About jB Designs

  I am a Metalsmith.
It took me years to be able to say it out loud because of some unreachable bar I measured myself with. When I think about the things that bring me joy it would be my Hammers, Pliers, Torches, Kiln...well every square inch of a tiny workshop aptly named “Lōlō Kine Studio”. That’s Hawaiian (pidgin) for “Crazy Kind Of Studio”.  It’s crazy because I live in Hawai’i and space is a luxury.  I share this space with my husband who is a Brewmaster (UC Davis) so there’s literally a Pico Brewery in my studio.  While I love that there’s always at least 3 beers on tap for HaPpY Hour (or Pau Hana, as we say in Hawai’i), we are constantly dealing, fighting, re-imagining, and plundering square inches from each other’s sacred territory and we can never mix the worlds (well, OK, I do allow a glass of beer on my bench from time to time).  It really is Lōlō and everything about it brings me joy beyond measure because I’m doing what I love. You can’t be a metalsmith/silversmith without having passion for the work because it’s too costly an investment in time, space, and money.  For those of us Smiths, woodworkers, tinkerers, you know what I mean. It’s when you’re out there for 10 hours and it felt like one and you can’t wait to be back at it because you dreamed of ‘It”... the design, the problem, the fix, the new tool you want, or the beauty you just created or want to.

I am a Designer.  
There are three things that inspire me most as a designer:  the beautiful ocean and backdrop of Hawaii, a truly fantastic stone or gem to build a piece around, and my Faith. Most of my work is special order, custom work for a select clientele and word of mouth.  It’s hard to put all that on a website because the inventory changes and is one-of-a-kind with specialized stones, shells, gems, etc. But, here I am in order to make it easier for people to imagine what they want.  This site should constantly be evolving with new ideas and product. Time to create inventory is always a challenge. 

I am a Beachcomber.  
I am forever trolling the tide charts and many beaches here on Oahu searching for sea glass, shells, old bottles, coral heart rocks that wash ashore. Sometimes I imagine a design for a piece as I’m plucking it from the sea.  When I go anywhere I’m first looking for a beach, rock shop, antique or specialty store.  I call looking for beautiful stones, components, or anything to set as “beachcombing” because it’s treasure hunting.  I am not yet a “rock hound” because I don’t have the expertise but am learning all the time. Yes, definitely a Treasure-Hunter / Beachcomber!

Why judiBlue?  
It’s a nickname given to me by my boyfriend Bobby at age 16 on our first date at a school dance.  Bobby is now Bob the Brewmaster and I’m always judiBlue. 💙