My name is Kathy Bucholska, my business is called ANI SOL DESIGNS and I am a jewelry designer. I seek various stones, fossils and meteorite pieces and work them into a unique piece of wearable art using mostly beading and wiring techniques. My art involves professionally and artistically combining individual pieces into a whole. But it’s not done yet. Each piece has it’s own “story” based on the meaning of the stones and symbols in my jewelry. I research and write that story considering the mythological, historical and symbolic meanings of each part of the piece. The “story” is as important as the piece to me and usually to my customer. Since stones and symbols can have many different meanings, I find myself often intuitively selecting a meaning that fits with the whole piece.

MY BACKGROUND
My BA degree in business and M Ed in Educational Media and Technology indirectly prepared me for ANI SOL DESIGNS. However, it wasn’t until I was a volunteer quarry tour guide at Halibut State Park in 1988 that I realized I really liked stone. I then looked for a way to express my artistic yearnings by combining my interest in stone, gems, fossils, symbols and working with my hands. I developed my skills by taking courses offered by various jewelers and designers and attending weeklong courses at the William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Georgia. I also just experimented. I will always be a student as I like change, I like to learn and I like to see my designs continually evolve. I work out of my home setting aside my own room for my studio. I have been a member of Local Colors Cooperative Gallery in Gloucester, MA for about 14 years, but have also sold my work at Artistries in New York City, Shake the Tree Gallery in Brookline, Finishing Touches Gallery in Hollywood, Florida, Olde Ipswich Galleria in Ipswich, MA and Contique in Marblehead.

MY PIECES
Each piece is one-of-a-kind. I don’t make two pieces exactly alike although I have sometimes done a series of designs. I have for instance my Miss Kitty series, my mixed-media series and my Huacas series. These pieces may be somewhat similar in basic design but are unique in the combination of stones or charms used. Therefore, the piece also has a unique meaning.

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