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Precious Memories of Loving Parents in a Custom Hawk and Bear Ring

14kt Gold Custom Hawk and Bear Story Ring

We’ve been very privileged at Walker Goldsmiths to make a Custom Hawk and Bear “Story Ring” for a lovely woman, which means that we’ve had some sweet moments doing this lost wax cast custom ring for her. We can even call it a custom “Memorial Ring” because it focuses on the character and spirits of her parents who have both graduated to glory.
Caitlin found our ring pages on this website and contacted us about making a special custom Hawk and Bear ring for her. We love a challenge so jumped right on creating a lost wax cast Hawk and Bear ring in 14kt yellow gold for her.
I always like to find out why someone chooses a specific design, what the story is behind their choice because it helps me do a better job for them. Caitlin gave us a beautiful glimpse into her life and the love in their family.

“My mother was an extremely elegant woman. She grew up in a house without electricity and running water. My mom used her guts and brains to graduate from high school, college, and graduate school. She raised six kids and each of us knew that no matter what happened she had our back. My mother loved hawks and could spot one at a mile. Now when I see a hawk, I blow it a kiss because I know it is my mom saying she still has my back.

My dad also grew up very poor. He began working on the railroad (illegally) at age 12. My dad was amazingly smart and he too used his brains and guts to graduate from the US Naval Academy and law school. The story of my dad and a bear began at the Naval Academy. He responded to a question rather colorfully and from that point on he was called Bear. He was so smart and strong and yet he was so kind.

I lived with my parents and nursed them through their life ending illnesses. My mom died of ovarian cancer and my dad died of complications of a stroke. I think of my parents every day and as time passes their absence is not getting any easier. I wanted something to symbolize my parents. I saw your ring and thought it is the perfect symbol and reminder of my parents.”

Thank you, Caitlin, Walker Goldsmiths have enjoyed doing this Custom Hawk and Bear Ring for you. We found it awesome to learn of the love and inspiration that your folks left for their daughter and your respect for them and their efforts to show their love to their family. There are lessons here for us…

Hawk and Bear Custom Story Ring in 14kt Gold.

A Story Ring about Raven and Wolf

Written by Janet Walker · 2 Comments

Raven and Wolf Cast Sterling Ring

Walker Goldsmiths has been honored to make a Story Ring for a lovely person, Bonnye Matthews, who is an author of an interesting new book series. We are very pleased that our Raven/Wolf Ring fits into her vision of two characters in one of her books.

“I am an author of a book series called Winds of Change that deals with the Pre-Clovis peopling of the Americas. I have one book out, Ki’ti’s Story, 75,000 BC, which is a first place contest winner for fiction for 2013. The second book, Manak-na’s Story, 75,000 BC, launches in June. In the second book, my People not only have dogs, which they had in book one, but also the dog finds an injured raven. The People take care of the raven and the broken bone mends. Meanwhile the raven and the dog become “friends.” They go through the book together meeting when they can. They do a little dance when they meet and then the dog stretches out on its side and raven runs his body against the back of the dog until they meet, back to back and beak to muzzle. They get up and shake out acting as if they didn’t really snuggle. Then, they part company for a while. Raven dies and his mate alerts the People. The People actually bury raven, but the dog will not leave the grave. The dog, old too, and grizzled, ends up dying on the grave of raven and the People bury them back to back and beak to muzzle. Dogs in 75,000 BC would definitely have looked like wolves.

Photo of Wolf and Raven cast Sterling Ring

Wolf and Raven cast Sterling Ring Band

The little part of the second book that contains these two animals is very close to my heart. It was almost as if it wrote itself. The ring you do has the two heads right together. It really hit me. That part of the story is so precious to me. To find a ring that speaks to that is so special. So, there you have it. Ever since Ki’ti’s Story 75,000 BC, won the first place for fiction from the Alaska Professional Communicators, I’ve been in a new world. There are plans to travel around in the state (AK) to do book signings and speak to public groups that would never have been open to me otherwise.”

So of course, we got the Kindle version immediately and Owen’s enjoyed it very much as it sings to his Anthropologist/Archeologist soul. Thank you, Bonnye, for opening up to Walker Goldsmiths a whole new adventure. And may our wild Raven and Wolf Story Ring accompany you well on your journeys!

Debra’s Custom Orca Memorial Ring

Written by Janet Walker · 2 Comments

Debras Surfing Orca Ring in memory of her Grandfather

We are splashing around here at Walker Goldsmiths with another type of custom Surfer Ring. We were contacted by a lovely lady who wanted to create a Memorial Ring in honor of her Grandfather who has “graduated to glory”. He is a Makah from Neah Bay which is located on the Pacific Northwest Coast of Washington State where the Makah people have lived for over 3,800 yrs. Her memory of her Grandfather was enhanced by the beauty of Neah Bay, WA, a small fishing village where the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean meet. The Makah men carve their canoes from whole trees to hunt seals, gray whales and humpback whales. The men are and have been traditionally occupied with harvesting from the sea and the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula.

