My Hummingbird
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads
2008 Beading Contest
Finalist |
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Where do you live?
Fruit Heights, Utah
Describe your artistic style.
Unique and unusual, influenced by things I see and love, nature, Indian art and my Pennsylvania Dutch Roots.
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Everything I see in nature, history and life in general.
What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Beads, clay, silver, gold, wood, found objects, rocks, stones and metals.
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
My Hummingbird
What inspired this design?
We have hummingbirds come here each year and I decided to make a permanent reminder.
How did it come together?
I drew pictures' till I liked the way it looked, then I transferred it to Lacy's Stiff Stuff and beaded it.
When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I started beading as a little girl, at about 7 years old.
Who introduced you to beading?
My grandmother started my interest when she gave me a beautiful small purse beaded with small seed beads.
Do you have an artistic background?
We have crafters, beaders, quilters and artists on both sides of my family, (father and mother).
How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and BeadsĀ®?
I found an ad, I think it was in Rock and Gem around 1975 and have been a customer ever since.
What other hobbies do you have?
Beading, silversmithing, clay crafts, sewing, wood work with small things. Hiking, rock hunting and polishing, wire-wrapping. All sorts of crafts with rocks and polished stones.
What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
It is a relaxing hobby and satisfying feeling to create a unique piece of jewelry.
If you use jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I enter contests, enter State Fairs and sell my jewelry in my shop.
Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
No
Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Never give up and just do what you like, even if it is different than expected of you by others. Be your own person.
View all of Elaine's designs in the Gallery of Designs. |