Anna's China Jewelry Creates New Stuff From Old

Toler Frazier

Frazier is an artisan who experienced in making jewelry using vintage precious metals, discovered things and from shards of old china dishware. For 18 years, her Anna’s China Jewelry turning out one-of-kind adornments pieces. She knows how to cut and place the pieces to best complement the shape and pattern of the china, then marks the piece with a template of her own design and cuts the plate with a round diamond blade band saw.

The first time she saw a piece of china jewelry she was intrigued. She wanted to know how it was made and how to do the decorative soldering. She began by talking to jewelers and artists to learn different techniques.

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The Tamarack artisan creates her work from a studio at her Fraziers Bottom home.

Frazier said,"When I initially began, I did just the china jewellery."

Since then, she has spread out into stained glass, silversmithing and "manufacturing," which is hammering designs into metal. In addition, she also does beadwork and wirework which is sometimes incorporated into the china pieces.

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She said,“Now, I like to work in metals.” including that china jewelry is as yet a major piece of her work. With an artist’s eye, Frazier can see how an old shard of china can turn out to be a piece of an attractive jewelry piece. These pieces become family treasures just as the china was. Clients regularly bring her treasure china that has been broken.

She added,"Maybe their grandmother’s plate got broken, and then I’ll make (jewelry) pieces for the family. People will likewise bring me things they've found in the ground."

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Frazier is mostly a self-educated artisan. She has finished classes, however, in silversmithing, recolored glass and producing. Frazier also attended the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

She said."It’s been there for more than 100 years."

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Utilizing old items, Frazier made a unique necklace.She appreciates making what she calls "travel accessories" for clients. These necklaces include little tokens from trips they've taken.

She said,"I really like to find things and put create them into jewelry pieces. The basic necklace might have a compass on it, or maybe a St. Christopher’s medal on it. And when people travel, they may discover rocks or coins — simply a wide range of thing to put on there." "

One memorable piece Frazier created for a customer included a tooth.

She said,"I completed a little appeal for a mother — and her significant other wished me to do it — and it had their child's infant tooth in it, I made it so it looked like the center of a flower. It doesn’t look like a tooth unless you really look at it."

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She uses an acetylene torch to solder pieces together, and she also has a collection of hammers, files and metal saws. Frazier said it takes a lot of considerable measure to create her jewelry pieces. Critical thinking abilities likewise become possibly the most important factor.

She said,"You need to issue comprehend with respect to how things will fit together."

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Frazier said her work can be purchased at Tamarack as well as in the gift shop at the state Culture Center in Charleston. Her work is additionally accessible at Hidden Creek Mercantile on Main Street in Hurricane.

She said,"I additionally complete a great deal of custom work."