Tuesday's Treasures - Lune Artisan Jewelry

This week I'm featuring a fabulous jewelry artisan, Keirsten Giles. Keirsten has some beautiful pieces for sale in her shops on etsy and artfire including these:

Let's get to know Keirsten better....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?
Well, of course there isn't just one thing, but what pops into my mind right away today is that I usually "march to my own drummer", i.e., I pay the most attention to my own "inner voice" (or I try to) for every decision I make, and this is becoming more and more the case as I get older. If something doesn't feel right, or I think it will divert me from a direction I am wanting to go, I don't do it. (Or at least I don't do it for very long!) Oddly enough this has always been something I've had to work at; my inner voice is often kind of quiet and hard to distinguish from other influences.

2. What role does your family play in your art?
My boyfriend is my best cheerleader--he lets me know regularly that he's proud of my work and what I'm doing to market and sell it, and he's willing to help with whatever I need. My mom is one of my best customers, and she and my stepdad let me know all the time that they believe in me and love my work. It's a great confidence booster to know they're behind me. They even bought me my first Dremel!

3. Where do you live and what is it like?
I live in a small resort town in northwest Montana called Whitefish; it's surrounded by towering mountains, glacial lakes and endless green. The lifestyle is pretty laid back, and most people come here for the lifestyle and scenery. Our summer playground is Flathead Lake, which is about an hour south of Whitefish by car. We try to spend as many weekends there on our boat as we can. We live extremely simply, in a very small house that keeps us from accumulating a bunch of useless crap, and we like that. I love small houses.

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught?
Couple years ago I was frustrated that I couldn't find the kind of jewelry I wanted to wear. It seemed that everything I found was characterless and mass produced. I started making some pieces for myself and quickly realized I didn't know what I was doing. I signed up for Tammy Powley's email "Crash Course" in jewelry making on about.com, and started practicing those techniques. I found other instructions here and there online too. I found I really liked it, and had a lot of ideas. Too many ideas for just me to wear, so I decided to give it a go selling it and took the plunge in December of 2008, designing a little collection of pieces and opening shops on Etsy and ArtFire. Every technique I use I have learned either from online instructions, looking at other people's jewelry, or occasionally video tutorials.

5. How long have you been working at your craft?
Well, I'd been dabbling in jewelry making for about a year before I decided to get serious at the end of 2008. So I guess it's been about two and-a-half years.

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?
Oh, everywhere. Nature of course--that's really plentiful around here. But sometimes I'll see somebody wearing an outfit and I'll love the color palette; or a plateful of colorful food will inspire me; or a building, or an oily puddle, or a photograph, or even a feeling I want to capture. I once designed a necklace around the carpet at the gym where I work out.

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?
Well, I'm kind of a practical sort with an analytical bent, so my advice would be to research the crap out of the practical aspects of whatever you want to do. If you are hoping to make money at it, or at least practice your art without it being a financial drain, figure out how you're going to make it work. Is there a market for your art? Where is it? How much does your art cost to make? Can you get your money back out of it? How long will that take? Do you have the cash to invest in it? Can you afford to spend that cash right now? How much time can you give it right now (not just the creating part, but the selling/business part too) based on your other commitments? Scale it appropriately to where you are in life; starting small is OK--just get your bearings, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Treat it as reconnaissance! A little intelligence gathering sortie--and if it snowballs into a full-fledged business, well, right on!! Talk to other artists, find out what this kind of commitment entails. Choose a selling venue that suits your personality, and when you're confident with that, start pushing your boundaries. "Follow your heart" and all that is fine advice, definitely do that, but frankly your heart is going to need help with things like pricing, marketing and record keeping.

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?

Tools. 

Check out Keirsten's work at the links below:

ArtFire

Etsy

Blog

Summer Jewelry Challenge Prizes!

How exciting! The prizes for the Fire Divas Summer Jewelry Challenge have been announced! All the details can be found here. Now you can see what incredible prizes are up for grabs!!

http://www.lajewelrydesigns.artfire.com/ or http://www.lajewlerydesigns.etsy.com/

http://hollysfolly.com/ or http://www.artfire.com/users/hollysfollyglass


http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelDudleyBeads

http://arensea.etsy.com/ or http://arensea.artfire.com/

http://www.teasebeads.artfire.com/ or http://www.teasebeads.etsy.com/

http://ahouston.etsy.com/


http://www.artfire.com/users/BabsBeadsandDesign



Good luck to all who enter!!

