ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are two people whose encouragement and support has helped to foster my artistic side and allowed me to follow my creative passion, my mom and dad. Without their acceptance of what some think of as an unconventional career choice, I could not have achieved what I have so far in the metalsmithing and art jewelry community and this book would not have been possible.

Thanks to Julie Jerman-Melka for igniting the spark that led to this career change, later in life than most.

Thanks to Lexi Erickson for recommending me for this book project.

Thanks to my editor, Linda Neubauer, and the team at Creative Publishing international.

Finally, thank you to all of my friends who expressed concern about my virtual disappearance for six months while I wrote this book—you know who you are.