Juliet Dobosz is an amazing artist that creates some of the most impressive jewelry I have seen. She works with a variety of quartz, carnelian, and other rocks that adds to the uniqueness of her designs. I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Juliet. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Juliet! Thank you for granting the interview. What inspired you to design jewelry?
Hi! Thank you for inviting me. In 2006, my 2nd husband and I were avid rockhounds. We had collected a large variety of quartz, carnelian and other rocks that sparkled. It was time to do something with some of the pieces we had cut and polished, other than just admire them or put them in our collection. Also, I was preparing to retire and I wanted to find a useful hobby. Little did I know that I was about to embark on a passionate journey! Initially, I invested in some wire-sculpting DVD tutorials that were available through the internet. As I progressed I developed my own style of jewelry.
Tell us about your design style. What makes your collections unique in the industry?
To me, interpreting the stones that I work with is key! Each stone has its own natural beauty which I work to enhance and show off its unique qualities. My jewelry is created using both cabochons and faceted stones. I choose the cabochons I work with carefully, to ensure that they are as unusual and striking as possible. With some, I will design a simple setting and others require a more complex one to follow particular lines or small vugs in them.
What is your favorite piece you’ve ever created – and what made it so special?
For me, it is difficult to choose a ‘favorite’.
However, there is one piece I put my heart and soul into! On June 30th, 2013, The Yarnell Hill wildfire in northern Arizona, claimed the lives of 19 of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. A Prescott charity asked me to make a piece of jewelry using a natural Garnet for their fund-raising auction, to help the families they left behind. The piece I made out of Sterling Silver, was a pendant that started out in the shape of a cross. As I worked, the cross took on the shape of an angel and so I named it ‘The 19 Spirits Angel’. A round, faceted, natural Garnet was at the center, symbolizing the team as a whole. 19 small round natural Garnet beads were woven into the four points of the cross to honor the 19 firefighters. It was by far the most ambitious and heart-wrenching project I have ever worked on.
Another of my favorites was a natural Australian Opal pendant I made, incorporating a 55 ct. cabochon that my 2nd husband had cut and polished by hand. He passed away 8 years ago this month and I keep it in my private collection as a treasured memento that I wear often.
A third would be a pendant I made, with a Tiffany Stone in Sterling Silver. This pendant was purchased by a bride-to-be to wear on her wedding day, as the color matched her gown. She also commissioned a matching bracelet that I completed a few weeks later. I loved working with her and creating special jewelry just for her special day!
What has been the single most important jewelry-making skill you’ve learned and why?
I am not sure there is one that stands out as the most important – when I work I employ many skills that I have learned. First comes the interpreting of the stone and drawing the design for its setting. Next, it is important to choose the right gauge of wire to best enhance the piece as a whole – the wrong gauge could ruin the effect I am striving for. Then comes the skill of determining how much wire I need for the project – too little would be disastrous and too much becomes wasteful. After measuring, cutting, and cleaning the wire, I am ready to move on to hand-shaping the setting around the stone. Once the setting is shaped around the stone, then comes the crucial point of securing the stone in its setting, adding the decorative embellishments of my work.
What are your favorite materials to use?
I have worked with several different mediums – wire, sheet metal and some metal clay but I always come back to my first love…wire-wrapping. Of the wire I use, I like working with 14Kt. Gold-filled and Argentium© Silver the best. They both allow me to make pieces that do not tarnish and therefore need less cleaning.
What advice would you have for aspiring jewelry designers?
Develop your own unique style and always wear your jewelry – you are your own best walking advertising. Keep abreast of current jewelry styles and create some items with those in mind. Always take the opportunity to learn new techniques when you can. Know when to take a break and walk away from a project. Lastly, and there will be times you want to, never give up.
You continuously hone your craft. What keeps you inspired?
I think everything in life can be an inspiration. Mine comes from almost anything: a hummingbird at one of our feeders; a beautiful butterfly flitting from one flower to another; one of our roses in bloom; a pretty paisley patterned fabric; an ornate wrought-iron gate; even seeing someone else’s beautiful work will inspire me to create.
I also live within commuting distance to one of the largest gem shows in the U.S. – the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. So every February I make a point of taking one or more classes there. I also study online videos.
Thus far, what has been the best experience working in the industry?
I think among the experiences I have most enjoyed are the contact I have had with customers who have placed their treasured stone with me for interpreting and setting into a lasting memento. There is always a special story attached to their stone and I love sharing in their reminiscing about who gave it to them, what the occasion was, and how long they have had it.
Another enjoyable experience has been working with the teachers of the various classes I have taken at the Tucson Gem Show. It has been such a pleasure to meet them and learn from those who are the best in their field. I have taken several classes with some of them, through the years, and it is like meeting an old friend when I see them again.
Do you have any upcoming design projects that we haven’t mentioned?
At my business, Jewelry by Juliet, I am constantly updating my inventory with new pieces using the various techniques I have learned. I also feel that social media is vital to my business and have active Jewelry by Juliet pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as my website of the same name: jewelrybyjuliet.com
I also display my work at a vendor booth at several different gem shows throughout the year. The next one I will be at is the annual Prescott Gem & Mineral Club show at the Prescott Valley Event Center, Prescott Valley, Arizona on August 3rd, 4th & 5th. Over Labor Day weekend I will be at the Grant County Rolling Stones Club Show in Silver City, New Mexico. In October I will be at our local Huachuca Mineral & Gem Club show at Cochise College, Sierra Vista Campus.
Connect with Juliet:
Web: http://jewelrybyjuliet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JewelrybyJuliet
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jewelrybyjuliet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewelrybyjuliet
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