Among the gifts that celebrities will have the opportunity to receive for their appearance on the VH1 Big in 2002 Awards will be Lois Hill’s line of handcrafted sterling silver jewelry inspired by ancient metalworking techniques.

The New York-based designer specializes in silver jewelry and watches using three different and unrelated techniques. She begins by hand-carving the metal with hammer and chisel (a primitive technique dating back to the Stone Age), then employs the Etruscan technique of granulation (dating back to 3000 B.C.), adding meticulous detail with tiny spheres of sterling silver, and finishes with contemporary filigree. The combination of the three methods yields a wonderfully textural and unusual line of wearable art.

Hill’s creations will be among the many products and services celebrities will receive at the awards show’s “Celebrity Retreat,” where presenters and performers wait to make their appearance during rehearsals or the show. Presenters and performers will be thanked for their time and talent by being given the opportunity to select specific gifts from the product lines being offered by participating donor companies. The retreat will be created and managed by Backstage Creations, Santa Monica, Calif., specialists in award show gifts and custom backstage talent retreats.

The awards show will be held at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, on Dec. 4 and will air on VH1 Dec. 15. The awards show chronicles and honors the moments and people that captivated and inspired others in 2002.

Appearing on the show will be Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi, Drea DeMatteo, Michael Imperioli, John Maher, and Norah Jones. Up to 75 additional celebrities will invited to Backstage Creations “Celebrity Retreat.”

Other products and services that celebrities will have the opportunity to receive include designer eyewear from Marchon Eyewear, a membership to the CLAY fitness spa, and designer dresses from Michelle Decourcy.

JCK