Merle Bashor - (916)966-2576

As a youngster I became fascinated by jewelry and looked at any that people were wearing. This led to developing an urge for me to try making a piece. I don't remember that first try but it did give me a sense of satisfaction.

Before my last semester of High School in 1943 I joined the Navy and became a flight line mechanic. During that time I made a few rings of scrap material but produced nothing beautiful. After being discharged from the Navy I spent a couple of years juat messing around then I desired that I should go back to school. I enrolled at Glendale College in California and during that time I met and married the most beautiful lady I ever met. After Glendale C.C. I entered USC and earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Mechanical Engineering.

I accepted a job at L. A. Water and Power which allowed me to take an evening class in jewelry making. This was wonderful and and a moving experience. After some time and our desire to move north I left L. A. Water and Power to accepted a job with the California State Department of Water Resources. The position was in Kern County so we moved to Bakersfield as that was the closest major city to the Project. Although overseeing the Operation and Maintenance the project was a demanding job I once again found I could work in a night class or two in making jewelry.

Eventually I transferd to Headquarters in Sacramento in 1980 to oversee the entire operation of the project. And as you guessed I found night classes in jewelry. Upon my retirement in 1990 I made a studio in my basement and moved in all of the equipment that I had collected over the years. Now when I get the urge to make a piece or two I can go to my studio and give it a go. It has been a wonderful hobby although it is expensive but rewarding.