Arts Alliance features handcrafted jewelry by Gerry Cole
Cole fashions pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings from fused glass, stained glass, pottery pieces
The Hamburg Area Arts Alliance would like to welcome everyone to a special reception for its member artist Gerry Cole Jewelry on Feb. 2, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Art & Craft Gallery of Hamburg, 335 State St., in Hamburg.
Gerry Cole of Friedensburg fashions pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings from fused glass, stained glass, and pottery pieces. Shoppers looking for a personalized gift for Valentine’s Day may find one of Gerry’s pieces to be exactly what they’re looking for. Also, attendees of the reception will enjoy free refreshments and wine samples from King Cole Winery.
Each piece of Gerry’s handcrafted jewelry is formed uniquely to its function. To create interest and effect, Gerry usually makes pendants with a collage of fused glass. She also often pulls hot glass into seasonal shapes such as leaves, angels, or hearts. She will make glass “stones” for fittings on bracelets and rings, often creating matching sets. While Gerry mostly enjoys working with fused glass, she also creates personal jewelry from vintage pieces of pottery or stained glass.
In fact, that is how Gerry began her jewelry-making career. She had an interest in creating other items from old rosaries, broken vintage pottery and stained glass. She also began repairing jewelry. One of her first reformations was taking a small broken cup that belonged to her grandmother and turning it into pretty earrings for her daughter.
After taking classes in fused glass, she obtained a small kiln from a fellow crafter. She started selling jewelry on the internet and at craft fairs. Business grew, and she soon was able to buy a new, larger kiln and increased her inventory.
Since Gerry has experience in working with vintage items and also creating new pieces, she gladly accepts custom orders and enjoys turning your idea into a unique piece of personalized jewelry.
The Hamburg Area Arts Alliance is pleased to feature the work of Gerry Cole Jewelry during the entire month of February. The exhibit is hosted by the Art & Craft Gallery of Hamburg which is operated by Our Town Foundation, a nonprofit, community revitalization organization.
Funding for monthly featured artists’ exhibits is provided by the Berks County Community Foundation.
For more information, contact the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance at 610-5623106.