Bijoutiful in a Nutshell...
"I try to leave as small a footprint on this planet as possible, and have to feel good about what I do," says Barbadian born metalsmith jeweler Amber Yearwood, whose commitment to an environmentally and socially responsible lifestyle carries over to each aspect of her work. Jewelry is a "dirty" business, from destructive mining for metal and stone, to the harsh chemicals and cleaners often used by jewelers in the fabrication process. Not only does Amber personally source her materials from sustainable businesses using recycled precious metals, ethically mined and cut stones, as well as vintage, antique and found metal components, about 95% of her creation process is eco-friendly as well. She strives to use only natural solutions to clean and age her metal, and post-consumer recycled paper for her packaging and marketing materials. True to the "local" movement, each piece is designed, fabricated, finished and packaged by Amber herself in her studio located in Dallas, Texas. For now, Bijoutiful is a true "one woman show". In the future, Amber expects to only hire help for her online presence.
"The first thing I think about when designing a new piece is 'Would I want to wear this myself?'". Amber is personally drawn to intricate patterns and the ornate, having been smitten with ancient cultures and civilizations and all things antique and sparkly from a very young age. Her designs are driven by this passion, often looking to archetypal ethnic motifs, antique wrought iron, art nouveau scrollwork, as well as nature itself for inspiration. Marrying these influences with contemporary appeal, she creates eclectic pieces that evoke times gone by, yet with a modern touch.
When it comes to techniques and mediums, Amber is a "Jane of all trades", so to speak. She uses both traditional and contemporary metalsmithing/goldsmithing techniques, such as the following:
Piercing, saw/fretwork
Stonesetting
Soldering
Filigree/Filigrana
Torch and kiln-fired vitreous glass enamel
Patinas and oxidation
Wire-wrapping & Beading
Riveting
Texturing by way of hammers and other handtools
Forging & Fold-forming
Alloying
Rolling Mill operations (embossing, making wire and sheet)
Stamping (for personalization)
Metal Clay
Etching
Polymer Clay (faux stones such as Amber and Turquoise)
In her spare time, Amber enjoys a multitude of things such as reading, cooking, gardening, staying in the sea back home in Barbados for so long that her fingers "prune up", playing with and training her 2 lab mix pups, taking road trips with said pups and the love of her life, getting lost in dusty "Mom and Pop" thrift stores, as well as practicing her aim at the range with her 9mm Glock and other various firearms. She strongly believes in educated and responsible gun ownership, one's inherent right to self defense of person and property, and though she tows no party line, she lives by the Libertarian adage of "harm no one."
