THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508100239
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 40 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Mary Ellen Riddle
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Amid the natural emeralds, rubies, amethysts, tourmalines, turquoise, sapphires, pearls and diamonds sold at Constellation East, a singular priceless gem shines the brightest.
Radiating from that gem - proprietor Elizabeth ``Libbi'' Worthley - is a love of stones so great that it's hard for her to leave her Kill Devil Hills jewelry shop at the end of the day.
Worthley's fascination with gems began when she found a quartz crystal in the Niagara gorge at age 5 or 6.
``That really sparked my interest,'' said the 33-year-old designer. ``That same summer, an art show came. I met a man who made jewelry out of quartz crystal, and my parents couldn't get me away from that guy. I've just always loved the stones.''
Lining the glass cases at Constellation East, tucked away in Alice's Looking Glass boutique at the Sea Ranch Quality Inn, you'll find stones in the rough, pieces designed and crafted by Worthley and others both local and national, and fascinating estate jewelry.
The stones are all natural and are chosen by Worthley. She only buys from folks she knows, so she can control the authenticity of her wares.
Gems come from mines in the United States, China, the Hindu Kush, Turkey and Colombia. Worthley even offers fossilized shell pieces from the Siberian tundra.
Each year, Worthley travels to Arizona for the International Gem Show in Tucson to stock up on gems in the rough. She is learning how to look at a crystal to see if there are cutable stones within. Worthley spends three weeks there examining stones, exhibiting and representing what she calls ``the premier North American gem carvers.''
``I get to see and meet people who do the foremost cutting and carving in the world and sell for them,'' she said.
Through her liaisons, Worthley gets her first choice of gems. ``And that's on the international wholesale level,'' she said.
Worthley takes these finds and waits to match them to the right consumer. She'll design a piece to the customer's specifications or come up with a spontaneous idea that seems to fit the individual's personality.
``I draw it, talk it, rip up little pieces of paper and lay it out,'' she said.
Some stones wait for years for just the right buyer, but Worthley is in no hurry to let go of the jewels. She would rather sell the piece to someone who absolutely loves it than make a hard sell.
With ego in check, Worthley has no qualms about sending her design to other craftsmen if she thinks their methods will better suit the piece. She enjoys the collaboration.
``It's pure communication on the best level,'' she said. ``Because I am not trapped by my ego, I can hear what other people say.''
While Worthley offers a diverse collection of fine gems and jewelry, including pearls from the Tennessee River and tiny pink pearls from North Carolina's Chowan County, her enthusiasm is truly her most valuable commodity.
``I've held a Colombian emerald in these hands, and it was as big as a goose egg,'' Worthley said. ``And gazing at that gem I had a feeling of such peace that the earth loves us so much, from its belly to just cough up this gem.''
There are gems to suit everyone, Worthley said.
``Gems in and of themselves reflect the individual. There is a specific owner for each piece,'' she said. And, Worthley believes, a design for each gem.
``Any time that you're working with nature, if you follow what nature's showing you, for me, through that process of looking and feeling, I'm led to show the stone in its best light,'' Worthley said. ``Sometimes that means mixing it with other stones and sometimes that means very little. . . . Less is more.
``If I couldn't collect,'' Worthley said, ``I would feel like I was living in a wasteland.'' New World Festival to be in Manteo 2 days
The Manteo waterfront will be teeming with creative folk and their admirers Wednesday and Thursday as they flock to the 13th annual New World Festival of the Arts.
It's a summer favorite for locals and tourists alike with crafters, artisans and artists - both local and national - displaying their wares.
The festival offers an eclectic mix of two- and three-dimensional work featuring painting in a wide variety of genres, photography, pottery, jewelry, glass, fabric art and more.
Eighty artists will participate in the event. Chairman Eddie Greene said to watch for an increase in watercolor artists this year.
Festival hours are Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY ELLEN RIDDLE
Elizabeth ``Libbi'' Worthley believes that gems are as diverse as
people.
by CNB