Tuesday's Treasures - Maybeads

This week's feature is Lauren Mazursky. Lauren creates adorable critters out of glass. Here work is amazingly life-like & adorable at the same time. Her critters put a smile on my face every time! :-) I mean, who wouldn't smile when looking at these:

Let's get to know Lauren better.....

 

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?

In terms of my beads - probably "kid-like".

 

2. What role does your family play in your art?

My kids will give me bead ideas and critiques (they go pretty easy on me, although once my daughter picked up a cat focal I'd made and she made it talk and say "hello, my face is too small for my head."). My girls are all to happy to give the "rejects" homes in their bead collections, though. My younger daughter is a bit of a promoter for me, too - she wears the chokers I make with my beads on them. She also gives them as gifts. In terms of the business part of my art, my husband is my photo sizer and business card maker, so he plays a large role. He's a printer, so he does the graphics for my cards and prints them.

3. Where do you live and what is it like? 

I live in a northwest suburb of Chicago. It's a pretty typical suburb. My kids walk to school. We have great neighbors. It's just right for us.

 

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 

I learned lampworking in a beginner class at TLD Design Center in Westmont, IL, about 40 minutes from my house. I have since taken one more class that involved incorporating new things onto beads, like silvered ivory, murrini, copper and wire mesh. My critters are mostly self-taught. I learned a couple from tutorials (penguins and cows), and the rest I just kind of made up on my own. They're always evolving, though.  

5. How long have you been working at your craft?

About 2 1/2 years. 

 

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?

Lately I'm inspired by dogs. I'll see someone walking their dog and I just want to get to my torch to see if I could make it into a bead. 

 

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?

Keep on practicing your art, and find something that makes it unique. But be sure it's also something you enjoy doing. 

 

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?

Wow - I'd love to invest in the set-up for an actual studio. My torching area is pretty basic, and I stand up to torch. I'd love to work it so I can sit and have a larger supply of gas and have everything more organized. And I'd also buy some more exotic types of glass.

You can see more of Lauren's work at:

Etsy

Blog

Flowers On My Mind

So I didn't get my mother's green thumb and a gardener I'll never be :-( but I'm lucky to have great natural lighting in my house or my indoor plants would die as well. ;-)

What I can do though is make GLASS flowers! And they last a lifetime without watering!

Here are 2 sets I just uploaded to my Etsy and ArtFire shops. Tell me what you think.

Tuesday's Treasures - Andrea Designs

Andrea Wagner is an accomplished knitter and crocheter. I love her use of color and texture in her designs!

Let's get to know Andrea better....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?

 Being positive.

2. What role does your family play in your art?

My husband is really supportive of what I do. Sometimes he could be the hardest critique. That helps me to really put my feet on the ground. But he lets me be. We just moved to Indiana. This is a new house and it has a basement the size of the house( 3 bed, 2 bath) minus the 2 car garage. The whole thing is my studio, that I am preparing, including the floor and walls, to my liking.

3. Where do you live and what is it like?

A month ago we moved from El Paso, Texas to Batesville, Indiana. Love the place. It's a small town with about 6,000 people (El Paso is about 600,000 inhabitants) 60 miles away from Indianapolis ( El Paso was to the East  800 miles about 8-10 hours driving to Dallas, driving to the West about 4 hours to Albuquerque, NM, and about 5 hours to Phoenix, AZ), and 50 miles away from Cincinnati, OH. It is a lot of green. Across our cul-de-sac is the woods. I am in love with the place.

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 

I learned to knit in High School using two needles and crochet. When I was in my  first year of college my cousin gave me  classes on the knitting machine. I started making a sweater. From the basics I was able to self teach how to make skirts, dresses, pants. Later on I got a job as a Singer machine instructor. I was trained to use the different tools the knitting machine has and how to use them when preparing a garment. I provide that information to my students for them to create sweaters, baby dresses etc.

