Deborah Threlkel:

My inspiration goes back to days at the beach, finding a superbly lustrous piece of Abalone shell and making my first necklace for my grandmother when I was 11. I was hooked, little did I know back then that these memories and my passion for the all things connected to the ocean would stay with me for the rest of my life. When I moved to Gualala and it’s supportive artists community 10 years ago Abalone Queen Jewelry was conceptualized, honoring the tradition and beauty of the abalone shell found along the California Coast. I had been making jewelry for over 20 years and was really wanting to create a connection to the beauty of the natural world. Every piece crafted has it’s own inspiration and story from within my experiences and each result is a one of a kind creation. With the earth and oceans always changing I can see as I gather and collect that there is no longer the abundance of material that used to be found as I beach comb. Many of the shells and their inhabitants are gone, some facing extinction, making each piece of jewelry that much more rare and precious. When assembling my designs I use different combinations of shells, coral, drilled beach glass, luminous pearls and high quality gemstone beads. I wire wrap each piece of jewelry creating a chain out of a single piece of wire using either sterling silver, gold or gold fill wire. The delicate appearance of the finished earrings or necklaces are as unique and beautiful as they are strong and durable. As much as I love the act of creating my art with Abalone Queen Jewelry it is through the one on one transactions, of bringing joy, connecting and building relationships that I feel truly grateful to be doing what I do.

David Brix:

I have always enjoyed taking photographs ever since college so many years ago when I bought my first camera, a Nikon FM film SLR. A lot has changed in my photography over the years. Cameras have gone from film to digital, lens have gotten better and sharper, and post processing has gone from dodging and burning in the dark room to adjusting hue and saturation on the computer. What has not changed for me along the way is the pleasure I get in making a photograph and bringing it to life, and the satisfaction I get in capturing the awe and beauty I find in the world. In the beginning it was party pics and class assignments for Deva Hyman's photography class. Soon, though, I was shooting 4x5 landscapes à la Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, and developing B&W prints in my bathroom at night. Later I assisted studio and architectural photographers before striking out on my own. Initially, I followed a career path for over 15 years that included a business in digital imaging (digital and graphic illustration, retouching, and pre-press). In 2006, desiring a more stable and lucrative career, I decided to pursue another kind of imaging as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. While not as expressive, it has allowed me to help others, as well as to afford my creative passions. These days, I am blessed and thrilled to be able to explore even more of the beauty that our natural environment has to offer. I have rekindled my love for shooting landscapes, nightscapes, and travel images, as well as more abstract images. I hope that you enjoy viewing my photographs as much as I have enjoyed creating them!