A St. Albert business wanted to let customers watch jewelry being created firsthand, and also benefit an important charity. Those goals were accomplished at Concept Jewelry Design Thursday.
Owner/operator Carmen Bokenfohr contacted the Gazette with information that a talented “Trollbeads” glass artisan was going to be in her jewelry store, and she wanted to combine the event with a chance to help those who suffered in the southern Alberta floods this summer.
Bokenfohr said Trollbeads is a popular Danish company that specializes in glass-blown jewelry. Artisan Georgina Black was the expert bead-blower, creating unique jewelry from twisting coloured glass rods.
“Glass artisan Georgina Black began her association with Trollbeads in 2010 when she travelled to Denmark to train with Lise Aagaard,” said Bokenfohr Thursday.
“She is a Trollbeads founder and chief artist in the intricate glass techniques. She worked with the United Kingdom Trollbeads team demonstrating at special events across the UK until 2013, when she returned to Canada.
“Born in Canada, Georgina began her glass training in Vancouver in 2002, and in 2006 moved to the U.K. and established her own teaching studio and gallery.
“She has studied with several renowned glassmakers over the years, and has found creating Trollbeads a satisfying endeavour.”
“There is an enormous amount of skill required to create these fine details on such a tiny canvas. I really enjoy the challenge and have huge respect for the skills of the Trollbeads glass artisans across the world,” said Black in a news release.
Bokenfohr said Black was creating unique jewelry right at Concept Jewelry Design Thursday, and that jewelry would be auctioned off the same day. All proceeds from the auction would be donated to Canadian Red Cross Flood Relief.
Trollbeads was started by the appropriately named Soren Silversmith family in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1976, with the first glass beads added in 2001.
