Exploring the creative side with handcrafted jewelry
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer
Jewelry artist Debbie Higdon makes what she likes to wear — handmade pieces, created from twisted and soldered silver wires and cut silver sheets.
But her life as an artisan is a bit of a departure from her by day personality as the Director of Advancement Research at Western Carolina University.
“I guess I was trying to work the other side of my brain,” Higdon said.
Eight years ago, Higdon — who had previous experience with beadwork, weaving and crochet — saw jewelry making and metalsmithing classes advertised through Haywood Community College’s continuing education department. She signed up and immediately took to the art form.
“I kind of fell right into it,” Higdon said. “It was something that was not easy, but so fascinating that I didn’t find it hard.”
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As she continued to develop her talents through a workshop in Taos, New Mexico, and courses at John C. Campbell Folk School, Higdon began incorporating silver, copper and brass into her designs. Each piece begins from a model, but is expanded to bear a similar but distinctive touch.
“I like to keep them unique,” Higdon said.
Constrained by routine hours of a full-time job, Higdon keeps her production rate low — much to the chagrin of her co-workers, who are always on the look out for Hidgon’s newest creations, and Its By Nature Gallery owner Sandi Cooper.
“Sandi’s always asking me for more jewelry,” Higdon said. “Some months I don’t make very much at all. This is something I will look forward to doing when I retire.”
For her upcoming show at It’s By Nature Gallery in Sylva — Higdon’s only show of the year, which will be held through out the month of December with an artist’s reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 10 — she has prepared approximately 60 pieces. The gallery is the only place where Higdon’s work is available.
“So this is big for me,” she said.
Recently, Higdon began melding her earlier beadwork experience with her metalsmithing and using patinas — a process of treating metals with chemicals to bring out different colors — with their rust and gold and blue tones to bring more color to her work. The art form’s variety is part of what continues to foster Higdon’s interest.
“That’s the thing about jewelry making,” Higdon said. “There’s so much that you can learn, there’s so many aspects of making jewelry, especially silver jewelry.”
Higdon hopes to continue learning by beginning to incorporate semi-precious stones and work with gold.
“Gold is very expensive and you don’t want to make too many mistakes,” she said.
