A jewel in the dust

SHE IS

Turning jewelry into art.

SUMMER AT THE SAWDUST

“Sure honey, I can have it for you tomorrow,” jewelry artist

Leslie Edler makes a promise like this on an average day to one of

her regulars who called Edler “very accommodating.”

Edler has been selling her jewelry at the annual Sawdust Festival

for 30 years. Her Flamingo Jewelry booth closely positioned to the

front gate exhibits a selection of her work, ranging from pearl

earrings to watermelon-stone pendant necklaces.

Edler’s jewelry is unique for its craftsmanship and its coupling

of gold or sterling silver with high-quality freshwater pearls. She

also admits to favor working with precious and semi-precious stones.

“It gives me great pleasure to do this for a living,” Edler said

of combining her passion with her occupation, “I know that I’m

treating my clients with something I love and something they can love

too.”

Edler works at the Sawdust Festival every day during the summer,

and works in her studio at home six to seven days a week.

“Working out of my studio at home instead of at a shop is

beneficial to me because I can be a stay-at-home mom and spend time

with my kids,” said Edler.

A PEOPLE PERSON

Working with people is a big part of Edler’s job.

“It’s a rewarding experience to have clients revisit me so we can

talk and catch up,” Edler said

The personal relationship between Edler and many of her clients

seems to play a part in the reputation of the quality of her product.

Debbie Magnus, her client for 15 years, said that she continues

coming back to Edler because “ she is extremely creative and produces

very elegant jewelry, while it is also reasonably priced.”

Of working at the Sawdust Festival Edler added, “I love the

surroundings. There is not a more beautiful place in the world to

exhibit my jewelry.”

* HEATHER STRUCK is an intern for the Coastline Pilot. She write

features and gathers news information.