Melody Marie Murray

Melody Marie Murray

Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2010 featuring Gemstones

Category: Wedding and Holiday

Gold Medal Prize Winner

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Gresham, Oregon

Describe your artistic style.
My style is organic, flowing and eclectic. I rarely do the same thing twice and I love to learn new stitches and techniques.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Everything! I never know when a pattern or a reflection or a bird's wing is going to strike my eye just so and spur the creation of a new design.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Seed beads, found objects, glass and "fire."

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
The Tzarina's Collar

What inspired this design?
I loved the fire in the opal glass and wanted to do justice to them. The sparkle of the crystals and the opulence of the pearls and gold made me think of Imperial Russia.

How did it come together? For example, did you plan it out or did it define itself once you began working?
I laid the opal cabochons out in a pattern I liked and bezeled them into place. The rest of the piece followed in an unplanned but organic fashion.

Share Your Background


When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
On vacation at the Oregon coast about 12 years ago, I wandered into a bead shop and lost my heart.

Who introduced you to beading?
I'm self-taught, but I've always liked shiny things!

Do you have an artistic background?
From the time I could pick up a pencil, I've been drawing. I also write and I've dabbled in painting, calligraphy and numerous other arts.

How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and BeadsĀ®?
I think I first saw an ad in Bead and Button magazine.

What other hobbies do you have?
I'm a reader, a gardener and a cook. I like to say my hobbies are beading, reading, seeding and feeding!

Do you belong to any beading societies or beading groups?
I'm a member of Bead Art Originals and the Etsy Beadweavers street team.

Beading Success


What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
Making art with beads is a big part of my day! I do it full-time and it's a lovely way to spend a life. The hunched over posture I adopt keeps my chiropractor busy.

If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I sell through word-of-mouth and my Etsy site www.salamanderhouse.etsy.com.

Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
I've donated pieces to several charities.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Apply your butt to the beading chair.