 When I got married and came to the States, my husband got for me as a  wedding present, a knitting machine. The thing was so simple. I could not work with it. That was 22 years ago. During the time I did not work I still  crocheted some dollies, but I was missing my knitting machine until I got a new one like I used to have. I was already working in my daily job as a Call Center supervisor, and I was dreaming to have a small business to run from home using my knitting machine to create shawls, baby clothing, and scarves. The first scarf I made using the knitting machine I did not like at all. I was looking for a product that will be good looking and soft to the touch. I bought several yarns in the internet that I liked, but they were not to be used in my knitting machine. Then I started to use my two needles again and I was able to create amazing scarves and ponchos for  my customers. Unfortunately I never took a photo of them. Now I am able to dare to try new thing like painting, love to making greeting and business cards, jewelry, and always open to learn new things.

5. How long have you been working at your craft?

More than 10 years.

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?

I receive my inspiration from everything that is around me, nature, people, situations, places, the nature in general.

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?

Never  give up. The first time you fail doing or creating something, keep trying. That is not a  failure, that’s called  experience, if we learn from it.

 I have three step I always follow if I don’t get  things right the first time:

1. 5 minutes of feeling sorry for myself or probably getting upset

2.Thinking what I could change. If not possible, look for new alternatives

3. Chin up and continue working in the new project

 

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?

Yarn, Yarn and more Yarn, some beads, probably another knitting machine, I have already two, and more yarn…

 

Here are some links where you can find Andrea's wonderful products:

ArtFire

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Youtube

Tuesday's Treasures - the Fire Divas - Part II

To reiterate from last week.....

The Fire Divas were created by a group of friends with a passion for creating lampwork beads. The Fire Divas' main objective is to work together to promote each other individually and as a Team on this big world wide web. Our members have shops on etsy, artfire &/or 1000 markets.

So,  now that you've met some of my friends and teammates, let's meet the rest! :-)

Karen Klomparens:

Lara Lutrick:
(Her shop is on vacation so I've shared a sold listing of hers)

Lauren Mazursky:

Laurie Ament:

Lea Avroch (me!):

Lori Bergmann:

Melanie Graham:

Patrice Shepherd:

Sonja McClung:

Susan Lambert:

Susanne Folin:

Tera Belinksy-Yoder:

Theresa Ehlers:

Hope you enjoyed the eye candy! Search for Fire Divas Team on etsy and artfire for more glassy goodness from us all!

Tuesday's Treasures - Essensu

 

I first 'met' (virtually, that is) Tami Abiuso of Essensu on Plurk. She has great insight and has an amazing skin care product line! You can practically smell the luscious scents through the monitor! My mouth is watering from that second photo!

Let's get to know Tami better......

 

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?

What a great question and not so easy to answer I might add. I'm not sure how those who know me would answer this, but for myself, what defines me, is my inner desire and search for the inspiration available to us in each new day. Making sure I'm being attentive and grateful for everything in my life. Everyday, I'm grateful to be able to share in the splendor of Mother Nature's abundance, which in turn, drives me to live passionately. Perhaps, living passionately is what defines me. 

2. What role does your family play in your art?

They certainly enjoy being able to test my new skin care formulas before they hit the market, and are always eager to give their feedback. However, I'm also a writer and they encourage me to continue to write and make time for it.

3. Where do you live and what is it like?

Actually, I live in a town voted as one of the Top 100 best places to live! Indeed it is. My home itself is on the woods, which is filled with wild turkeys, deer, bunnies, red fox, owls, a rare woodpecker and all the other small animals common to wood areas. We have a chipmunk family living in the step on our deck. I enjoy watching them flit about and they come up to the windows to say hi. 

Our town itself was settled along a canal and we have a wonderful bike trail connecting our town to all the surrounding towns. I enjoy taking long bike rides and running along it. The area is bustling in the summertime, with plenty of eateries and ice cream parlor right on the canal. The town sponsors many activities like outdoor jazz nights, car "shows" with cookouts, craft weekends, etc. all back-dropped by our scenic canal. 

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 

I've been an herbalist for over 25 years, and enjoy dong medical research. These two passions combined when I became aware of skin and body care products having unfriendly ingredients for our skin and our environment. As I looked for an herbal solution for bug bites for instance, I learned what essential oils to include in a skin cream to help alleviate the itching. Deciding to create a natural skincare line was a natural progression for me. I do often consult with industry professionals when deciding on a particular formula, and all are rigorously tested before being introduced to the line.  

5. How long have you been working at your craft?

I began my actual skincare line in 2003. 

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?

