You'll probably recognize Kimberly Vincent because of her flowing white flocks. But you may also be familiar with her because she's a former Moscow Food Co-op Board Member, current Co-op shopper and passionate math professor at Washington State University. Add to this lengthy list, dedicated dog rescuer and talented jewelry maker, and you have a pretty good idea of the kind of woman you're dealing with. Kimberly grew up in Maine, where she was naturally drawn to the ocean and the sea glass it produces. She said not only is the beauty of sea glass in its color, but that it's been etched by nature is what gives it its true appeal.
It is this love for nature, and water in particular, that has shaped her jewelry making since she was a teenager. Although Kimberly says she's known since the sixth grade that she wanted to be a math teacher, she also says that she's always been drawn to rocks and they energy they emit. When asked if she always has a plan when she begins making a piece of jewelry Kimberly says, "I look for what's in the glass," referring to the sea glass she often uses in her pieces. She also mentions that she's drawn to knowing where something comes from and lets that inform her art. When asked about the history of her jewelry making, Kimberly begins to tell stories about how she's always collected rocks. She talks of her son, Nathan, now 32 years old and taking him to raft the St. Joe River when he was a kid. "Because his bathing suit had pockets and mine didn't, I would fill his swim trunks with the rocks I'd find."
Kimberly says about five years ago, a friend urged her to delve deeper into her jewelry making. She took a metals class in Bellingham, WA, where she learned about heating and manipulating metal for her craft. Other than this one class, Kimberly says that Youtube, jewelry-making books and a lot of trial and error have contributed to the beauty of her pieces. While she sells her pieces to the Co-op and at the Renaissance Fair in Moscow, she says this side business is really just fun for her. Every dime she makes selling her work goes right back into her business. She buys more metal, more gemstones and has slowly built her collection of tools. If you're looking to buy some of Kimberly's pieces you can stop into the Co-op, look for her booth at the Renaissance Fair this summer, head to the Winter Market at the 1912 Center or look at her shop on Etsy.
In addition to Kimberly's talent for jewelry making, she has been involved with our Co-op since 1987 when she first became an owner. She was elected to the Board of Directors in 2004 and served for nine years, four of those as President. She was instrumental in the hard work it took to move the Co-op into the location we're in now, which allowed for an extreme amount of growth in sales and in community outreach. She was also involved in moving the Board's role into one which created and governed policy about how the store would operate. She said that in her nine years on the Board she worked with 23 different Co-op staff in a number of capacities. When she tells stories of being on the board and being a Co-op owner, it's clear to see that she truly loves this place and values its role in the community.
