Denise E Basore

Sleeping Dragons Bracelet

Denise E Basore

Oscar Night
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2014 featuring Crystal
Finalist

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
The ''mountains'' aka speed bumps of Maryland

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
A bowl of Fruit Loops®, a swing, bushes, a sunset - it can be absolutely anything

What medium do you work with mostly?
I'm drawn mostly to beads and thread but I also love to pound metal and work with pliers.

Why did you become enchanted with this style of jewelry-making?
I feel a little lost without a needle in my hand. When I was a child, I didn't even know that bead stores existed. My grandmother taught me to embroider (simple flowers, basic leaves) when I was about 6 years old. Then my mom started giving me scraps of fabric to make clothes for my Barbie. If someone gave me beads, I'd put beads on my clothes. Somewhere along the way, I found a bead magazine and - POW!! I was hooked.

Where and How do you sell your jewelry?
Home shows mostly and word of mouth. I'm working on a website and shopping cart for 2015.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Sleeping Dragons bracelet

What inspired this design?
The colors of the magatamas...

How did it come together?
I was playing with peyote stitch and the magatama beads. When you layer them in the same direction they want to curl. Then I wondered what would happen if I changed direction. And sleeping dragons were born. It's not a fancy design - just some magatamas, number 8s and some fringe beads. It's chunky but it's uber-comfortable and people always comment on it.