By Marcy Stamper
After seven years of designing and exhibiting jewelry and art on Glover Street in Twisp, Peligro is moving to Bozeman, Montana — but staying in the family.
Nancy Daniels Hubert started the store seven years ago as a way of having a local presence for her custom jewelry, which she had previously sold primarily through jewelry shows, museums and galleries.
Daniels Hubert’s daughter, Hana Hull, who has been working with Daniels Hubert and making the majority of the rings for the past four years, purchased the business a year ago.
While Hull has been gradually taking on more of the day-to-day work and making increasingly elaborate rings, she has in fact worked with her mother since she was a girl. “She has been cutting stones since age 8 or 10, running the saw and grinder,” said Daniels Hubert. “I was a single mom and needed help, and Hana was really good at it.”
Hull’s previous business experience includes owning a cleaning company, making and decorating cakes, and cutting and styling hair.
While Daniels Hubert focuses on funkier necklaces and earrings featuring irregular geometry, oversized insects or river rock, Hull has always been drawn to rings, which have been the mainstay of the business.
“I don’t wear a lot of jewelry — I’m pretty conservative about jewelry and only wear rings,” said Hull. “It’s not that I don’t like funky stuff — just not on me.”
Hull designs rings and makes them by hand using gold, palladium and other precious metals. The majority incorporate diamonds or other stones from family jewelry or antique pieces. The work requires sharp eyesight and fine dexterity, since Hull has to cut a seat for the stone in the metal and use a tiny hammer tip to shape the metal around it.
“We use a torch, a hammer and a saw blade, just like they did 2,000 years ago,” said Daniels Hubert. “It’s rare to build jewelry like this.”
Hull, who grew up in Bozeman, hopes that the larger market and its proximity to major ski resorts will be a good match for the business. She will be joining her fiancé and other family members there.
Hull is taking virtually all of Peligro with her — the display cases designed and made by local metal artisan Steve Ward, the sign, the tools and inventory, and the business name. Daniels Hubert will continue to make jewelry — what she called “high-end, cool stuff” — that will be sold through the Bozeman store.
“I’m the dreamer — Hana’s always been really practical,” said Daniels Hubert. “I bring it down to something people can understand,” said Hull.
Hull will also take online orders at peligrostudio.com. The Twisp store will be closing in mid-November.
