Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2010 featuring Crystal
Finalist |
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Meet the Designer-Artist
Where do you live?
Martinez, California
Describe your artistic style.
Anything goes.
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Everyone around me and nature.
What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Anything bling.
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Origami Crane Earrings
What inspired this design?
I saw someone wearing similar crane earrings but without any beads, just plain black color. Very dull in my view.
How did it come together?
It was a learning experience for the process of making. Initially the process takes about three days with painting, but I found a quicker method and cut down the process to one day.
Share Your Background
When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
Always been interested in natural gemstones, but started beading by repairing friends and relatives jewelry three years ago.
Who introduced you to beading?
No one.
Do you have an artistic background?
I am a multimedia artist. I paint, I do floral arrangements and do origami. I also taught classes at the community center in Pleasant Hill, California.
How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
A Friend.
What other hobbies do you have?
Gardening and flower arrangement.
Beading Success
What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
It was a hobby initially, and became a full-time career for over one year because I lost my day job. At present, I am working full-time again. Always love to create new things. So much self gratification when people love your creations.
If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I do have a website, I attend craft fairs and farmers markets. www.stephenlao.com
Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
I did participate in a few fundraising events locally.
Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
You must enjoy what you do. It can be very discouraging in the beginning. It took me three years to establish a name.
View all of Stephen's designs in the Gallery of Designs. |
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