Jewelry show sparkles next weekend at Calabash gallery

Sunset River Marketplace, 10283 Beach Drive SW in Calabash, is sponsoring a Kaboo Jewelry Trunk Show on Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 8. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The show will introduce Kaboo’s new copper collection and offer an opportunity to meet Kaboo jewelry designers Jill Hope and Judy Rickenbacker.

Their company name, Kaboo, was inspired by their love of the whole kit 'n' caboodle of creating jewelry, traveling near and far to gem shows, designing and then stringing, weaving or wire-wrapping components into unique pieces of wearable art.

They love beads—the endless variety of colors, shapes, facets, textures. The design process transports them to a realm beyond the here and now, resulting in a creation that exceeds their own expectations.

The two are friends of many years who love to discover and share new ventures. They discovered beading and found they each have a passion for it. Although they design independently, their collaboration expands the boundaries of what they could achieve on their own.

Rickenbacker draws strength from "a variety of things—a leaf on a tree, a Moroccan lamp, a sunset or just the colors from different gems," she says.

She has participated in numerous jewelry design classes, citing as her biggest influence gemstone and design expert Patty Poszywak of Clyde. Born and raised in Charleston, S.C., Rickenbacker has lived in Chapel Hill, Ocean Isle Beach and currently in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Throughout her life, Hope has been involved in some sort of artistic pursuit: ceramics, choreographing synchronized swimming, interior design, creating marketing materials and, most notably for the past 25 years, award-winning painting (watercolor, acrylic and collage).

Now, "Instead of paint, my palette sparkles and shimmers with a myriad of beads, gemstones, metals and crystals from every corner of the world,” she says.

Born in Rochester, N.Y., she has lived in England, Denmark and Australia. In 1991 she relocated from Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks to Calabash, where she is a founder of "Studio 12," a group of artists who meet weekly at Sunset River Marketplace to create and critique each other's work.

Their designs are described as sophisticated, elegant, and sometimes whimsical, but always with a strong focus on interplay of form, shape, color and texture.

Necklaces are inspired by their memories of a grape arbor on a farm, or a trio of "Seashells by the Seashore," a sterling silver conch, nautilus and starfish washing over ocean-colored resin beads, and freshwater pearls.

Their handcrafted pieces are created using sterling silver, copper, Swarovski crystal, lampwork glass beads and semi-precious stones from around the world.

Their latest copper collection evokes images of earth, warmth and peace. True to Kaboo’s eclectic style, gallery visitors will find copper paired with Rwandan Kenza beads, interesting focals, sterling silver, brass, gemstones, pearls and crystal.

For more information about the upcoming show, call Sunset River Marketplace at 575-5999.