A guru once quoted; “Skills are cheap, passion is priceless”. It couldn’t be more accurate. Keep in mind I bend forks to make jewelry. I get to travel to great places doing art fairs and have collected the best customers an artist could ask for.
What follows is the story of one of them. It is a story of love, persistence and drama. A story that lead to lives that to lives forever changed and a chance for this jeweler to make two pieces that would signify this love.


Kai’s Journey Home:
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These are their words: 
We always wanted to adopt. In February of 2011 we were finally approved for adoption from Ethiopia through Children's Hope International. This was the beginning of a 2-year 8 month wait, as the process of adopting from Ethiopia was steadily getting more difficult.  It eventually ended not long after Kai got home. 
Kai was found abandoned at 15 days old. The police report said someone took him to a local church and left a note "thanking anyone who takes and raises this child in the name of God". He was then sent to an orphanage where he would wait for his forever home.
On April 23, 2013 we received a referral for Kai (the name we gave him) who was 6 months old.  We would eventually receive a court date for July 9, 2013 to go through the formal adoption process in Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia.  With only carry-on luggage, (half of which we would be forced to check and would not get back until 4 hours before we went home), we boarded our Lufthansa flight on July 5. Our airline tickets cost us just short of $5,000.00 for humanitarian air fare, but we didn't bat an eye.
 
Just before flying over the mountains of Addis, on the final leg of our trip, we heard a loud squealing noise. During that time, flight attendants were running around yelling, and we were told to get in the emergency position.  The captain came out of the cockpit, not something that we expected post 9/11, and listened to the noise. Eventually we were told there was a pressurization problem, and we began a rapid descent. The plane was eerily quiet. I realized then that most people pray in silence. And that's all we could do. The captain made a hairpin turn to avoid the mountains and eventually came over the loudspeaker announcing that we had averted a disaster. We landed back in Khartoum Sudan where we would spend the next 24 hours. Our passports were confiscated per Sudan law and we were told not to leave our hotel. It was a harrowing experience. We spent time making calls to Lufthansa, having a passenger group meeting to see who would get to leave first if they let us go wondering who had our passports. Khartoum eventually received pressure from Lufthansa to let us out in small groups and we were finally allowed to leave Khartoum, Sudan at 4:30 a.m. the next day.  We would meet and adopt Kai all before 10:00 in the same clothes we left home in. We had one more day with him after that and would not see him again until late September. 
 
After several months of waiting, we were expecting to have our paperwork sent to Nairobi where they eventually send paperwork for children who cannot be cleared for some reason. They wanted to find and interview "the finders" mentioned in the police report, but as each week went by, we realized that this was not going to happen. It was late September, and now we were more nervous than ever. Then Nairobi was hit with a terrorist attack. It was Saturday, September 21st, and we had no idea how this would affect us. On Sept 23, 2013, we went to bed and attempted to sleep, but as usual we were restless. This night would be different. Sometime after midnight a little ding broke the silence. It was Matt's email, and it was from Ethiopia. Pick a date to come and do the VISA paperwork was the only line we needed to read. No mention of not finding the finder, just pick a date.  We bought two more airline tickets and one for Kai for the way home and headed off to Ethiopia again. This time we did not take Lufthansa. Gotcha Day was Sept 27th, and he hasn't left our arms since.  
 
I received a simple request from Robyn for a pendant of Africa, complete with a mamma and baby elephant. It would symbolize the adoption, the bond between them and the homeland that gave birth to Kai. Sometime later Robyn asked about a ring I had made that had an Ethiopian opal and diamond in it. Since Kai was from Ethiopia, she fell in love with it but asked if I could remove the diamond and move it to the pendant, placing it where Ethiopia was located. Now it was perfect and complete!
 
"When I wear them, I think of Kai, and all the people who played a role in bringing him home. Those we meant on our journey, and the people waiting for us back home. It makes it all the more special that these pieces were made from a friend who really knew us. I know when Don was making these pieces that he was thinking of us the whole time, they are absolute treasures."  --Robyn Guempel
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Another great Laumeier Art Fair around the corner! A beautiful park - perfect for an art fair. See you there.
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Come see my Mothers Rings!

