sharing ideas with other jewelers. I am fascinated with their workshops, especially their benches that tell a story about each jeweler. I am fortunate to do what I love and live a happy life with my husband, Ken Rappaport. We both know metal fabrication and casting, and Ken builds many things, including racecars and we can relate with the tools we use in our workshops. One key to our happiness is having our own workshops on the same property.