Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucinda Marie Arthur.
Hi Lucinda Marie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a beachcomber since I was a child, combing the beaches with my Mom, finding seashells, and beach stones which then turned into finding sea glass. We spent many hours over many years. I can’t help but think of her often when I’m out there on the sand.
I’ve been creating jewelry for the past 20 years. In the beginning, mainly wire wrapping with sea glass, agates, moonstone, jade, beads and other stones from the beach.
Wanting to become a silversmith for many years, in order to branch out and expand my creativity in another medium, I went on the hunt.
I was very fortunate, a little over two years ago, to find the best silversmith/instructor/mentor that I could have ever possibly found in, Julia Monroe. I took classes from her in the beginning then she set up a weekly workshop for a few students and I’ve been a silversmith ever since. We have a lot in common loving the organic aspect in making jewelry. We also became fast friends.
Being a lifelong runner, I find most of my sea glass on my early morning runs on the beach, in Carlsbad and Oceanside. I stop often when I see a particular bit of small rocks that might prove to be hiding sea glass. It’s always a good day when you’re not skunked. Even one little piece keeps this from happening.
My runs also involve picking up trash/ beach toys, mylar balloons, and whatever else that has been left behind, hoping to catch what I can, before it ends up in the ocean. It’s not my trash but, it’s my planet and I can’t look the other way when I see it and not dispose of it properly.
The pieces of sea glass that I find are all authentic, tumbled only by the sea, over many, many years, in the ocean. There’s a lot of “fake” sea glass out there but you’ll never find it in any of my pieces. Only 100% organic, sea glass for me. It’s really all about the hunt and the excitement of finding those truly special pieces.
Everything I create is, hand-forged, one of a kind, made with love, jewelry pieces, using mostly sterling silver as well as mixed metals, like, 14-carat gold filled, brass and copper. I am also big on up-cycling, basically using components from vintage jewelry found at estate sales, etc.
I love doing custom orders, and often use pieces of sea glass that my clients find themselves on the beach and want a particular piece of jewelry made from it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not really a “smooth” road.
The most difficult obstacle I’ve faced was spending years trying to find the right silversmith instructor, to be sure. The other biggest challenge is finding sea glass. For various reasons, it’s becoming harder and harder to find jewelry quality sea glass, especially on California beaches.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My goal has always been to create new and different sea glass pieces than what you commonly see out there. What sets me apart, I believe, is that I stick to a more simple, organic design that enhances the pieces that I create, not covering them up, and staying as close to nature as possible.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve taken several risks in my professional life. I became an Esthetician at 50 and started my business from scratch 4 different times in the past 14 years.
I’m also about to put 100% of my time and effort into my jewelry business, definitely risky.
So much of success comes from a dream that you work hard to make into a reality.
Pricing:
- Earrings range from $20-$70
- Rings average $125
- Pendants between $65 – $200
- Bracelets between $75-$200
Contact Info:
- Email: llatt33@gmail.com
- Website: www.silvergypsea.com
- Instagram: @silvergysea @lucindamarie33
- Facebook: Silver Gypsea.
Image Credits
Lucinda Marie Arthur
