Walk down the lane of the village at one of the larger Renaissance festivals in America, and you might run into my jewelry shop, sometimes built to look like an ancient temple, a many towered princess fort or a Swiss Chalet, what ties them together is the sparkly treasures found within.
Recently, I was asked what's with the Squid thing? Ever since my youth, the Far Side comics featuring giant squids doing anamorphic things grabbed my imagination. First came the squid pendant, next it sprouted wings. A Squid Pin, three squids around a stone, and a squid ring are all a part of this retinue. Fun and squidly. Squids are like rockets underwater, squirt ink to confuse their enemies. I guess I need to take pictures of all these things, eh? stay tuned!
I am a jeweler who designs and sells my work primarily through Renaissance Festivals. I work in silver and gold, and have a variety of designs both whimsical and fantastic, as well as Celtic knot and Art Nouveau designs. I specialize in wedding rings and sets. My website is jewelrybydaoud.com
I usually get special orders from people, and that defines where I go with my creativity. Want a winged monkey earring? Send me in that direction and I research it, and develop and sculpt a wax model, cast it up, refine it, and then mold the best in the series for my final piece. The process of casting is documented on my website at the following address: http://jewelrybydaoud.com/waxcasting.asp
I'm inspired by nature and the grand chaotic fractal world of vines, leaves, flowers and branches. I frequently make the prongs to hold stones secure out of these design elements. I use animals, birds, reptiles and such in the same way. The beak of a bird may hold in a side of a stone, or the tongue of a gecko and his padded feet to secure a stone, such as in the Gecko ring. For an example of the Gecko ring in gold, check here: http://jewelrybydaoud.com/detail.asp?ProductID=149&cat=3&subcat=36
Because I'm sometimes trying to meet the needs of a customer for their special project, and then they allow me to add this new design to my zoo, I'm open to the wide world of possibilities. I'm listing some directions I'd like to go, should anyone like to commission me for something in that direction.
Ideas for future projects:
American Indian pictographs on rings or necklaces
large pectoral necklaces with gemstones and floral or art deco themes
Ancient Coin jewelry, already in the works, more on this later...
Luckenbooth broaches and rings, I have a few right now, but no photos as yet.
