(Newswire.net — April 30, 2014) Franklin, North Carolina — Jewelry designer, Barbara Garwood, from Atlanta, Georgia and president of Barbara Garwood Designs, announced today her Mongolian style handmade jewelry line will be showing new Spring 2014 introductions at the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers Show, Mother’s Day weekend May 9 – 11 at the Wautauga Festival Tent located in Franklin, North Carolina.
This handmade jewelry line is handcrafted of sterling silver, uses fired enamels, natural gemstones and is finished in 24kt gold. The line has ancient Chinese and Russian filigree techniques combined with Garwood’s Western designs and colorations. Garwood personally travels to the Mongolian area and has worked with a group of 30 women for 21 years designing pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings along with unique pins.
Each piece is handcrafted with tweezers of fine sterling silver wires forming various shapes. Enamel powders are meticulously put into the designs and kiln-fired into brilliant glass colorations. Gemstones that Garwood has collected from international sources are bezel set and a final 24kt finish is put on each handmade jewelry piece.
Since this area has modernized significantly in recent years there are fewer younger artisans interested in doing this intensive and highly skilled labor. Garwood has been committed to preserving this handmade jewelry art form while supplying the local woman with employment. The Smithsonian and National Geographic both support Garwood in her endeavors and have carried her line in their catalogs and stores for 9 and 12 years respectively. Many pieces can be seen at the Smithsonian Freer-Sackler Museum gift store in Washington, DC. Other museums such as the Henry Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida also support Garwood in her efforts and carry her line.
The Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers Show is open to the trade only where retailers like jewelry stores, boutiques, antique dealers art galleries and gift stores can view and purchase the Barbara Garwood handmade jewelry line. Many shows in Franklin are also open to the public. Consumers wanting the Barbara Garwood line can buy direct at www.DesignerJewelryHandmade.com.