Anne Stokes

Where do you live?

Scotland

Describe your artistic style.

I like things to be simple--clean with one main theme per piece.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?

Nature, different cultures.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?

I love working with metal, using simple geometry of the circle (jumpring) to combine into many different shapes.

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

Chain Maille Rose Evening Bag

What inspired this design?

I wanted to play with color and see if I could make designs with jumprings like it is done with seed beads.

How did it come together?

I planned out the rose on a grid. It looked a little different than I imagined because of the overlapping nature of the wire, but I liked how the colors blended together. Knitting the pieces together to make a three-dimensional purse was hard and I had to try several methods before I found one that worked.

When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?

I went to a medieval history interest meeting with my husband and the ''chain mail guy'' happened to be there. He taught us to make bracelets and I was hooked.

Who introduced you to beading?

My friend Barb--I was practicing the big chain mail bracelets and she asked if I could ''do it in tiny'' and brought out some 5mm jumprings. I made her a bracelet and she showed me the Fire Mountain Gems catalog and I got my own supplies.

Do you have an artistic background?

My family is artistic--my mother painted and two cousins are professional artists.

What other hobbies do you have?

I like writing fiction, horseback riding and bird watching.

What role does jewelry-making play in your life?

I like making pretty things. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and makes me happy.

If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?

Right now I do it for fun--I've only sold a few pieces to friends. I think about trying to sell more in the future.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?

Make pieces that give you joy, don't try to figure out what someone else would like. If it comes from your heart, it will shine through.