Barbara A. Briggs
Meet the Designer-Artist
Where do you live?
Hanover, Illinois
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Color and materials that I have on hand to work with as well as jewelry pieces that I might enjoy wearing is what I find most inspiring.
What medium do you work with mostly?
It's difficult for me to choose just one medium...metal, seed beads, and polymer clay are what I work with mostly and occasionally I work with resin. I love creating mixed-media pieces!
Why did you become enchanted with this style of jewelry-making?
I have never been able to settle on one particular style...my work has changed with growth and experience and I embrace variety. Limiting myself to a particular style would be like being relegated to wearing only one fragrance or eating only one type of food. Life is too short to impose limitations on oneself!
Where and how do you sell your jewelry?
I started making jewelry in 1990 and over the years have sold finished work through galleries and at fine craft shows, but I have found my BarbaraBriggsDesigns shop on Etsy to be the best place for selling my handmade components, beading kits, and tutorials of my original beadwoven designs.
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
What inspired this design?
I simply couldn't choose one design as I have created so many pieces of jewelry using different mediums. This photo shows beadwoven pieces as well as work in metal and polymer clay.
How did it come together?
I seldom sketch ideas...they just pop into my head, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep! I know I'd save time in the long run by sketching, but once I have an idea for a piece, I just want to roll up my sleeves and get to work!