How does a Marriage & Family Therapist with an MBA become a jewelry designer? Well, if you are Patricia Tschetter, the award winning designer of Tschetter Studio, you start by making paper jewelry for yourself.

Q. How did you get into jewelry?

PT: "When I was in high school, I studied sculpture. My teacher taught us the lost wax method for bronze sculpture. Then I took a Jewelry 101 course with Harlan Bunt, a well known enamalist, at the University of North Texas, and I hated it and didn't take another jewelry course. I got my MBA before I became a Therapist and then one day realized I was burning out professionally. Both of my parents had died, and I realized life is short. I should do what I really want to do. I had been fooling around making paper jewelry for fun when I took another jewelry course at a local guild in 1998. I took more classes, and then Jean Stark came to the guild and taught a course in granulation. I was hooked. Gradually I changed professions, and I started selling my work in 2006. I use oxidized (blackened) silver, minimalist shapes, architectural structures, and non-traditional materials with 22kt yellow and white gold granulation.

Q. What is granulation?

PT: "Granulation is an ancient, noble technique of surface decoration that was practiced by the Etruscans. It is basically 22K gold fused onto 22K gold, there is no solder. Tiny granules of gold are placed onto a gold base plate, and treated with a solution that holds them in place until they can be fused. This all happens very quickly, particularly the fusing, and it is very easy to melt the entire piece. You can also use different metals; many jewelry artists are doing granulation not only with gold, but with platinum and other metals. I like to use ArgentiumÆ which is silver that can be used in granulation. My Bee Ring, which I entered in a design competition, is entirely made of ArgentiumÆ, with just a touch of gold. I love Argentium."

Q. At the beginning of your career, you also did a lot of Keum-boo. Can you explain what that it is?

PT: "Keum-boo (also spelled Kum-bo) is a Korean process using relatively low heat and pressure to adhere gold to silver. I used 22K on silver, and again, you can use other metals. The Koreans used it to layer gold onto the inside of a bowl or a spoon, they feel that the gold imparts good health and good luck."

Q. There are several designers working in granulation. In the CJDG alone Gurhan, Zaffiro, and Lika Behar all work in granulation and they have all won awards! What sets all of you apart from each other?

PT: The great thing about granulation is that we all do it differently! We all have a different look. I want my work with granulation to be affordable and so I have figured out a way to do granulation economically, and I can do it quickly. Some of my designs just have a touch of granulation. I've talked to a lot of jewelry designers who have tried granulation and did not like doing it. It helps if you are anal retentive, detail oriented and persnickety like I am because it is so time consuming, and you can easily ruin the piece! I suspect that those of us who love working in granulation have a similar temperament."

Q. How does being a jewelry designer compare with being a Family & Marriage Therapist?

PT: "I've never worked so hard in my life! But I really enjoy what I'm doing. I'm not a gregarious person by nature, but I have come out of my shell. I was also lucky to have won the Saul Bell Award, a NICHE Award and I've been included in the books 500 Earrings (edited by Alan Revere, Lark Books 2007) and 500 Gemstone Jewels (edited by Cindy Edelstein, Lark Books 2010) I've been very lucky and I have no desire to go back to being a therapist!"

For Further Information about Patricia Tschetter's work:
Website
Email: info@tschetterstudio.com
Tel: (214)232-4970

-CJDG Editorial