Catherine Laing

Catherine Laing's imagination and creativity are the guiding forces behind her fabricated jewelry. Of the thousand of pieces of jewelry she has created, no two are exactly alike. Using gold and silver, she fashions the wire and sheet by bending, pounding, sawing, soldering and polishing, "My goal is to work with precious metals and gems, designing wearable peices of art."

Now located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Catherine has seen her talent mature since beginning her career as a self-employed jeweler in Garrison, Iowa. She graduated in 1975 from Cornell College with a degree in Art Metals. Strongly influenced by travel and study in Scandinavia and the American Southwest, Catherine combines the two contrasting styles into her original designs. The clean and simple Scandinavian lines reoccur thoughout her work as well as the geometric patterns derived from nature, and exemplified by Native American artifacts. Her designs are also inspired by nautral gemstones, pearls, and shells. "I love stones and the challenge presented by designing around one or more of them."

Unique stones, meticulous workmanship, and high artistic achievement characterize Catherine Laing's one-of-a-kind creations. "I'm thrilled to see one of my pieces on someone, outside the shop, and happy to know it is being worn and appreciated."