Family Fun / Arts & Leisure

Making jewelry runs in Kelly Bedeian's family

By Times staff | Friday, July 04, 2008 | () comments

Contributed photo

For Blue Grass, Iowa, artist Kelly Bedeian, making jewelry runs in the family. Her father, George “Vahan” Bedeian, has been doing it for more than 30 years.

“I can still recall as a little girl, standing in a cold basement, watching in awe as my father worked on his jewelry. ... Now my little girl stands in my studio, watching and admiring the jewelry I create!” she writes in her profile at Etsy.com. “No greater pleasure!”

Her jewelry is on display through Aug. 2 at the MidCoast Fine Arts gallery at the Mississippi Valley Welcome Center outside LeClaire, Iowa.

“My work is most often described as fun and quirky with a high level of craftsmanship. I work in precious metals, so you will never find plated or filled metals in my shop. I offer only fine jewelry with modern materials incorporated, as seen in my original art pendants and rings,” she writes.