This is the place of wonderful whale legends. The most beautiful wood carvings of whale traditionally done by men come from Neah Bay and the sea grass and cedar bark baskets woven by the women often have beautiful whales woven right in the design with cedar bark, sea grass and maidenhair fern stems. It is a magical place that seeps into a person’s soul like the fog off the ocean.

Debra has a persistent memory of her Grandfather always drawing whales whenever his hands weren’t occupied with work which was the most natural thing for a Makah man to be drawing. “I have been looking for a way to pay tribute to him and I think he would approve of this idea. He was always drawing Orcas everywhere…even on the corners of magazines and scrap paper. He carved a pole for my mother and for me…“

Cedar house post carved by Makah Grandfather Gordon Mummey

Debra liked seeing our “Surfer Rings” so we used the lost wax technique to make her a Memorial Ring. I carved a wax after talking back and forth and trading sketches of the idea. Debra traded a bit of old gold; one was part of her grandmother’s ring, so this made it even more special. She liked it very 3-D, two colors of gold; red and white, 8mm wide, comfort fit inside ring band with the setting sun splashing down between the waves as Orcas cavort on either side. I loved doing this ring as I’ve had my own mystical experiences with Orca. Walker Goldsmiths thanks you, Debra, for this lovely journey of making this Memorial Ring in honor of your grandfather. Oh, and by the way, congratulations on your own journey accomplishment!

Debras Memorial Orca Surfer Ring

Joe and Abbie’s 14kt White Gold Wedding Rings

Written by Janet Walker · Leave a Comment

Photo of Joe and Abbie's White Gold and Antler Wedding Rings

Joe and Abbie’s Special Wedding Rings

Walker Goldsmiths has been privileged to create these 14kt White Gold Wedding Rings for Abbie and Joe and their wonderful day is today, May 4^th! We’ve posted the creation of Abbie’s Engagement Ring here on the blog, Celtic Style Twisted Braid Engraved Diamond Wedding Ring…Done, and now I’m presenting Abbie’s Wedding Ring and Joe’s Wedding Ring. It’s been a very fun journey for us. We’ve known Joe’s parents and whole family forever so creating these jewelry pieces was a labor of love. The interwoven Celtic Engagement band was created and then Owen carved a lovely Wedding band also in 14kt white gold that matched the Engagement Ring design.

Abbie’s White Gold Celtic Wedding Rings

Joe’s Wedding Ring has a fun story. Joe’s whole family are avid hunters in the Pacific Northwest and we’ve been grateful recipients of some of the bounty over the years. Joe’s mom would call us saying, “Joe’s brought home too many ducks for them to eat so would we like some?”…Of course!!! Yumm!

Photo of Joe's Titanium and Antler Wedding Ring

Joe’s Titanium and Antler Ring

The plan for a Wedding Ring for Joe was to inlay some of the shed antler that he and Abbie had found into a Titanium Wedding Band. So Owen really liked that challenge and you can see that the result was a beautiful success. We loved hearing the story of how Joe presented the Engagement Ring to Abbie and asked her to marry him. The whole family often enjoys going on big camping/hunting trips together and this special time Joe had taken Abbie along. He had been sneaky and planned to present the ring on this trip. They went hiking about in the woods looking for shed antler and tricky Joe had put the Engagement Ring on a shed antler tine for Abbie to find. Joe said, ”Hey, here’s one. Check this out!” So Abbie picked it up and there was her beautiful Engagement Ring on one of the antler tines…astonished, she tried it on and it fit! Would she marry him? You bet!!

Kind of like the glass slipper. Romantic family stories are such fun!

Celtic Style Twisted Braid Engraved Diamond Wedding Ring…Done

Written by Janet Walker · 1 Comment

Celtic Twisted Braid Engraved Diamond Wedding Ring

This Celtic Twisted Braid Diamond Wedding Ring is finally finished at Walker Goldsmiths and off to our customer who had big plans to propose to his sweetheart. She had told him what style she liked and they had even chosen a picture of a ring they’d found on-line, then he sneaked over to see us. We, of course, set him straight about just what was practical and functional about their chosen design and took off from there.

