Fish Bubbles and Baubles
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads'
Jewelry-Making Contest 2010
featuring Gemstones
Finalist |
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Meet the Designer-Artist
Where do you live?
Callawassie Island, South Carolina
Describe your artistic style.
I haven't settled on a particular style--everything I do is still an experiment! I tend to be more classic, but I love a touch of whimsy!
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
I am inspired by many things!! Nature, especially the water. I love colors, texture and shapes. I like to study different designs and then majorly tweak them to become my own.
What materials do you most enjoy working with?
I like working with beads of all types. I have also done some wire work. I am very eager to try metal work and the silver and copper clay and polyclay too!
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Fish Bubbles and Baubles
What inspired this design?
As I mentioned, I love the water (ocean). I had also collected a variety of Hill Tribe fish beads. Then I saw the color and selection of amazonite beads and my brain went onto overdrive.
How did it come together?
I tried to plan out the bead color, shape, texture and size ratios. Then the design itself just took off!
Share Your Background
When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
When I was a child, I remember catching fish and asking if I could make a fish eye necklace. My question was answered with a resounding no! When I was a teenager, I made seed bead flower necklaces and sold them on the beach. That was the end of my beading until two and a half years ago.
Who introduced you to beading?
Basically, Fire Mountain Gems. I found the website and read every tutorial and Encyclobeadia entry--I was inspired! I decided now that I had some free time, I could finally try my hand at jewelry-making and designing.
Do you have an artistic background?
Not really. I have always enjoyed crafts and needlework, but pursued a career working with horses. It wasn't until my husband and I sold the horse farm and headed south to an island community in a very ''artsy'' area, that I decided to act on my desire to make jewelry.
How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
I discovered Fire Mountain Gems online.
What other hobbies do you have?
I enjoy riding horses, walking the dogs, crabbing and golf.
Beading Success
What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
I would love to make a career out of jewelry-making and design, but now it's mostly a hobby. I love planning and making a piece of jewelry where everything just ''clicks'' and the result is, wow! It is so satisfying!
If you use jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I am currently building a website. I have sold jewelry through word of mouth and at a local shop. I also had great fun and success selling at a private Christmas craft market. I have only entered one contest. The Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Jewelry-Making contest.
Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
I have participated in several silent auction fundraisers.
Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
If jewelry-making is something you always wanted to do, give it a try! I'm so glad I did! Don't get discouraged, some creations come out great, some go back to the drawing board!
View all of Linda's designs in the Gallery of Designs. |
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