Evening star., 1929-12-08
MRS. HULL ADEPT
JEWELRY MAKER
Representatives. Wife Has
Workshop in Upper Story
of Chicago Home.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

Long before the World War which
brought in its wake the practice of
many kinds of arts and crafts, taught
by instructors Of occupational thera-
pathy, the making Of fine jewelry by
hand had been mastered and enthusi-
sStically practiced as an avocation by
Mrs. Mortimer Hull, wife Of the Repre-
sentative from Chicago. When Mrs.
Hull first started her study of the art
many years ago in Chicago. she did so
because of her desire to keep her hands
occupied" and her interest In odd and
unusual jewelry.
A girlhood study of drawing and
painting at the Boston Academy was
Of untold value to her in the designing
of her jewelry, which included an ex-
tensive assortment Of pins, rings, buc-
kles, cuff links bracelets and other
articles Of adornment, which have de-
lighted the eyes of men and women
since the dawn Of civilization.
Room for Workshop.
On the top floor of Mrs. Hull's Chi
cago home, she tells you, she has re-
served a room for her workshop. A
large bench rests beneath the north
window, and 1t is at this bench that
Mrs. Hull has designed, hammered and
soldered the lovely pieces Of jewelry
made as gifts for friends and members
of her family. IT first began the study
Of hammered metals" said Mrs. Hull,
'and made numerous copper bowls,
vases and other large pieces. But I
couldn't bear the noise of the hammer
ing and had decided to give 1t UP when
my teacher asked me why didn't do
little pieces, the making Of which did
not create so much noise. I did not
care for the usual type of arts and
crafts tewelry, and I spent about six
months visiting various jewelry makers
throughout Chicago, studying odd pieces
and different methods Of making
jewelry."
Mrs. Hull considers her finest piece
OF work a tiny scarf pin Of gold and
opalS, which was made as a gift for
her husband. The pin, which is de-
signed as a butterfly with outspread
wings, was exhibited q few years ago
at an exhibition Of arts and crafts held
at the Chicago Art Institute.
A useful and practical application Of
her knowledge is made by Mrs. Hull In
remodeling or repairing her own Jewell
ry. Calling attention to an odd ORR.
entail necklace which she wore, she re-
marked that the piece had been much
too long when she first acquired It, so,
taking her tools, she cut it down and
fitted the clasp to the length which
was desired.
Put to Practical Use.
An instance was cited wherein Mrs
Hul's accomplishment had been put to
practical use for the pleasure Of her
friends.
"one Of my sons friends was to be
married" she related, land he asked
me II I would design q wedding ring
for his bride and for himself. So I
obtained a piece of metal thick and
tA ant H..
as one would doughnut. without hav-
ing to joint the ends. The boy seemed
quite pleased with the idea, and the
bride was so much so that think she
was secretly little worried that the
rings were going to be terrible things
ana consequently was delighted to see
that they looked quite the same as
other wedding rings"
While travelling abroad Mrs. Hull
made many visits to metal, antique and
tewelry shops throughout England and
scotland, where she picked up pieces
OF silver and gold chain used by her
in her "jewelry shop at home, While
In Edinburgh she states that she tramp
ed up many flights of dingy steps In q
search for "Cairngorm," or Scotch peb-
oles, the clear little pebbles found in
making OF some shoe buckles for O
Scotch friend.
Semi-WOrthIess Varieties.
Knowing her interest in odd stones.
Mrs. Hull said that frequently Mr.. Hull
would bring to her little boxes of stones
collected while on business trtps
throughout the West. Handing her the
box, he would say: Here are some semi.
worthless stones for you"
It Is for that reason that Mrs, Hull
tells you she uses gold, silver and SEMI
worthless stones in the manufacture of
her jewelry.
In order to vary the syps work which
keeps Mrs. HullS brsy hands constants
ly occupied. basket weaving and French
needle point work are also popular pas
times with her. and in the workshop in
the Chicago home there may be seen a
loom upon which have been made noany
pieces Of finely woven woolen articles.
Laughingly, Mrs. Hull remarked: "Al-
though have taken up many things to
keep my hands busy, have never
learned china painting, leather tooling
or bookbinding. Nor do I play bridge.
But you never can tell may learn TO
play bridge one Of these days.