Betsy Liles Studio - Fashion Jewelry

My jewelry is derived from a lifetime interest in the beauties of nature surrounding me.

As a child I searched the wooded areas, creek beds and gravel driveways always finding great treasures. Without skills to do otherwise, these things I collected ended up in cigar boxes to be hauled out and marveled over when inspiration was needed. Now, with the techniques both self-taught and at the hands of master craftspeople, I have learned how to take treasures out of the box and apply them to the human form.

Techniques used in my work vary from the ageless - hammer, anvil and fire - to hydraulic press and precious metal clay to create designs that are modern but echo the past. Traditional techniques include hammering, sawing, forging, fabrication, casting, roll printing and keum-boo. Some newer technology is employed with the use of precious metal clay, hydraulic press and acid etching. All of these techniques are blended within my body of work.

Color takes shape with metals, silver and gold, along with gem stones, pearls, and many other natural objects. All of these ingredients provide the sometimes subtle, sometimes inspiring, and often surprising color combinations that are key features in my work.

Growing up in Mississippi has created a love of tradition as shown in my admiration of the craftsmanship in antique jewelry. But somewhere along the way I cultivated a taste for "something different," not what everybody else was wearing. Maybe it was because my father was a Catholic Yankee who married a Southern Baptist girl and proceeded to raise a large, rambunctious family. All of these things come together in a hybrid jewelry that can only be described in paradox - fine fashion jewelry. It is jewelry that can be worn every day and in several different ways. Most can be worn with T-shirts and blue jeans, but can just as easily go to work or church. -Betsy Liles
	Bri Currie has worked for B. Liles Studio beginning in 2001. Her fresh ideas keep the designs current with an eye toward developing trends. Bri works in every capacity for the studio and shop: designer, silversmith, and sales.
Anne Brunson is an artisan with B. Liles Studio. A lifetime of creative pursuits have found an outlet in the studio working beside Betsy assisting in the design and jewelry making process.
	Cecile Bartlett of Legendre Designs has studio space in the B. Liles Studio cooperative.