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Minerva Bracelet |
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Meet the Designer-Artist
Where do you live?
Guyana, South America
Describe your artistic style.
I think my style would be a bit old-fashioned, elegant Victorian and a tad bit gothic. My style has changed a bit because I find myself liking more and more funky and fun colours/styles. Off-loom beadweaving, wirework and wrapping are what I am mainly interested in.
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Almost anything! My materials, drawings, cloth patterns, nature. I look at something in the way of how I can use the texture, shape to inspire how my next design will look. I find some nights I dream about working on a piece that I never thought of before and most times I forgot what it looked like in my dreams!
What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Seed beads and wire, oh yes! I don't think I could ever make a piece of jewellery without adding some crystals to it either or some sort of faceted goodness!
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Minerva Bracelet
What inspired this design?
Minerva was the Roman goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, weaving, crafts, magic and the inventor of music. She inspired this design and I hope I embodied who she is into this piece.
How did it come together?
I did plan it. The initial design was much different than this though because I had some complications when making it and had to change the design a bit.
Share Your Background
When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I began to take making jewellery seriously around August of 2009. I was in awe at the versatility of seed beads and how gorgeous it is when woven together along with other beads and stones. Before then it was just simple strings of jewellery that I opened to restring.
Who introduced you to beading?
I have a friend from Singapore that introduced me to the whole entire world of beadweaving. I met her on Facebook through my brother from a game called Pet Society. I asked her about her jewellery from time to time and after a while I mentioned that I did a bit of stringing and she asked me if I wanted website links to tutorials and supplies, I said yes and the rest is history. How I was introduced to wirework was from my wonderful friends on the About.com's Jewellery Making forum. Most of them there do wirework and after seeing the gorgeous things they come up with I knew I had to try wirework. After making my first piece which was a wrapped loops bracelet I was hooked to bending and wrapping wire.
Do you have an artistic background?
Nope. Before jewellery making I had no experience in anything artistic. I used to fail arts and crafts in school to be honest.
How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
One of the links my friend sent me was yours.
What other hobbies do you have?
I do not have any other hobbies really but if I had to name something it would be gardening.
Do you belong to any beading societies or beading groups?
No, I am not a part of any societies or groups. Thought it would be a pleasure joining one but there are none in Guyana.
Beading Success
What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
It gave me the opportunity to accept and admire things that I thought I would never like. It's a hobby more than a part-time career but I do sell my pieces. Mainly so I can get money to buy more materials!
If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I have my Etsy store - Carolyn's Jewellery Box. http://www.etsy.com/shop/creative90012
Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Keep trying. It doesn't matter how hard or frustrating it is--the end result is beautiful. |
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