I started smithing in 1986 in Honolulu, starting with a jewelry and metalsmithing class at Iolani High School that I repeated the following three years under the tutalage of Cheri Lynn Keefer. In spite of the scouting efforts of a few decent art schools, I chose to pursue a degree in Chinese Languages instead of in Art--but I continued to hone my skills at Iolani during vacations until Keefer got tired of me mooching off her class supplies. After a hiatus of four years I started up again in April of 1997 when a friend and master carpenter, Richard McGlothlin, helped design and then built me a new workbench.

My goal with my metal work is always to make pieces that are, for lack of a better word, appropriate. I feel much more comfortable designing work with a particular person or purpose or theme in mind, as opposed to just designing work to sell for the sake of selling--and if I can have the input of the recipient in the design process, so much the better. Designing something for somebody makes it all the more personal, all the more valuable, all the more enduring. I also, with the occasional exception, don't like to make the same thing twice--the beauty of some things lies partially in their uniqueness.

WHAT'S WITH THE NAME?
"Edelstein" in German literally means "gemstone"--a rather appropriate surname for a jeweler! I guess I was born into it. The plural of "edelstein" in German is "edelsteine," and there are many jewelers and gem wholesalers in the German-speaking world (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, etc.) who use the word in the name of their companies. For example, "Mueller Edelsteine" would be "Mueller's Diamonds" or something to that effect. Not being one to resist a pun or deny my lineage, I named my studio "Edelstein Edelsteine" (if you're wondering how to say it, I pronounce it ED-el-steen EY-del-shtine-eh). As Richard of workbench-building fame pointed out one night, the result is that the name of my studio literally means "bling bling." And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the kind of insight that Edelstein Edelsteine is all about.