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Chanukah from page 40

CUSTOM INVITATIONS BRIDAL REGISTRY STATIONERY

UNIQUE GIFTS FOR EVERY OCCASION

4076 WEST MAPLE ROAD, BLOOMFIELD HILLS
248-646-6700

6915 Orchard Lake Rd • West Bloomfield • 248-737-9059

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chakolad Birmingham Chocolate.

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42

coeata cam

November 7 • 2013

JN

1728 W. Maple
Birmingham, MI 4800
248-723-8008
birminghamchneolate.com

jewelry-designer Michele Saulson of
Michele Saulson Designs. From 11
a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 23 and noon-6 p.m.
Dec. 7 and 8, the local artists' works
will be available for purchase, along
with family-friendly activities, treats
and wine, live demonstrations of this
extremely physical and precise art,
interactive crafting opportunities —
and the chance to see the inner work-
ings of a live studio environment.
Gurss, 29, studied fashion in Los
Angeles before returning to Detroit to
study in the crafts department at the
College for Creative Studies in Detroit.
"It didn't take me being away very
long before I realized I wanted to
return and work in Detroit:' she says.
Still interested in textiles and fibers,
Gurss was required to explore other
options within the crafts department,
and she tried out glassblowing.
"I knew nothing about it when I
was younger:' Gurss says. "But when I
found it — that was it. It's a fascinat-
ing material to work with. It always
teaches you something because you
have to keep working it. You can't stop
and walk away, then come back to it. It
has to be constant:'
Adds Wagner, "Each piece is created
with a single-minded tenacity that will
allow no wobble or break in quality.
There are no second thoughts or lapses
in attention. The result is tight form
and line tension, interior and exterior
curves pulling against each other for
visual dominance and vibrant colors
that play off each other yet remain
complementary:'
Following her degree from CCS,
Gurss traveled to Italy to study on the
Venetian island of Murano, the center
of glass-making since the 10th century.

She then apprenticed for a glass artist
in Northern Italy's Lake Como area
before returning to Michigan.
Wagner, also a CCS graduate, wel-
comed Gurss as an apprentice five
years ago.
"She's an amazing mentor:' Gurss
says. "I'm so lucky to have this oppor-
tunity, to do what I love and learn
from a world-class artisan at home in
Metro Detroit:'
Assisting Wagner in crafting her
larger commissions and sculptures,
Gurss also creates Epiphany's StudioE
line, including ring holders, heart-
shaped paperweights, glass pumpkins
and tumblers and more, all ranging in
price from $5 to $75 and available dur-
ing the holiday show.
Also on display are Wagner's bril-
liantly kaleidoscopic paperweights,
swirling sculptures and fluid flowers,
clean-lined decanters and more, rang-
ing in price from $200 to $5,000.
"There's really something for every-
one says Gurss, "including pieces in
blue and white for Chanukah:'
In keeping with the studio's phi-
losophy of inspiration, Epiphany has
invited Michele Saulson to be the guest
artist during the Holiday Show.
Combining degrees in interior
design and historic preservation with
an eye and a feel for good design, from
ethnic to art nouveau, Saulson brings
everything to the table when creating
her earrings, bracelets and necklaces,
resulting in an earthy sophistication.
Precious and semi-precious stones,
sterling silver and vintage buttons and
other finds wrap and layer in multi-
faceted simplicity in Saulson's designs,
which range in price from $40 to
$1,400.

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