Bring On the Bling
W
hen jewelry designer Vicki West began creating jewelry, she discovered a world of sparkle and shine. Her first creations were made by using jewelry from her grandmothers collection. While she enjoyed making necklaces and earrings, she also began collecting special pieces. As her collection grew, so did her knowledge of vintage and heirloom jewelry. She can often identify the origin, maker, and value of a piece of fine costume jewelry. Vicki’s goal is to find unique pieces of jewelry and use them to create art. These one-of-a-kind art pieces are then framed in a protective shadowbox. Vicki first began selling her jewelry on eBay where she remains a Top Seller of Vintage and Fine Jewelry—with over 17,000 100% positive feedback. Her success with this venue gave her the confidence to buy, sell, and design jewelry art pieces full time. As an expert in her field, Vicki also tests jewelry for their gold and silver content. Her love of art and collecting came naturally as her father was also a collector and antique dealer. In 2016, when The Garage on 25 in Fletcher opened, Vicki, her two sisters, and their father all opened booths with art and collectables to sell. This is one talented, artistic, and creative family! Sadly, her father passed away in 2018. ‘The Clarence Powell Room’ was named after him as a tribute to his positive and happy attitude. continued on page 5 March 2020 | 50+ Living | 3
