Necklaces

Kim Thompson

As a child I recognized a sense of balance and presence when I was engaged in a creative process that required working with my hands. There was awareness that the actual process carried as much gratification as the end result. Whether I was drawing nature studies, sewing my own clothes, helping my dad build projects in his workshop, even just folding origami cranes - designing, creative problem solving, and crafting by hand brought a penetrating reward.

Following this lead I pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, graduating in 1981 from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. For nearly 25 years I built a professional career in graphic design, advertising and promotional marketing. While my work certainly revolved around the creative process, something was missing. Then in 1999 after moving to Western North Carolina with my husband - like most folks we were drawn to the beauty of these ancient and beautiful mountains - I enrolled in my first bench jewelry class, and I knew I'd come home.

For more than 9 years I've fueled this passion with continued classes, workshops and countless studio hours. I am now a full time jewelry artist with a home studio overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains - a space I willingly share with one sassy and immensely intelligent cat.

Meditations on a Leaf
Softly pillowed and brushed forms, elemental and uncluttered, provide still and quite spaces for contemplating the delicate structure and patterning of just one of Nature's miracles. These meditations on a leaf are distilled studies of the familiar - an invitation to look again, to look closer - with fresh eyes.

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