SUSAN L HUTTON JEWELRY is just that, hand-crafted jewelry, designed and created by me, in my personal studio. I love immersing myself in every aspect of the process. Full creative direction, from concept to completion, allows for close attention to detail and the highest standards of quality.

I have always known that my passage through this wild world would be made by way of crafting and creating. As far back as I can remember, I have been making things. I believe weaving potholders was my first labor of love, which lead me very naturally, to sewing, macramé, crochet, and knitting. I have always been inclined towards the structural arts. Once I discovered the bending, twisting, and hammering of wire I was forever enamored with metals. So began my jewelry-making journey.

In my home state of Pennsylvania, I eagerly honed my new skills at the Wallingford Center for the Arts, where I eventually went on to teach jewelry making classes of my own. Years later as a single parent of two young children, I found myself employed by a local jeweler. Learning and experimenting with new metal techniques for her growing jewelry line offered the opportunity to make a living doing something that brought me joy, while also providing financial stability and a flexible schedule for my family. During evenings and weekends I devoted time to polishing my personal portfolio of wearable art jewelry. After nearly a decade as an apprentice, I finally struck out full-time to design, create, and sell my own jewelry in galleries nationwide. As a multi-time show participant for The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, I became a juried member in 2004.

Once my children where grown and established in their own lives, I made the decision to relocate my home and wholesale business to an island in Maine. Living and working in a rural area has allowed me to immerse myself fully in the process of creating. I have found appreciation for the contentment that accompanies mixing metals, and more recently, rekindled my love for rocks. Over the past three years I have shifted away from a mainstay of wholesale work and now devote more time to participating in craft shows across the country. Road trips between shows indulge my passion for travel and allow me to collect a vast geological history of stones from rivers, lakes, and coastlines while designing and creating jewelry along the way. I find travel and art form a perfect partnership. What could be better?!?

MIXED METAL In order to create the four mixed metals I use in my jewelry I first shape and flatten bronze and copper wires and sterling silver shot. Next, is the meticulous arrangement and soldering of these shapes onto 2” x 2” sheets of bronze in accordance with the particular metal desired. Once these pieces are affixed, I use a rolling mill to compress and simultaneously stretch the combined metals, fine-tuning the fluid patterns that are unique to each design. After each piece of jewelry is fully formed, it is oxidized and buffed to accentuate the raised shapes in the metal patterns, leaving a clean satin finish. The final step is applying multiple coats of clear lacquer to discourage further oxidation.

ROCKS Traveling the country from Maine to California for craft shows, I enjoy collecting rocks from the shores of oceans, lakes, and rivers. Over time these rocks have found their way into my jewelry. I cut each stone with a diamond saw to reveal its hidden treasures. I then sand the new surfaces with varying grades of diamond discs, from rough to fine, and finish on a felt wheel to remove any fine scratches and polish to give each rock a natural wet-look. For the sterling silver settings I hand-saw intricate designs inspired by each stone or the location it was found. The opposite side remains unobstructed and reveals the rock’s natural beauty. The wearer then has the option of displaying the side of their choice.

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS Since March of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of craft shows nationwide. In the midst of revenue loss and travel restrictions I am doing my best to transition my business to better serve online sales. For local area customers, limited-contact gallery viewings are available by appointment only. For all other patrons, I encourage you to contact me by email for order requests and all other inquiries. All orders are fulfilled, packaged, and shipped by me personally. I am diligent about adhering to state and national guidelines for health and safety..

Looking forward to the 2022 craft show season - Insert crossed fingers HERE!