Judy Hoff Brooks

Judy

My school story is that I loved high school. I felt that we had such great teachers like, Mr Brown, Mr Gleason, Scantlebury, Miss Vickse and most of all Mrs Liebersbach. They helped me to see beyond the struggles that I was having at home. Such a blessing.

I was lucky enough to have two classes of drama back to back instead of a study hall. Those were wonderful years of learning to act and developing an appreciation for art and culture.

Now I do remember that I had great times with Joanne Angelich, Karen Rust, Jeanie Hoffman & of course Judi Osterhout. Late slumber parties, terrorizing Jeannie one night when she was babysitting, by peeking in the windows at her. Yep we were ruthless!!!
High school was a wonderful time for me as well as college.

I am educated as a goldsmith/jewelry designer, doing my apprentice goldsmithing at Marvin Hime & Co in Beverly Hills, Ca. I attended San Francisco State University and The Revere Academy of Gold smithing.

Visit my website at judithhoffbrooks.com

I have also studied extensively, Parenting and family life.

I have worked as a Goldsmith/Jewelry designer in Sausalito and Mill Valley and in the East Bay as well For the past 25 years I have mostly worked in my private studio/gallery in Lafayette, doing private commissions as well as shows in San Francisco Galleries. Often I have groups come in to see my work and the processes used to create the jewelry and I teach as well.
I have some great tools!!!

I love doing private commissions for people containing very personal and meaningful messages. I have created several collections of work around "Healing".

I have shown my work in Galleries and Museum Galleries across the nation as well as in Ireland, Norway, Japan, Europe and Australia. Also I hear that a gold earring that I made is at the bottom of a sacred well in Egypt, I had to replicate it for my client.
I was honored to be a permanent artist at the Museum of California in Oakland (The Oakland Museum) Collector's Gallery for 10 years.
I teach Metal arts at Acalanes High School as well at teach privately in my studio.
You can see my work on my website at judithhoffbrooks.com also on Facebook.

First of all is the have my two wonderful children in my life. They have made my life complete. Knowing them as adults has given my even more levels of Joy and it still just keeps coming.

I finally get to be a grandmother. This, as most of you know, is a spectacular event. I am hoping for one more.

I love gourmet cooking and I love to do dinner parties with lots of candle light.

After two years in college I had to opportunity to live in England for a few months and then on to Germany for 6 months. This experience has given me the life long hunger for travel and other cultures.
I went on to study at San Francisco State University and Revere Academy of Gold smithing and 3 years of Apprenticeship at Marvin Hime in Beverly Hills.

The latest exciting adventure is learning to fly an airplane. Jerry had his own aviation school for many years and is now teaching me to fly his Cessena 182. This is a challenge, for it is not a light learning plane. It is like driving a Mack Truck.
We have flown all over the back hills of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Flying to the eclipse was definately a wonder!

In 2008 I hiked the Cotswold Way in England. It too 9 days by staying along the trail at Inn's and in Bed and Breakfasts. It was such a great adventure. 117 miles from Chipping Campden to Bath. I love exploring England's castles and rich history.
I have lived in Europe, England and Germany when I was 21-22. This gave me the love of Europe and I could not wait to return. Which I do as often as I can.

One of the most special things that I have done is traveling, and most very special is to Germany to see Peter and Ursala Bartcsh. Then to recently have them here to stay with me. They are wonderful friends. I have enjoyed reconnecting with old classmates and have continued the longstanding friendships throughout the years.

This year I am going back to Italy again to step back into Art History.

Another special event that I have enjoyed in my life is to have foreign students live with us. This has lead to extended family members and more lifetime friends.

I am a parent educator for the Family Stress Center of Contra Costa County. each year, I also donate my work for fundraising for many community organizations, such as the Family Stress Center, Battered Woman's "Safe Place" in Oakland, Families of Fallen Soldiers and Homeless Families through the Professional Golfer's Association in Pebble Beach.

Florence Italy, Paris, France and always England.

Anything Joan Baez, PP&M, Opera, Classical, too many to name.

Forrest Day….check him out! I am a music lover of all kinds.

Camelot
Lion in the Winter.
Plays....most anything Shakespearean.

The Passions of Artemisia Gentileschi By Susan Vreeland
Girl in Hyacinth Blue
Brunelleshi's Dome Ross King
Bon Appétit!
Dan Brown's books
Any Art History book

I have lived in Europe, England and Germany when I was 21-22. This gave me the love of Europe and I could not wait to return. Which I do as often as I can.

Like many of my classmates I have lost a spouse to cancer.

Gold smithing, working in my home studio was a wonderful way to be a mother as well as have a career in designing and making in precious metals. It has been a wonderful life bringing up my children.

Always learning and growing!!!