Handmade

About Andrea Watson Designs

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

Hi! I’m Andrea – a metalsmith, jewelry designer, website designer (apparently), and overall artist. I am the owner and solo metalsmith of Andrea Watson Designs.

 

Originally from Ohio, I now live in North Carolina with my husband, our beloved dog Ace, and our kitten-sized cat Tommy (who I affectionately refer to as Tommypants).

 

All of my jewelry is completely handcrafted, which means that every piece begins as wire, chain, or sheet metal. Transforming these materials into wearable pieces is a very enjoyable process for me and I absolutely treasure every moment I’m able to spend in the studio.  I look forward to sharing my jewelry with you and I hope that it brings you a tiny piece of the happiness with which it was created.

Yours truly,

– Andrea

P.S. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Sara Wears AWD

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

 

Sara is wearing a custom handmade necklace by Andrea Watson Designs. The 2″ shark tooth pendant is wrapped in copper wire and hangs on a 28″ copper chain with clasp. I absolutely loved working with Sara on this necklace and can’t wait to begin wire wrapping the shark teeth from my own personal collection. A good friend gave me a tin full of shark teeth that he collected years ago in Hawaii,  but it was Sara’s necklace that gave me the inspiration to put them to use. Needless to say, I’m excited to begin working on more of these unique pieces.

 

To see more of my recent custom orders, click here

Handmade “Man Cave” Sign

Image | | Andrea Watson O'Dell

 

This was a custom order that I made for my friend Rachel – an old college friend. She wanted a man cave sign for her boyfriend, and liked the old beach wood I had been using for my other handmade wooden signs. We collaborated a lot on this project since it was so different from what I was used to making and we focused on getting a more rustic look. It was a tedious project (those are hand-carved letters), but totally worth it in the end. She loved how it turned out and I’m very happy to have learned a totally new way to construct and finish my signs!

 

(Click the photo to see more images)

My Heart Sleeps by the Sea

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

 

Early mornings outside always make me happy. The air is quiet and calm and the whole world feels hushed in the light of the rising sun. I settle into a little nook on the patio to continue the work I’ve already begun for another wooden sign. The wood has been sanded, white-washed, and dried. This happened days ago and the boards have since been tied together to hold the order in which they will be arranged. After breakfast and some yoga, I organize my materials and carefully begin to plan out the beautiful quote by Anne de Lenclos. It takes a few tries to get the perfect shade of teal, but a few hours later the quote is complete. Copper chain holds each verse together and the light colors of the paint mimic the hopeful air of Anne’s words.

 

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Handmade Wooden Signs

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

 

Since early this spring, my newest creative adventure has involved re-purposing weather worn pieces of wood. I fell in love with the the decorative quotes I kept seeing on Pinterest and finally decided to make my own version. The beach-worn wood gives the signs a more earthy, rustic feel and I chose copper chain so that it would contrast nicely against the washed out paint.  You can find my hanging wooden signs at The Mermaid’s Purse in Surf City, North Carolina.

 

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To see more of my handmade wooden signs, click here

Newest Earring Designs

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

Here are some of the most recent designs I’ve been working on. I’ve really been enjoying experimenting with forming the wire into various spiral shapes and finding ways to include those shapes  in my jewelry. Several of the new designs may not be permanent, but it’s always interesting seeing what people are most attracted to. So many times I am surprised with how often people enjoy even the simplest of designs. Feel free to leave any thoughts or comments you might have… I love feedback!

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New Retailers

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

I’m extremely excited to announce that Andrea Watson Designs is now being sold in a total of four shops in North Carolina! As of this Saturday, you can now find my jewelry at Bella Anne Boutique (Hampstead) and also Tickled Pink of Lumina Station (Wilmington). I’ve included some pictures of both shops. They’re absolutely adorable, so if you haven’t visited yet… make sure you stop by! For a list of all retailers carrying Andrea Watson Designs, please see the “Stores” link at the left.

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Shell Earrings

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

These earrings are made from the shells I’ve collected while walking along along the beaches of eastern North Carolina. After forming the hooks and jump rings from sterling silver or copper wire, I choose a matching pair of shells from my collection. I very carefully saw off any rough edges from the shells and then thread the shells onto the wire so that they hang as evenly as possible. It sometimes takes a few tries, but I eventually come up with a beautiful and unique set of earrings.  I absolutely love making each pair and I hope that whoever wears them will enjoy them just as much!

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Metalwork

| Andrea Watson O'Dell

Below you will find several examples of the work I completed during my jewelry courses at Bowling Green State University. Each piece is a studio piece and was made to fulfill the specific requirements of an assignment.

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