As autumn descends and local mountains surge with radiant color, goldsmith and award winning jewelry designer Susan Marie Phipps is inspired to create some of her most beautiful work.

Her love of the Blue Ridge Mountains dates from the early 1980’s, when she journeyed from Ohio to study metalsmithing at the Penland School of Crafts. Later settling in Asheville, she became a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild in 1996. Now in her thirty-fifth year as a goldsmith, Susan never stops being inspired by the local culture and splendid mountain scenery. “We’re lucky to live in such a wonderful area with so many talented, creative people and all the natural beauty. As an artist I am able to draw on so much positive energy here”, she relates.

Susan’s primary focus as a jewelry artist is to create elegant contemporary designs which complement the fine natural colored gemstones she selects for her work. A GIA Graduate Gemologist, she has the technical training to know which stones have the best clarity, color and quality of cut available from around the world. “For me the stone drives the design,” explains Susan. “Whenever I find a gemstone I like I design for it. I am always at my creative best when I am most in awe of the materials with which I am working.” Carefully hand making each piece, she draws on classical principles of balance and proportion to perfectly harmonize the colors, shapes and textures of gold and precious stones.

One of Susan’s favorite gemstones to work with is October’s traditional birthstone, Tourmaline. Found in more hues than any other gemstone, Tourmaline often displays two or more colors in the same crystal. Susan always has a wide variety of one-of-a-kind Tourmaline jewelry on display at Susan Marie Designs, her downtown Asheville gallery/studio. Luscious mint and emerald greens, blues, teal, intense pink, red, yellow, and bi-colored examples may all be seen, many cut by award winning stonecutters. An exceptional ring which Susan recently created features a rare vibrant green Tourmaline mined in the Havey Mine in Maine.

Another stone she loves using is Sapphire, found in nature in many colors in addition to blue. “Who says you need to have a Diamond for an engagement ring,” asks Susan. “You can have a purple Sapphire! Sapphire is one of nature’s most durable substances, second to Diamond in hardness, so they are ideal for use where heavy wear might be a factor, such as in rings. And of course Diamonds can still be used with them as accents. It’s nice to have something special that no one else has, that uniquely fits your personality and style.” Susan also works with many other fine quality natural colored gemstones including fancy iridescent Tahitian Pearls, Opals, Tanzanites, multicolored Garnets, Aquamarines, Peridots and Zircons.

Always practical and with a passion for quality, Susan makes each piece to be as comfortable to wear and as durable as possible. “My ultimate goal is a satisfied customer, who will enjoy wearing my work for many years and then maybe pass it on as a treasured heirloom”, she affirms.

Susan invites you to visit her booth at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, October 15-18, 2015 held at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville.

Susan Marie Designs
4 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(828) 277-1272
www.SusanMPhippsDesigns.com