Nature of course. Even with my writing, nature always inspires me. I'm awed by the magnificence of its perfection and power.

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?

Follow your heart or gut feeling. When you get that "ah ha" feeling, you know you have something. But the process getting there should be enjoyed as well. I believe if you follow your passions, whatever they are, you won't spend much time on the wrong path. Our inner guide is our inspiration. Get inspired, and be inspired. Then share your inspiration.

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?

I'm drawn to bottles and jars and lids and caps for my products. I love thinking about new packaging and the look of my line. I also have a personal desire to help battered woman and their children. We have a woman's shelter which is always in need of shampoo and soap, etc. I'd be inclined to use the money to fund as many bottles as I could fill with product, to donate to them. It wouldn't fill the need for supplies indefinitely, but it would provide a positive contribution to a very real need in the community, if even short term.

What an inspiration! Here are some links where you can find Tami's wonderful products:

Essensu

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

500 Facebook Fans!!!

WOOHOO!!!! 500 fans! Cause for a celebration! With every purchase from either my etsy or AF shop for the next week, you can select a similar or lesser value item for 50% off! Sale ends a week from today, on Memorial Day, May 31st!!!

Must include "500 fans" in the notes in order to get the discount! Will refund the difference thru paypal!

LA Jewelry Designs on ArtFire
LA Jewelry Designs on Etsy

Tuesday's Treasures - Beadlady5

Margo is the guildmaster for the AJDJSS guild on ArtFire. Besides spending much of her time promoting our members, she's a very talented jewelry designer. Many of her designs have a lovely vintage feel to them. 

Let's get to know Margo a little better....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?

I think my strong sense of humor combined with my positive attitude is what defines me more than anything else as a human being.  These 2 attributes have been my strongest survival skills and have helped me to continue to be pro active in everyday life.

2. What role does your family play in your art?

My family is quite supportive of my creative endeavors.  They give me their honest feedback about my creations.  My husband and younger son help me with my craft fairs by assisting me to set up, by bringing me breakfast, then lunch, and they also help with the clean up.

My husband is in charge of having my orders shipped properly.  It is a comfort to have their help.

3. Where do you live and what is it like?

I live in Staten Island, NYC for over 30 years now. Recently, we moved into a 2 family home so my mother could live in the apartment to be closer to me.

I love living here because we have Manhattan close by with all the wonderful things it offers--yet, we also have the peacefulness of a suburban haven.

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 

I am self taught.  I come from a family of creative "genes" and am lucky that these genes have been passed onto me.  I have been a crafter all my life--from knitting, crocheting, needle work, macrame, quilling, faux painting, and more. 

I became interested in the art of jewelry design and creation when I needed a necklace for a dress I bought for a wedding.  Couldn't find anything that I liked and prices were a bit outrageous for the necklaces.  After looking over how a few necklaces were made I felt that I could make my own necklace.  Off to Barnes and Nobles I went to check out the books on jewelry design and creation and this is how my wonderful creative journey began.

5. How long have you been working at your craft?

It is almost 7 years now and I find it quite amazing that I still have so much more to learn and so much more to create.

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?

My inspiration comes from:

1. The beads, cabochons, filigrees, and jewelry supplies in general.  When I see beads or other supplies that I like I start creating immediately in my mind. 

2.  The pieces of jewelry worn by people in my everyday activites, T.V., movies, and magazines.  I like to take a design that I have admired and recreate it in my "style" and

3.  Repurposing  old jewelry pieces.

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?

Enjoy your process of creation.  Try very hard not to allow others opinions deter you from doing what you love to do.  Remember the saying "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"--it is true for you!

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful thought!  I would so love shop for  vintage beads, cabochons, stones, cameos, filigrees, etc.--I guess you can see that I am now in "A Vintage State of Mind"!

ArtFire 

Etsy

Zibbet

Tuesday's Treasures - Enchanted Beads

It's not often that I get to meet a fellow artisan in person, but I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Ileana Munteanu of Enchanted Beads in NYC recently. What did we do you ask?? We went bead shopping of course! ;-)


Let's get to know Ileana a little better....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?

Patience!

 

2. What role does your family play in your art?

They admire what I do and, despite their busy life they help me. My son built my website years ago.

www.enchanted-beads.com. My daughter is  my marketing advisor (she works as a Marketing Director at an important firm in Manhattan, NYC). My granddaughter, 11, is a permanent source of inspiration and sometimes helps me with Shows.

