Elegant Romance in Paradise
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2009 Beading Contest
Finalist |
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Where do you live?
Long Beach, California
Describe your artistic style.
I would describe my artistic style as freelance. I don't draw out my designs. They will stay in my head and then when I start to bead then the design of the piece begins to take shape.
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
I have many inspirations as an artist. I could be drinking a glass of wine and get inspired by the color of the wine, how the wine catches the light. When drinking champagne the tiny bubbles remind me of little seed beads. Road trips inspire me to create looking at the different colors in nature.
What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Seed beads and crystals.
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Elegant Romance in Paradise
When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I started beading about seventeen years ago when I took a beading class at Tandy Leather store in Long Beach when I first moved there. The class was taught by a Native American woman. She taught me how to make an amulet bag using the brick stitch. I learned all of the other stitches on my own. I found that beading was easier than sewing.
Who introduced you to beading?
I walked past the Tandy Leather store in Long Beach, California and saw a beaded amulet bag and that is how I was introduced to beading.
Do you have an artistic background?
No, not unless you call writing short stories an art.
How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
Through the various beading magazines I subscribe to.
Do you belong to any beading societies or beading groups?
No, not yet. My full time work schedule doesn't allow for me to attend meetings. Most of the bead groups or societies are in Los Angeles or in Orange County. Sometimes I do go to a bead brunch held by a bead store called Dreamstone Bead Company.
What other hobbies do you have?
Writing short stories. Writing articles on hubpages and my blog.
What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
Because I have a stressful full-time job I use beading as a means of relaxation. This is a hobby where I keep accumulating pieces so I have started my store on Artfire.com. The store is not up and running yet. I have plans to have it functional by the end of the Summer 2010.
If you use jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
Well I'm entering contests as a marketing tool. I have been entering the Fire Mountain Gems beading contest now for the past three years. In 2008 I was a semi-finalist and last year I was a finalist. This year I hope to be a winner.
Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
I have sold my wearable art to raise money for church charities.
Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Keep practicing until you're perfect. Keep entering contests one day you will win.
View all of Jacqueline's designs in the Gallery of Designs. |
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