Local artist featured at Longview gallery

When photographer Judy VanderMaten of the Broadway Gallery saw Becky Ledtke’s jewelry, she arranged for Ledtke to be featured at the gallery in Longview in January.

Ledtke’s gemstone necklaces are substantial and dramatic with origins across the globe.

The owner of Heavy Stone Jewelry, Ledtke raised cattle for 25 years in Skamokawa.

“I wanted to do something to make staying home more fun, since beef cattle ranchers don’t get vacations too much,” she said.

She started by buying beads and stones and she “figured out what people like to wear.” Ledtke says what she enjoys most is when the person she has had in mind when she created the design finds the piece.

She has been making jewelry since 2003, and now Ledtke is selling her work across the lower Columbia region and on-line at http://www.heavystonejewelry.com. Her pieces are shown at Made in Wahkiakum, All Kindza Stuff and the Liquor Store in Cathlamet, Redman Hall in Skamokawa, and at the Astoria Sunday Market, when it opens in May.

Ledtke is Wahkiakum Fair Board president and is a relief mail carrier for Skamokawa, Rosburg and Grays River.

A reception will be held at the Broadway Gallery, in Longview today (Thursday) from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., and Ledtke’s jewelry will be on display through January 31.