Phil Downs:

This is Phil Downs with HandmadeArtJewelry.com here with designer extraordinaire, Barbara Garwood.

Barbara Garwood:

Hi.

Phil:

We’re so excited to feature your line at HandmadeArtJewelry.com.

Barbara Garwood:

I’m so glad you’re doing this.  It gives me an opportunity to tell everybody about the jewelry.

Phil Downs:

Thanks for squeezing us in.  I know you just got back last night from a jewelry show in Boston.  Later this week you’re on a live TV program, and we really appreciate your time.

Barbara Garwood:

Sure.  Thank you.  Thanks for having me.

Phil Downs:

Now, what is the Barbara Garwood story?  How did your jewelry line get started?

Barbara Garwood:

Well, the quick and easy version is, I was working as a textile designer, discovered it in Hong Kong, came back, people loved it, always wanted to know where I got it.  Went back and got some more.  And then I wanted to trace where the artisans were and - I do a lot of volunteer work through my church and I went to teach textile design in China as a volunteer for six weeks, took the bracelet over there and showed it to my interpreter.  And we ended up meeting people and I found out that it was available in Shanghai, and then I asked him to trace it back to the native village for me.  It took about four months to do that, and one day I got pictures and prices in the mail, and I ordered it, and that was the beginning.

Phil Downs:

Now, when I look at the pieces, there’s a WOW factor.  My first reaction is, how do they make this?  What is the craftsmanship behind the art?

Barbara Garwood:

Oh, it’s all done with tweezers and each piece is hand done and they take all the shapes – they’re fused together in the kiln.  That’s the filigree part, and then the enamellers fill in all the different forms that are outlined already with powders.  This goes in the kiln again, and it’s fired at 1500 degrees.  Then they set the stones, which I bring over there or they’re found and bought over in that area.  And then the last stage is 24 karat gold plating onto the jewelry.

Phil Downs:

I see.  Now, is this art form thriving, is it dying?  What do you see the future of the art?

Barbara Garwood:

Actually it is a dying art.  I’m probably – I am the last designer to work with them.  No one goes over there, it’s in the middle of nowhere, up near Mongolia, off the Gobi Dessert, so there’s not a lot of people who want to do that.  I’m trying to preserve it, keep it going, keep them working.  I have about 35 women who are working for me.  So –

Phil Downs:

That must be a really good feeling, to support that.

Barbara Garwood:

Yes, it is.

Phil Downs:

The purchasers of your jewelry are directly supporting that as well.

Barbara Garwood:

Yes, absolutely, absolutely.

Phil Downs:

Now, your tagline is, “Experience The Art, Compliments Included.”  Why did you choose that tagline?

Barbara Garwood:

Well, as you know, the art has a great OMG factor.  Oh my God, the colors, the design.  When people understand how it’s made they go, “Wow.  It’s such a beautiful craft, it’s a beautiful art.”  I sell to a lot of museums also.  So, there’s that part, experience the art, and when women wear it, they get lots of compliments.  They tell me, “Everybody stops me all day long either at the drug store, or the bank, where did you get that?  Where did you get that?”  So, I figure something that gives you continual compliments, the compliments are included.  So, that’s how I came up with that.

Phil Downs:

Well, that’s fantastic.  Thank you, again, for squeezing us into your schedule and joining us.  This is Phil Downs with HandmadeArtJewelry.com here with Barbara Garwood, the one and only, Barbara Garwood.  Thank you so much, Barbara.

Barbara Garwood:

Okay.

Phil Downs:

It’s been wonderful to speak with you.

Barbara Garwood:

Okay.  Thank you.