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A lifestyle to envy - living near the ocean in Maryland, South Carolina and now Florida, Rick and Barbara walk the beaches nearly every day gathering the sea urchins that are the inspiration for their designs.  

Returning to their studio, they use traditional metalsmithing techniques to create abstract settings that show off the natural beauty of their beachcombing finds.  

It comes as no surprise to the people who meet them at the nation's art festivals that each piece is hand fabricated out of 14kt gold and sterling silver, and set with natural seashells, freshwater pearls, and gemstones. Yes, they have a distinct style, but each shell is the beginning of a unique piece of jewelry, designed to complement what nature designed.

Totally embracing the lifestyle of the nation's art fair artists, in the summer of 2013 they outfitted an RV to travel across the northern parts of the U.S., Barbara created work at a tiny jeweler's bench while Rick was set up outside at the picnic table, along with the polishing motor.  They called it "extreme metalsmithing."

Meet them November 15-17 in Winston-Salem, NC, at the Piedmont Craftsmen's Fair and November 30-December 1 at the Space Coast Art Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Learn more about Rick and Barbara and see more of their work: http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/featured-artist.html