This piece was hand crafted by my sister, Peggy Johnson, who passed away in August 2020. Peggy began her career as a jewelry crafts person in the early 1970s. She lived in Philadelphia at that time, until 1991 when she moved to Portland, Maine.
Her work was featured twice in Ornament magazine, and was also featured in several other books and publications. She sold her jewelry in various galleries and craft shows, as well as from her own website.
Each piece is a uniquely different little sculpture, made in the USA by a skilled crafts person. Peggy made several lines of work, including housewearables, carpenter’s tools, garden tools, bugs, plants, food and drink, culinary interest, romantic/Valentine’s Day, pets and pests, and abstract forms, to name some. People sometimes commissioned her to make one of a kind pieces as well.
In Peggy’s own words: "My jewelry has always been a form of playing and problem solving. Every piece challenges me to work out a puzzle, enabling me to create an object for the viewer. I work in sterling silver, karat golds, precious and semi-precious gemstones."
Some people have placed Peggy’s pieces in shadow boxes or in the center of wreaths where they can be enjoyed year ‘round.
She left behind several pieces that she kept as models. I will be adding more pieces for sale soon. Sadly, once these are gone, they will no longer be available.
A video tribute to Peggy and her work may be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDd7gxZZkuk
A display featuring Peggy’s work at the Brick Store Museum in the summer of 2021, may be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SQk61YZwkM