Oil painter tries her hand at jewelry

Fused-glass pendant maker will explain her craft on Thursday

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

If one peers into the display case just inside the door of the Peninsula/Point Fosdick Library, they’ll be met with a splash of colorful, iridescent pendants.

And the personality and history of their creator is as colorful as the pieces themselves.

Delaney Harmond will appear at the library from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday to answer questions and explain how she makes jewelry.

Harmond is a former author, TV personality, world tour guide, “rag picker” and cancer survivor.

“Life has been exciting since they told me I was going to die three years ago,” she said. “But I’m not going anywhere — not yet.”

Harmond learned the art of fused glass, or dichroic glass, in Sun City, Ariz., to channel her energy and draw her attention away from her health problems, which included tumors and a broken vertebrae.

After two surgeries, she was able to walk again.

“Somewhere between here and there, I got a broken vertebrae,” she said. “I thought, ‘I can stay home and feel sorry for myself, or I can drag myself to the recreation hall in Arizona.’ ”

There, Harmond became fascinated by jewelry created with incredibly heat-resistant glass.

“The Egyptians used to make jewelry by melting the same glass over 3,000 years ago,” she said. “It has to be heated in a kiln to 1,450 degrees. It takes about two hours to get to that degree. Then it has to be left inside the kiln for eight to 10 hours to cool off.

“You never know what the finished product is going to be. It’s always a surprise.”

Harmond said her instructors were thrilled by what she had created. Making the jewelry also proved to be excellent therapy. She found herself getting stronger and healthier with each creation.

“It gave me something more than ever to live for,” she said. “I went into a bead shop in Phoenix, and they wanted to buy my jewelry. Since then, I’ve probably sold 20 pieces off my neck.”

The jewelry has unique properties because the colors change.

“It picks up everything you’re wearing,” Harmond said. “I never thought I’d be making jewelry. I’m an oil painter.”

When Harmond returned to Gig Harbor, her good friend, Mary Barrett, helped her purchase an $800 kiln for $250, and she was on her way.

Besides being on display at the library throughout September, Harmond’s jewelry also will be for sale at the Healthy Reflections Boutique at MultiCare in Gig Harbor and at the Gig Harbor Bead Shop.

Harmond’s past speaks to her motivation and willingness to explore new avenues. She once taught oil painting and taught how to make home improvement items on TV in Portland, Las Vegas and Phoenix for 30 years.

“I was a sort of Ma-kettle Martha Stewart,” she said. “We had crazy, crazy things happen on those shows. My life has been unbelievable.”

The artist also acted as a traveling tour guide, visiting dangerous countries around the world, which she documents in her book, “Rag Picker.”

She said she got on-the-job training from National Geographic photographer Lovell Groves.

Harmond taught in reform schools and took in “about 50 foster kids” over a period of time, she said. Some of them, she ended up raising; one is now working as a sergeant at the Washington Corrections Center for Women.

“Boy, I had to kick his butt and chase him down,” Harmond said. “His adoptive parents couldn’t handle him.”

Harmond’s book describes a “rag picker” as someone who “spends most of her time rescuing humans from life’s refuse pile.”

Harmond’s motto in life is to never give up.

“My cancer is asleep,” she said. “Just don’t get depressed, and don’t feel sorry for yourself.”

Art demonstration

Delaney Harmond will explain how to created fused glass pendants from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Peninsula/Point Fosdick Library.

Reach reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.