Using stones gifted to her from her late “rock hound” great uncle, Coombs artist Carley Smith creates unique macrame-style jewelry. Smith, professional herbalist at Elder Tree Herbals, said she works mainly with stones to create her necklaces, many of which come from Vancouver Island.
“Most of the stones that I’ve been working with lately are from my great uncle who passed away a few years ago, and he was out near Lake Cowichan,” Smith said. “They’re crystals.”
The rest of Smith’s necklaces are made using a micro-macrame design.
“I learned it from a really dear friend of mine, she’s in Quebec now but she spent a lot of time in South America and basically sat with people on the street and learnt how to do it and taught me,” Smith said. “You could wrap a piece of bark it doesn’t have to be with stone, but I’ve worked mainly with stone.”
Smith has been making this style of jewelry for about eight years and always aims to come up with fresh ideas and designs.
“I try to not do a bunch the same (designs) because then people have something unique,” she said. “When I first started, I had to sort of follow a design that I was taught..and now I can just freestyle it and do whatever I see which is a lot more fun.”
Smith, who also makes drums and hand-crafted skin on frame solo canoes, said she finds inspiration in creating something that can make someone happy.
“People love beautiful things,” she said.
Smith’s jewelry can be found at the Qualicum Art Supply & Gallery (206 First Ave. W.).