29 Union St.
Brandon, VT 05733(802) 558-6465
rebecca@zelis.com
www.rebeccazelis.com
It may be a stone you found on the beach during your honeymoon, a token your grandmother gave you, or a trinket that you’ve held onto for the last fifteen years. Preciousness is given to an object for many reasons, all of them are very personal and very powerful. I believe Jewelry should be more than ornament. It can be a powerful talisman, a token of sentiment, or a symbol of love. It can inspire, comfort, or hold a special memory.
Each piece of jewelry I create is unique. My work is made from found objects like old buttons, photographs, or stones from Lake Champlain. They are then set in sterling silver or eighteen karat gold, and combined with precious gemstones. Initially, one may see the beauty of a gem or an elegant composition, but the true value of a piece of jewelry is the secret it keeps; the special relationship between the jewel and the wearer.
I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1997 with a BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing. I currently live in the artist community of Brandon, Vermont with my husband Mark, and two toddlers, Luke and Emerson.
Artist Statement
Since I was a child I collected the seashells and stones that I now incorporate into my jewelry. I take objects that are not thought of as valuable, and by treating them as precious, reveal the natural beauty of their color, texture, and shape. Because of the nature of my art, I don’t cast bezels or chain. I make every piece personally, one at a time, by hand.
Dragonfly Branch Necklace
18k Gold, Opal, Pearl
Every piece of jewelry I create is unique. I am always inspired by a new found object, or the history of an old button or tintype photograph. Initially, one may see the beauty of a stone or an elegant composition, but the true value of a piece of jewelry is the special meaning it keeps for the wearer.
My work is made from found objects like old buttons or photographs. I then set them in sterling silver or eighteen karat gold, and sometimes with precious gemstones.
One may see the beauty of a gem or an elegant composition, but the true value of a piece of jewelry is the secret it keeps – the special relationship between the jewelry and the wearer.
When a woman wears a piece of jewelry she shows the world a glimpse of her Soul.