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Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2009 Beading Contest
Finalist
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2009 Beading Contest
Finalist |
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Meet the Designer-Artist
Where do you live?
Liberty, North Carolina
Describe your artistic style.
Heirloom quality with an emphasis on seed beads, pearls, and precious/semi-precious stones.
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Beautiful stones, pearls and crystals get me thinking about how I can combine them into new and striking ways. Seed beads offer endless possibilities.
What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Seed beads and pearls.
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Pink Beauty--I had left one mother of pearl cabochon and wanted to do another big collar-piece pink in my favorite color. Fire Mountain has just come out with a new color of fresh water pearl -pink sand- and I knew they would make my new collar complete.
Southwestern Dreams--I saw the fan turquoise and it intrigued me. Plus I received red coral cupolini beads for Christmas and they looked great.
How did it come together? For example, did you plan it out or did it define itself once you began working?
Both pieces pretty much designed themselves--ie. the pieces were moved around until they "told" me when the design was right. Then I started beading.
Share Your Background
When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I started with a small kit from QVC! That was around 2004. After doing some stunning pieces I grew bored and got a book teaching off-loom needle weaving. I haven't stopped since.
Who introduced you to beading?
My own interest.
Do you have an artistic background?
I am a musician by training. I am a flutist and play often. The other creative items I've done is crewel work.
How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
I received Bead and Button magazines as a gift from my mother-in-law and found your ads there.
What other hobbies do you have?
Flute, cooking, reading, God's word.
Beading Success
What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
At the moment it is more of a hobby. I work full-time in the legal field as an assistant but I dream of doing beading full-time.
If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I have 2 yearly sales at my office and sell to my co-workers. Also I sell at the Growers market on Saturday morning 2-3 times per month.
Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
I have done a few church give-aways but would like to do more charity work.
Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Don't be afraid to try something new and always wear your pieces as self-promotion and free advertising. |
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