CPAA Affiliate Member Spotlight: Annette Wachter of RudyBlu Jewelry

Annette Wachter’s RudyBlu Jewelry business blossomed three years ago when the onetime photo stylist and pet boutique owner decided to pursue her growing passion for jewelry. Wachter had long been friends with a store owner local to her in Stanwood, Wash., and had also attended an annual gem show held in Seattle. She even made ammunition jewels out of expired rounds (“I’m a member of the U.S. Rifle team,” she explains). Eventually, she took metalsmithing classes at the Pratt Fine Arts Center in the city, a move that cemented her love of soldering and elevated her skills beyond beading and wire wrapping.