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 Stacia’s
interest in art began at an early age, working in every medium
that she was exposed to. During her senior year of high school,
Stacia’s school offered a jewelry class. She enrolled in the
class and realized that she had a love and a real knack for
working with metal. After graduation she bought some tools and
began making jewelry for sale at street fairs and art shows.
In 1979,she enrolled in jewelry making classes at Garden
City Community College in Garden City, Kansas. There she learned
about casting and increased her fabrication skills. After about a
year she started working at Regan’s Jewelry in Garden City,
Kansas. She worked at
Regan’s for a couple of years before deciding to get more
technical training. Don
Harness, the head jeweler at Regan’s suggested the school he
attended in Paris, Texas. Paris Junior College (now Texas Jewelry Institute) offers
comprehensive courses in all types of jewelry making as well as
courses in gemology. After two years she completed the Jewelry
Technology, and the Gemology courses and moved to Dallas, Texas.
Stacia’s first job in Dallas was working at the Jewelry
Forrest. While working at the Jewelry Forrest she met her husband
and business partner Larry Woods. Larry and Stacia started a
lapidary company in 1986. Larry taught her how to cut stones,
which rounded out her jewelry skills. At that time, she worked
primarily with stone specializing in complicated fitted pieces,
and also made custom jewelry.
Stacia met gem carver Maren Hirsch, and was commissioned to
set some of Maren’s gem carvings.
Larry was experimenting with carving gems and Stacia began
setting some of his carvings.
In 1996 Stacia and her family relocated to the Texas Hill
Country. The Woods jewelry studio is nestled in a scenic valley
where she allows her creativity to flow. In recent years
Stacia’s designs have gained international attention. She is
frequently featured in trade journals like the Lapidary Journal,
JCK and Colored Stone Magazines.
She also shown her work in the Carnegie Museum in
Pittsburgh PA and The Los Angeles County Museum in Los Angeles CA.
Today Stacia’s focus is on her new line of designer
jewelry and custom one of a kind pieces. She works in 18k gold,
platinum and silver. Stacia enjoys the challenge of setting the
beautiful carvings and finely cut stones that Larry produces. Her
skills include wax carving, casting, fabrication, and stone
setting of all kinds, including; bezel, prong, pave’, and
channel setting.
Stacia
Woods
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