We’ve been making rings for people for over 35 years and have learned a thing or two about just what works and what doesn’t! The big fashion these days is the micro-bling look created with LOTS of teeny tiny diamond melee, diamonds smaller than 1 or 2mm covering the band and sides. The young girls are all being sold this in the jewelry stores these days and no one is telling them that they are just not practical or built for durability. They are built to lose melee diamonds over time and to create a cash flow for the stores in replacement diamonds. When a customer comes to us and wants this fashion look I carefully tell them about the problems and expenses that might be involved and then with them design a ring that gets as close as possible to the original idea, yet is durable and functional in real life. This is where Owen’s engraving skills really shine. He can create the flash and look of melee diamonds with specific carving of the 14kt white gold to create facets that bounce off light and flash like diamonds.

Side view of Celtic Twisted Braid Diamond Ring

This Celtic Style Twisted Braid Engraved Diamond Wedding Ring, designed by Janet Walker, was cast in 14kt white gold. It has a ½ carat diamond set in a 4 prong Platinum crown. The top is engraved by Owen Walker with a faux diamond pattern and the sides with a vine pattern.

We love this job. It’s so much fun to be involved in the magic and suspense of love and presentation.

We create heirlooms! Thanks Joey.

Owen Walker engraving Celtic Ring

Jessa’s Peridot Wedding Rings

Written by Janet Walker · Leave a Comment

Jessa’s Peridot Wedding Ring Guard Set

Walker Goldsmiths made this beautiful Wedding Ring Guard for Jessa some time ago and it snuck past my camera then. Sometimes that happens and I’m just sick about losing a chance to photo our work, especially if it’s killer beautiful! But Jessa came back to see us the other day wanting the size changed as she’s lost a ton of weight and while we’re at it, “give her a bigger marquis Peridot.” She and her Navy husband are moving to Naples, Italy. She’s definitely going to fit right in with all those fancy Italian jewelry ladies with this ring.

Jessa’s fiancé gave her the original Peridot ring as an engagement ring and they came to us to have a Ring Guard made as a Wedding Ring. A Ring Guard is interesting because it guards and kind of wraps around a center ring and is a type of ring “enhancer”. It is usually used as a form of protection for an engagement ring. Jessa’s Peridot ring slips right down into the Wedding Ring Guard making her original ring stronger, supported and protected.

Jessa’s Wedding Ring Guard

I love Peridots. They’re the birthstone of August babies, and to me they are so perfect for spring and summer with their beautiful fresh limey green color. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color. The intensity and tint of the green, however, depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow- to olive- to brownish-green. Olivine, of which Peridot is a type, is often found in lava, but Peridot can be also found in meteorites. Olivine in general is a very abundant mineral, but gem quality peridot is rather rare. This mineral is precious as is Jessa’s ring. Thank you, Jessa, for letting Walker Goldsmiths make this for you. And do have a wonderful time living in Naples!

Newsletter for April Mother’s Day 2013

Written by Janet Walker · 2 Comments

Walker Goldsmiths has many gift ideas for Mama. With Mother’s Day coming up on May 12th, there’s plenty of time for you to pick just the right piece of jewelry to compliment her on her job well done.

Photo of Walker-Goldsmiths-cast-Sterling-Hummingbird-Earrings-#608

Walker Goldsmiths Lost Wax Cast Sterling Hummingbird Earrings #608

With Spring here the Hummingbirds are zipping in to sip nectar from all the new blooming delicacies. We have quite a lovely flock of Hummingbird jewelry from which to choose a “special for her” gift. Check out our hummingbirds here.

Sterling Silver Frog Ring

Or if your Mama is a Frog Girl we have a Northwest Coast Wookus Collection that is so sweet! Our cute little Frog Ring is a popular character and our Frog Earrings can whisper in her ears all the lovely little sounds of Spring. Owen also has a nice selection of Sterling Frog Bracelets in different widths and prices.

Check us out and give us a shout for we’d love to be of service to you and your Mama!

Walker Goldsmiths love our mamas!!

Sterling Silver hand carved Frog bracelet with abalone inlaid eyes

Newsletter, March 2013, Hang Ten with Walker Goldsmiths Custom Designed Surfer Rings

Written by Janet Walker · 5 Comments

Photo of Walker Goldsmiths Surfer Rings with a Star Sappire

Walker Goldsmiths Surfer Rings with Star Sapphire

We’ve been talking to many people here at Walker Goldsmiths about custom designed Surfer Rings. They are usually folks who love the outdoors, the seaside and especially riding the waves, one way or another. The marvelous appeal of the outdoors to them and their families is a big part of their personal idea of a wonderful time. Getting away from the everyday grind and chillin’ at the beach!

