Mendon’s Liesl Carlson’s Jewelry: A Family Affair

Monday, August 05, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Andisne Necklace by Liesl Carlson. Each piece has its own little story built in.

For Mendon's Liesl Carlson, creating and selling jewelry is about family, and not only her own. Jewelry has been "a huge" part of her life, she says, going back to when her grandfather encouraged to pursue the art.

"He knew before I did and did some gentle guiding, he sent me a catalog with the jewelry classes highlighted. He was amazing."

She has fond memories of her sister, when they were children.

"There is a photo somewhere of me and my sister when I was about five covered in pop beads," she jokes.

And now she hopes, through her very own creations, to create that those kind those same kind of familial moments for others.

"I always loved it hear and know the stories that belong to a piece of jewelry and therefore a person and their family. I love that I can become part of that." She goes on,

"Each piece has a story of some kind. I hope that my work will become a story for someone and their family. How wonderful that would be."

What Carlson Does and How She Does it

For many, sentimental value is far more important than monetary worth. And this can be true of the creative process itself. A look at her blog will show the joy she finds in allowing her young son to help in the studio. But of course the joy of making is innate to the whole process.

"I get joy from making," she says.

"All is right with the work when I at my bench."

As is true among many who practice the jeweler craft, she gets much of her inspiration from nature and life, with an infusion of unique textures and geometric shapes

"I love texture," she explains.

"I try to have some in each piece if it is not in the metal then it is in the stones or other materials that I work into a piece."

Also the type of jewelry she creates, varies greatly, necklaces and rings, earrings and bracelets. Overall she specializes in one off silver pieces. Many of her pieces, luckily for us, are for sale. They can be seen here.

"I love that my work can and is worn by any age group it can either be worn with your jeans or best dress."

For the future, as you'd expect, she speaks of the importance of family and the desire to continue to help others through her immense of talent for and love of the art.

"I hope that future holds many things for me and my work," she says.

"I would love to take my work much further and I would love to teach more. I love sharing my knowledge and my passion with anyone would wants to learn."

Challenges remain, but she plans to embrace them and take them head on.

"Right now I think that my biggest challenge is find more balance in life. Finding more time for my amazing husband and son and for my work. Finding time for everything one has to and loves to do can be very hard at times."

The familial and sentimental power in creating jewelry, for her, surely makes these "hard times" easier.

For more information on Liesl Carlson and view her work please visit her website.