Friday, May 11 / 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 12 / 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 13 / 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 

​Map

Mother's Ring from Seafood fork! I'll have some at Laumeier next weekend!

   New stones and a new crop of sterling forks still equals         one-of-a-kind jewelry. 
   Bring a fork to the Queeny Art Fair and let's talk about a         custom piece for you. Could be a bracelet (yes I've been       busy creating bracelets) or pendent, earrings or a ring.
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  Queeny Art Fair is this weekend!
  Fri     5PM - 9PM
  Sat  10AM - 6PM
  Sun 11AM - 4PM
  Click here for directions, a $1 off coupon and
  complete info

   Come for the music, wine tasting and great art 
   My booth is directly across from the wine table. 

  Secret word is "Lapis" for a 10% discount of any piece
  of jewelry 

My 2018 art fairs are about to commence. In 11 days The Art Fair at Queeny Park begins! New year - new work. I've acquired some stunning stones and lots of sterling forks that you've got to see. 
Whether you come for the music, the wine or the fun you'll love the art

Where:
GREENSFELDER RECREATION COMPLEX
550 WEIDMAN ROAD 
BALLWIN, MISSOURI 63031

When:
Fri  Mar 23 5PM - 9PM
Sat Mar 24  10AM - 6PM
Sun Mar 25 11AM - 4PM

Go to  for add'l directions info and a 1$ off coupon to get in
I'll see you soon at this premier art fair

Use the secret word "LAPIS" and get a 10% discount for any piece of jewelry in my booth

Just a reminder of our Holiday Boutique 

Sunday Dec 10
OA Gallery
101A Argonne Ave
Kirkwood, MO
11am - 4pm

Gail and I are looking forward to seeing you. We'll have our latest work, snacks, wine and some holiday cheer.

Don Kelley - award winning artist/jeweler
Gail Kelley - fiber artist

There are artists in these cabins!

​I’ll be in Lee Cabin similar to this one and look forward to seeing you. Other cabins along a short path with artists are all eager to show you their work and talk to you about what they do.​This is the 12th year for this wonderful event in the woods. 
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The 2017 art fairs are coming to an end as the holidays are just around the corner. There are some amazing artists with their work that will make great gifts for loved ones.

​Shaw Nature Reserve just 25 minutes from Saint Louis
307 Pinetum Loop Rd, Gray Summit, MO 63039

Saturday Nov 4 10AM - 5PM
​Sunday   Nov 5 10AM - 4PM

Stop by and say hello. Be the first to see the newest pieces or talk to Don Kelley about a custom piece for an exquisite holiday gift.

That's right, It means there's an Art Fair at Queeny Park!

I'm back from a great summer of art fairs in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Colorado!
For three days next weekend I'll be one of over 120 artists from across the country at Queeny Park inside the Greensfelder Rec Center.

Emmerse yourself! Talk to the artists about what they do. See and buy art, have a glass of wine and enjoy the ambience and music.

Stop by my booth #95 just inside the main room, use the secret word "Kandinski" and receive a 10% discount

For a $1 coupon
Map & Directions

Thank you thank you thank you for busting your tail … by the way she said yes and she loved it”. This was a text I received just days after he picked up the ring I created for him and barely 3 hours before catching a flight to California to pop the question on a beach he’d already chosen. He looked at the ring and said he loved it. I told him it’s not important that he love it. She has to love it. With a wide smile he agreed. Two days later on the beach he went on one knee, asked for her hand in marriage and placed this ring on her finger.
Playing just a small role in this couples most important day is both flattering and gratifying. He wanted an emerald with a diamond accent. This ring has a 1.39 carat Columbian emerald and accented with a .38 carat diamond mounted in an 18 carat gold setting.
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Another reason I love what I do.

Art in the Park - Columbia MO is what's happening!
I'm in booth 36! Say the secret password "Kandinsky" for a 10%  discount!
It looks like a very nice weekend in Stevens park Columbia MO to view and buy some amazing art. See you there..

ADD'L SHOW INFORMATION

Yes, that's a Kandinsky-ish pendant above. Love the masters.