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Tim and Jim worked primarily with silver in the early 70s since silver was far more affordable to work with. They're primary motivation for learning to make jewelry was to set the numerous agates that they had collected as kids. After selling their silver jewelry at fairs on the weekends, they eventually partnered with a man who had opals and began selling wholesale. They moved to Astoria after the oil embargo and opened up shop in 1974. Up until 1976, most of their work was hand fabricated silver jewelry.. In 1976, they purchased casting equipment and began to work with gold and precious gemstones, which they would focus on for the rest of their career. In the mid-70s, they also experiemented with bronze sculptures and stainless steel.
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1966-1969 - Bell capped bindings glued onto tumbled agates. Tim and Jim made these in high school and sold them to friends and family. These were their first attempts at making jewelry.
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1972 - Charcoal cast ring with owl motif.
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1972-1974 Hand fabricated sterling silver and opal necklace. This was an item from our first JTL catalog from which we sold to a national wholesale market.
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1973 - hand fabricated sterling silver butterfly.
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1973 - Hand fabricated 18K gold and sterling silver wedding set.
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1975 - Hand fabricated sterling silver and fire agate pendant.
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1971 - First ring made by Tim. Hand fabricated sterling silver with turquoise.
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1973 - "Tree of Life" - made from scrap silver modeled after the Weeping Willow tree outside our shop in Bemidji, Minnesota.
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1973 - (Left and Right Pendants) hand fabricated sterling silver and gold pendants designed for the Goldsmith '74 exhibition sponsored by the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute. Winning pieces would tour the nation for four years. Another piece that we had entered into this exhibition was accepted for the tour. We do not have a photo, because it was stolen from a museum while on display. Our piece was the only one stolen. The pendant in the center was made in 1976.
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1973 - 18K gold hand fabricated opal pin.
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1974 - Hand fabricated sterling silver ring with oak motif.
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