Linda Miller

The first word I remember asking my mother to spell was "artist," because that's what I was going to be instead of growing up. As a child in the midwest, I put on puppet and magic shows for the neighborhood. By the time I reached High School at New Trier, most of my creative efforts went toward producing my wardrobe. Both grandmothers had taught me to sew, knit, crochet, make lace and tailor clothing. My father was a tinkerer and I worked side by side with him inventing toys; locking devices for waterski bindings, tow rope winders, monorail slides, and a variety of other items that made our place an amusement park.

Sterling Silver buckle, 1973

When I walked in the jewelry studio at Illinois State University for the first time, I remember saying, "oh, THIS is it," immediately recognizing what would occupy my future.

Study of Renaissance stained glass and architecture in France inspired my cloissone work, which began after a brief period at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

I moved to San Francisco in 1974, auspiciously to transfer to Cal, Berkeley, but started a job as a silversmith instead. In 1976 I went to San Rafael to check out a studio for rent at the "Fine Arts Hotel." The door opened and five artists were crowded around a plexiglass pyramid, focusing a camera. Somebody had scored a moon rock from NASA and it was floating incongruently in front of the camera.

I took this as a sign that I should risk the $35 a month rent (I offered $20) and take the room. I excused myself to use the facilities. As I sat reflectively, I gazed up at the Grateful Dead Poster on the wall in front of me. It was Ice Cream Cone Kid, and it was on canvas. I had stumbled into the studio of the greatest rock art icons of the San Francisco Psychedelic movement. Kelley, Mouse, Moscoso, and Sheridan were resident artists, with attendees including Rick Griffin, R. Crumb and Phil Garris. It was a whirlwind of creative insanity that didn't end until the lease ran out in 1980.

Scarab Kelley/Mouse and Miller Cast Sterling Silver, Rhodolite Garnet, Sapphire and Enamel 1979

By 1981 I had my daughter Tiffany and settled down into a little business in San Anselmo, California. I got an unexpected call one day from a company that needed a master goldsmith, which launched my corporate career. I designed jewelry and set up manufacturing in Peru, Italy, Bangkok and Burbank.

Wanderlust spent, I settled down in Petaluma, CA and began collecting the antique jewelry tools that I now include in the production of my work. And it's only the beginning.