Janice Leininger

Janice Leininger

Autumn Kaleidoscope Falls
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2010 featuring Crystal
Finalist

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Metairie, Louisiana (New Orleans area)

Describe your artistic style.
I prefer well balanced design in weight and harmonious color use.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
I'm inspired by the environment and Mother Nature.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?
I enjoy working with quality crystals, semi-precious gemstones and freshwater pearls.

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

What inspired this design?
I was dazzled by the autumn colors near a small waterfall under a bright blue sky on the Blue Ridge Mountains.

How did it come together?
Focusing on the falls and a bit of squinting in the bright light all of the water, sky and the foliage colors floated together in my head.

Share Your Background


When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is always around the corner. I first used beads on sewing and embroidery as an embellishment in costume fun for children, teens and all other ages.

Who introduced you to beading?
No one person introduced me to beading, it was a natural thing with me. I loved to troll through the dime stores, TG and Y, Ben Franklin, etc. If there was a good craft kit or supplies of any kind, I experimented using some imagination.

Do you have an artistic background?
I was in art classes from kindergarten through college and interior design school.

How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and BeadsĀ®?
After not being able to find exactly what I was looking for in the local stores (as excellent some truly are), a good search engine found me a few good and a few bad sources before Fire Mountain Gems became my major source.

What other hobbies do you have?
I enjoy most needlework, folk painting and a bit of floral designs (wreath, arrangements, etc.)

Beading Success


What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
Being handicapped all my life and now fighting Post-Polio Syndrome, making jewelry and my other crafts are a very important part of my health regime. With the new addition of the loss of vision in one eye, I am becoming a bit slower, but sure as I was in the past. I plan to continue my works for as long as I'll be able.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Everyone has their own talents and if it's in their minds and hearts they should use their visions for themselves and for others to be appreciated.