 

3. Where do you live and what is it like?

I live in a building overlooking the Verrazzano Bridge, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY. The view is always wonderful, all year long. It is great to live close to the Ocean and take long walks on the shore. It is also a source of inspiration! I love my neighborhood!

 

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 

I am self taught. I was always passionate about making things with my own hands. Being very creative  I used my free time for designing things that I could wear or I would need around the house, a mosaic table for example. Later, I started making evening dresses with beautiful appliqués (flowers, leaves, butterflies) made of pearls and tiny beads, that looked like a piece of jewelry. Little by little, I realized that what I enjoyed best in designing and making an outfit was actually the elaborate embellishment. I started to make little pieces of jewelry . My decision to concentrate only on the embellishments was how I started my jewelry collection.

 

5. How long have you been working at your craft?

More than 15 years.

 

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?

Nature is my main source of inspiration. Flowers, ladybugs, butterflies are featured in my pieces. Sometimes I get inspired by the semiprecious stones I find. I put them together with pearls, gemstone beads and colorful seed beads in a specific design, carefully coordinating the colors to achieve a natural, shaded look by incorporating several nuances of beads for each color I choose.

 

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?

Do your homework, search for a path that fits your style, participate in as many contests as you can and don't get discouraged even when you are rejected or when you don't make it to the finals. Keep trying, keep improving yourself,!

 

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?

Beads, beads, beads, findings, beading books.

 

 Here are some links to where you can find Ileana's work:

 

Website

Etsy

ArtFire

1000 Markets

ArtFire's Praises!

I've been selling on ArtFire since January 2009. The changes I've seen have been HUGE! I've never dealt with a company so anxious to listen to their membership & implement ideas that have been suggested to them. Their growth in that time period has been HUGE! And here's why. Find Out Why Over 66,000 Artisans Sell Crafts On ArtFire.com!

My personal favorite tool is the Global Editor. If you have 10 listings or 110 you can edit them all in one easy step unlike some other sites. You can also list as many items as you'd like for 1 low monthly fee. Contact me if you'd like a code for $12/month for life as opposed to the current $15.95/month.

Tuesday's Treasures - Mamas Little Monkeys

Amy Dutsch is one of the sweetest, most giving people I know. She volunteered to help me with a banner some time ago. We didn't even know each other at the time and yet she offered to do this for me out of the kindness of her heart. She is amazing with needle and thread....and of course fabric, that helps! ;-)

Let's get to know Amy a little better.....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it? Simplicity and usefulness with a touch of humor. I do not generally make or buy things that do not have a definite use in my life or someone else's life. Even in home decor, etc....if I don't LOVE it. every time I look at it...I'm not buying it! I also try to make people laugh! If you can laugh at least once in your day then it couldn't have been all THAT bad,r ight?

2. What role does your family play in your art? HUGE! They are the reason I started! I started sewing because I was cloth diapering my youngest son and wanted cool cloth wipes. I planned on eventually making him cloth diapers, and that got pushed back more and more, with every cool idea I wanted to try!! Ironically, we no longer cloth diaper and I never got to make any for him :) But because I have two boys I strive to find fun things to create for boys because girls do seem to have the corner on the handmade market.

3. Where do you live and what is it like? Southeastern Louisiana, in a city called Slidelll, roughly 30 miles North (across the lake) from New Orleans. I both love and hate it at times! LOL I hate the cost of living down here since Hurricane Katrina but there is so much I DO love. While I hate the high probability that we will be forced to leave and possibly lose our home each and every year, it is where I'm FROM. I don't think I could find a nicer people, more creative area and city so full of history, life and FUN as New Orleans! And living in Slidell gives me the comfort of safety, good schools and 'suburbia'...while having the opportunity to just drive across that lake at any time and do what I want in New Orleans! I love where I live so much I created Handmade Louisiana, a group of artisans and musicians in and from La :) www.handmadelouisiana.com

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? I was taught by necessity, as I said, by wanting to sew cloth wipes. "How hard can it be to sew a square?" I asked myself. Famous. Last. Words. I am now a fabricholic, LOVE to sew--even when I mess it up, and will now try just about ANY craft in any genre at some point! All this in less than 2 years. Now that I work full time outside the home, for the first time in 4 years I have been having a mourning process of not being able to craft as much as I was used to! But we do what we have to do!

