Judie Gumm Jewelry
Judie Gumm of Ester, Alaska, has been making distinctive, nature-inspired jewelry since the 1960s. It was then that she discovered she had a talent for jewelry making and has not been able to stop since! About her work, Judie says, " I love to design. Wherever I walk, I am always looking for ways to capture the natural world in a piece of jewelry. I owe my talent as an artist to my maternal grandfather, Erland Waastrom, a Swede who immigrated to this country in the early 20th century. My grandfather was a visual artist. He painted versions of old masters in oils and even recreated the Mona Lisa in pastels! He was also a sculptor and worked in various mediums, including metal and wood. One time he carved a tree root, capturing the image of an embracing couple beneath a grape arbor. I believe that I have carried his love of art and creativity forward through my own design work."