Dana Lea

I am a third generation craftsman.  I  feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world because I get to do what I love and support my family.   My beginnings as a jeweler in 1978 were with my mother, Patricia Duke, who taught jewelry design at TSU in Troy, Alabama.  It was then I realized my true calling and to her I say thanks.  In 1983  I studied under the association of British Craftsmen in Germany.  I returned to the United States in 1987 to continue my career and studies under Gary Nofke at the University of Georgia in Athens.  It was during this time that I was invited to be the assistant jeweler to Heikkii Seppa, Mary Ann Scherr, John Cogswell and Marvin Jensen at Pendland School of Craft in North Carolina.  I later met Rob Jackson and regard him as one of the most talented and humble jewelers I have ever met.  After my studies I continued my career as a bench jeweler, which led to opening my own jewelry repair studio in 1989 and later The Art Of It All, now Athena Jewelers in 1990.  I have continued my education working with  Computer Aided Design program and mill (CAD/CAM) to create jewelry using the newest technology in jewelry design.  

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