In her formative years, an artistic uncle encouraged Dietje Hagedoorn to enroll in a metalsmithing program in Schoonhoven, Netherlands. Thus began her life-long passion for the craft that she has since mastered, and practices from her home studio in the peaceful village of Radium Hot Springs. She had extensive training while working for such notable jewellers as Swedish, Ragnar, and Brinkhaus, and finally ventured out on her own in 1980. Forge & Form, an innovative open studio/retail jewellery shop on Granville Island, was the culmination of Dietje’s experience before moving to Alberta in 2003, and Radium in 2009.