Jewelry and fashion are the subjects of the new book by Christine Peters Hamilton entitled “Artist and Collector.” Hamilton is the artist and Linda Patrick the collector. The book tells the story of their collaboration largely through the use of Vogue-worthy photos taken by Hamilton. The images of Patrick's clothing and collection of Hamilton's jewelry designs leap off the page.

The book was a fun project to do with her long-time client and friend, Patrick, who has an eye for both fashion and jewelry. As Patrick is quoted at the beginning of the book: “It's not what you wear, its how you wear it!”

“The book was also a way for me to show my appreciation for her,” Hamilton said. “Linda has given me the opportunity to work on pieces I might not have otherwise. It's been fun to do the pieces – and people are always looking to see what she has on.”

Working with Patrick, Hamilton has worked with very chunky, large, or unusually shaped stones – turquoise, beads, amethyst and coral to name a few of the stunning materials;  added some of Patrick's gems or beads into one of her existing pieces that Patrick picked up during her travels or inherited.

The two women met in 2004 when Patrick attended one of Hamilton's trunk shows at Gleason Fine Art. Patrick had been hearing about Hamilton through Ron Tellson (original owner of Aura) for years.

“She came over to my house the day after the trunk show with some South Sea pearls I was interested in and we just clicked,” Patrick said. “Christine is such an amazing young woman. I'm so humbled that she would do all that work for two years. The book is her creative genius; she took all of the photos of the clothes and jewelry. The quality of the book is wonderful; we were blown away when we saw it.”

Hamilton never recreates a piece of jewelry; she will consider something similar if asked, but she has no interest in creating the same piece over and over. All of her pieces, not just the ones for Patrick, are one-of-a-kind.

“When someone puts the jewelry on, that's when it starts to come to life,” Hamilton said. “And it always captures a personality, so you know when it comes to life, and you come to life; it is the perfect complement all around.”

A new flower series conceptualized in November made earrings and a pin to start. The design has a vine-like appearance and loosely based on hydrangea; small four-petal flowers clustered together amd ultra delicate and three-dimensional. Hamilton has added a couple of necklaces, earrings, and  rings in sterling silver, some with gemstones such as a yellow sapphire.

Hamilton is also working on a new jewelry project for Patrick: a four-foot strand of small sterling beads that can be wound about the neck with ample left over – think Roaring 20s.  

Hamilton self-published the book through www.blurb.com, one of many web-based publishing sites, in December. It affords authors the ability to print as few or as many copies as they wish, in hard or soft covers. Hamilton has printed a few of each and plans to use the soft covers as a marketing tool for her business.

The book also includes photos of the two creative friends by Bob Mitchell, “Queenie” the “mannequeen” was on loan from Andi and Adelle Bielle of Slicks.

Hamilton's artistic jewelry is displayed in season at Gleason Fine Art, Townsend Avenue, in Boothbay Harbor.

For more information about the book, to see more of Hamilton's one-of-a-kind jewelery. Check out her blog, visit www.christinepetershamilton.com/.