March 28, 2024

Artistry from Northern Michigan Gems

June 5, 2015

Maple City artist Liz Saile crafts eye-catching jewelry using predominantly northern Michigan gems and minerals such as Leland Blue, Thomsonite and the always popular Petoskey stone.

"Leland Blue is a man-made by-product of the ore smelting process," she explains. "Thomsonite is from the Upper Peninsula, along the Lake Superior shore, and Petoskey stones are all over Leelanau County. I try to use Michigan stones whenever I can. I love Michigan."

As a youngster in Traverse City, she was interested in sewing and knitting projects, especially making new clothes for her dolls. After graduation, Saile eventually took a job with the Traverse City landmark business Martinek’s Jewelers, where she specialized in diamond sales.

Nearly a decade ago, Saile took a silversmithing class, which sparked her ongoing interest in creating jewelry. Now, almost every day she can be found collecting or polishing stones and setting them in rings, necklaces, bracelets and other mounts. Her designs are generally simple, but elegant, with the focus on the stone, rather than the silver mount.


HOW I GOT STARTED 

I worked at Martinek’s Jewelers for 27 years. When the store sold, I traded diamonds for Petoskey stones and began a whole new career at the age of 55. I found a small space to rent in Cedar and started by just opening Mondays through Thursdays and working a second job on the weekend. I am now full time at my own business and love every minute at L. Saile Designer Jewelry.

THE STORY BEHIND MY ART, MY INSPIRATION 

Living in Leelanau County, inspiration is everywhere you look. I can hardly wait to get to the gallery each morning to start on projects

with the gems and minerals I polished the night before. You will find my designs are simple, focusing on the stones, rather than the metal work around them. My designs are great with jeans or to finish out a special outfit. Each Petoskey stone is such a present every time I polish one. I never know how it will turn out. I feel I have the best job ever. To go to the beach with my granddaughter Ivy and the boys (dogs Blue and Tucker), back home to polish the treasures we found, then off to the Gallery to design and create.

WORK I’M MOST PROUD OF 

Each piece I create I’m proud of. It’s like children; how can you like one more than the other? I am happy to be able to live and work in Leelanau County, proud to have customers and friends come into our gallery, enjoy my work and comment on what a beautiful and happy place it is to come into.

YOU WON’T BELIEVE: 

When I graduated from high school, I got a 1969 Mustang with a four-speed and a 351 engine. It was great! Also, you won’t believe all the stones in my barn, in the basement, at my back door, in the kitchen, in my purse. Did I mention the $80 bill for the repair man to come out, only to find the clunking in my washer was a Petoskey stone under the rim?

MY FAVORITE ARTIST 

My business partner, painter Michelle Jahraus.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING YOUNG ARTISTS Go for it. 

If you want it bad enough, it will work out.

MY WORK CAN BE SEEN/PURCHASED 

At L. Saile Designer Jewelry in Cedar, the Ruth Conklin Gallery in Glen Arbor and online at www.lsaile.com and my Facebook store, L. Saile Designer Jewelry.

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