5. How long have you been working at your craft? Just under 2 years.

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general? Often times in things I see that there are a need for, for myself, friends, family or other crafters. My swiffer wetjet pads are one of my popular sellers and not an original idea. My friend Karin at www.dominopads.com graciously shared how to make them and I just started selling them just for the heck of it (after testing numerous prototypes in my own home) I had no idea that people would really want or need them! But I aim for things to have a real purpose and need. I don't really want people to purchase anything I create and have it just sit there. Even my sock monkeys...I hope they are taken home, snuggled, loved and carried around! I want to make people's lives easier, more fun and want them to really cherish ANY handmade item they purchase.

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists? Don't give up!! You may think of an idea for an item that you think is FABULOUS and you think everyone will love....and it turns out they don't. Don't give up on being creative!! Take pleasure in creating for YOU, whether you sell or not. If it doesn't make YOU happy to make it..why do it? When you hit a creative roadblock, take a break from that particular craft and try something new and challenging...or go back to something you find therapeutic and calming. Sometimes you just have to CRAFT for the sake of crafting!! I love to make fabric covered buttons for a variety of purposes. They may or may not ever sell...but I LOVE making them, they are soothing and therapeutic for me. When I don't have time for other crafts, the buttons are my 'go to' craft :) Just ENJOY what you do, the low's and the highs of it!

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on? LOL. FABRIC!! *waits for the laughter from those who know me* oh the fabric I could get with 1,000.......

Here are some links to where you can find Amy's work:

MamasLittleMonkeys on Etsy

MamasLittleMonkeys on ArtFire

Destashcity on Etsy 

Destashcity on ArtFire

Tuesday's Treasures - Willow Walker Designs

This week's talented artisan is Pamela Prichard, a very talented fused glass artist, of Willow Walker Designs. She is also an extremely talented wire and jewelry artist. She has shops on ArtFire and Etsy.

Let's get to know Pam better....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?  I really don't think there is just one thing that defines me.  If I had to pick I would say it is my love of color!  Another day you might get another answer.  (grins)

2. What role does your family play in your art? My family plays a very big role.  Growing up my parents were always doing something crafty and encouraged me also.  I grew up in a stained glass household.  My dad started me on the path of fusing dichroic glass jewelry.  My son, his best friend (my "other son") and my ex help me do shows.

3. Where do you live and what is it like?  I live in gorgeous, SUNNY Central Oregon.   Everything east of the Cascade Mountain range, about two thirds of the state is nice, fairly dry with something like over 200 days of sun.  Unfortunately when most people think of Oregon they think of the Willamette Valley on the other side of the mountains where it rains a lot. 

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught?  I learned glass fro my parents and am self-taught for all my wire working and beading.

5. How long have you been working at your craft?   I found my true glass calling when started fusing and making dichroic fused glass and wire wrapped jewelry in 2005.  I made my first sun catcher when I was eight.  I still do stained glass and teach it and fusing.

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?  I find  inspiration everywhere.  It all goes into a big ole'  pot in the back of my brain where it simmers to fruition.

Here are some more links to Willow Walker Designs' creation: 

Willow Walker Designs

Etsy

ArtFire

Facebook

Blog

Tuesday's Treasures - Gravel Road Jewelry

This week I've selected a jewelry artist whose work I truly admire; ErikaLyn, commonly know by her nickname Bonnie, of Gravel Road Jewelry. Bonnie creates amazing wire wrapped jewelry using primarily sterling silver wire.

Let's get to know Bonnie better....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?
I am very eclectic!

2. What role does your family play in your art?
They are very supportive and I can count on them to give me compliments, opinions and advice freely.

3. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught?
I am self taught.

4. How long have you been working at your craft?
I have been creating wire jewelry on and off for over 10 years and have been making it more consistently in the past several.

5. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?
Everywhere! All of the things, people, places and events in my life are a source of inspiration.

6. What piece of advice you can give other artists?
Hmmm, it's not really advice but I know a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that I will share ... "Every artist was first an amateur."

7. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
Supplies, supplies and more supplies! I would be wading in wire, beads and gems!

Here are links to where you can find Gravel Road's creations:

ArtFire
Handmade Artists
Zibbet