Emma Guy’s interest in jewelry started with collecting rocks, and her passion became making them beautiful.
She built a rock tumbler herself using rollers from an old washing machine, and hooked it up to an old electric motor with pulleys and a v-belt in such a way that the tumbler barrel rotation was 36 revolutions per minute. This way she successfully tumbled polished agates and road pebbles.
“I soon realized they would look better in hand-made settings rather than glued on findings, so I visited the local library in Kitimat to get information on how to do hard solder using silver and/or gold. I started by using a torch and copper wire, and when that was mastered ordered some silver and silver solders. That grew into a love of playing with fire and metal. I spent time in Tucson, Arizona learning how to do flat setting and honing my skills at the Old Pueblo Lapidary Club.” Her jewelry making had turned into a full-time passion.
Emma taught one semester at Okanagan College, and taught many smithing classes at Leir House Cultural Centre in Penticton for the Penticton Geology and Lapidary Club. She has also taught from her own studio here in Summerland.
She has won two Craftsman of the Month awards from Rock and Gem magazine, one for texturing stamps to use with silver or gold and the other for a honey spinner/server. She has a registered trademark and is also listed with the jewellers board of trade.
Emma does custom work in silver and gold with semi-precious and precious stones and pearls. She makes bracelets, rings, earrings, baby spoons, pickle forks, necklaces, pendants, chainmail and gem-topped cribbage pegs.
