Kathe Reed-Nelson
Kathe Reed-Nelson, a highly motivated single mom who needed an outlet for her creative energy has become one of the most inspiring jewelers Middle Tennessee has to offer. With over 20 years of dedication to the art of jewelry-making, Kathe's perseverance comes from being connected to a line of talented hardworking people. She believes that it is within all of us to find our own way in life and discover what stimulates the talents we were born with. Reed-Nelson has always had a fascination with the interesting and eclectic jewelry designers who had extensive knowledge of semi precious stones. She learned the basics about them, and then began to refine her skills. Additionally, she soon discovered that her interest was more in the stones and beads, where they came from and about the healing properties of stones. On a trip to Austin, TX, Kathe bought her first stones at an African Street Fair. That is when Kathe began to carefully incorporate precious and historical beads into her repertoire. They had so much history and allure, and told stories of the exotic places which they came. Destination locations and places one can only dream about going. Some of the history of trade beads is not pretty... but, Kathe immerses herself with the facts about African countries which use beads as their basis of commerce.
It is not unusual for this artist to find a wonderful cut in stone and hold onto it for months or years before using it in a design. “Life often gets in the way of our art”, Reed-Nelson says.
When she takes time out of her workshop for any length, it only takes a day of organizing and reconnecting with the stones before the creative juices begin to return. Inspiration for her comes from the stones themselves, from within the soul, and nature by God's blessing.
“I have always felt that everyone is given abilities that come naturally to us…..gardening, teaching, painting, or sculpting. Who can explain how a person finds that one thing that stimulates their passions? For me, it was a matter of looking around to see what others were doing... I already had a vision when I signed up for my first workshop in silver at the Appalachian Center back in the mid 90’s. I needed a good foundation in working with natural stones and silver. It took me a while to find what form my jewelry making would take. In class I learned how to solder, set stones, and design jewelry. However, my vision took me in another direction. I was not so much about setting pendants, but working with the already prepared stones. Lapidary was not my love, but finding the perfect pattern in stones and turning them into wearable art.”