Our daughter and family love to go Surfin’. They and their friends pile in the kids, dogs, the big bag of groceries, the surfboards, boogie boards and the wetsuits all in their campers and head for whatever beach has the best adventure potential. It’s good family fun to get away for a 4 day break in the fresh outdoors. They don’t even care if it’s raining! They are dedicated “Surfers” that return home, exhausted and grinning, smelling of beach fires and neoprene!

Photo pf Walker Goldsmiths Surfer Ring with Sunstone, waves and mountains

Walker Goldsmiths Surfer Ring with waves, beach, mountains and Sunstone

Walker Goldsmiths has made custom Surfer Rings with stones in yellow, white gold and sterling silver. The custom Surfer rings we’ve made all have the carvings of waves, beaches, and some with mountains, sunsets or moons. Some custom rings have stones and some don’t. It’s whatever appeals to the wearer and/or the pocketbook. We’ve often talked about custom rings being a fun way to go… maybe this is for you…

Do you have metals and stones that you want to sell or trade to facilitate getting a custom designed Surfer Ring with “Your Story” carved on it from Walker Goldsmiths? We can make it doable!

Walker Goldsmiths Surfer Rings with Salmon, waves and wild roses

Walker Goldsmiths Polynesian Style Surfer Rings

Please e-mail us for pricing and questions.

Betty’s Custom Sterling Silver Frog Pendant by Walker Goldsmiths

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Photo of Walker Goldsmiths Custom Lost wax cast Sterling MissFroggy Pendant before finishing1.jpg

Miss Froggy Custom Sterling Pendant

This adorable Custom Sterling Silver Frog Pendant just jumped out of the wax at Walker Goldsmiths. Betty approached us wanting to make a custom pendant using her stones and selling/trading us her metal and stones. We love to do this kind of piece because it is so heirloom and experience focused. Betty had stones, a Pink Zircon and a handful of diamonds, and metal from broken or unwanted jewelry.

“My grandma gave the Pink stone ring to (mother) in 1941 for her Oct. birthday, and she never took it off. I continued to wear it until I wore out the band… It is of great sentimental value to me. From my earliest memories, she was wearing it. The 2 larger diamonds were my mom’s and my step-mom’s, and the assorted smaller diamonds and sapphires were in a necklace that my dad had given my mom.”

Photo of Design and wax carving for Custom Froggy Pendant

Design and wax carving for Custom Pendant

After communicating by email with Betty I learned about her and what she might like a pendant to represent. I really enjoy this process of getting to know a person and figuring out just what they value and will enjoy as jewelry. Betty’s focus is her family, past and present, and she has a deep faith in God. She told me about how she likes frogs because of the spelling as an acronym; F – forever R- relying O – on G – God. I liked that idea and sent her a drawing or two until we came up with the design that hopped out of the park. The next step was carving a wax and emailing her pictures of the process and end result for her approval.

Owen Walker setting stones Miss Froggy custom Pendant

Then Owen cast it up in Sterling Silver, set the Pink Zircon and Diamonds in the crowns and all the little dew drops on the grape vines and the Sapphire Frog eyes. The stones are all hers and we bought her metal and extra stones to go toward the cost of making the pendant. I love this job here at Walker Goldsmiths making Custom Pendants! Do you have a good story and old jewelry that you want to re-do? Let’s get to it!

Walker Goldsmiths Designs Custom Pendant from Company Logo

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Walker Goldsmiths Custom Gold Pendant designed from Company Logo

Walker Goldsmiths was privileged and honored to turn a lovely Company Logo design into a custom pendant for friends Sheryl and Steve’s wedding. Sheryl’s daughter-in-law, Katie, created the original design as a logo for their business. The design is two intertwined S’s, the first letter of each of their names, Sheryl and Steve. One S of the custom pendant would be 14kt white gold and the other 14kt yellow. Sheryl had a beautiful ¾ ct diamond and wanted it set in the center space of the pendant so we went to work! Janet carved the complete custom pendant of intertwined S’s in wax then cut them apart to cast in two colors of gold; white and yellow.

Sheryl’s Custom Pendant Measurement

Owen then worked his magic casting the two colored S’s and then soldered them back together in the appropriate places. Owen set the ¾ ct. diamond in the center space in a “tapered tube crown”. The whole custom pendant is only 1 inch tall including the bail. Sheryl likes a box chain so we got a 16 inch yellow 14kt gold chain for her. The whole effect is subtle and tailored, yet dramatic.
Thank you, Sheryl and Steve, for letting Walker Goldsmiths create this custom pendant and be a part of this wonderful celebration. You’re bringing together of two families into one joyous experience and determination of life and we love how this design, by Katie, reflects the solid goals and mixture of energy. Congratulations!!

Walker Goldsmiths Custom Pendant designed from Company Logo