Jewelry Artists

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Annette Stanis

Pretty in Pink and Purple

 Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Gig Harbor, Washington

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
When I was going to college in Boise, Idaho, about 30ish years ago. I befriended a married couple who were Owyhee Indians from a nearby Reservation. I was invited to a family BBQ at the Reservation and gladly accepted the invite. In a house, there was a man making a loomed belt bucket, I sat there drinking a beer with him and we started talking about his beautiful craft. He saw how interested I was with his beadwork and he began to bring out many of his finished designs. He had gorgeous hat bands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, belt buckles and beaded native ceremony clothing. Then he started to show me some half-made projects and the different types of beading. I watched him for about 2 hours, asking questions; he started me on the long road of beading. I was hooked!

I dabbled in making jewelry for several years, but for the last 10 years I have been working on mostly bead embroidery jewelry. Bead embroidery just seems to come naturally to me and I really enjoy working on the beaded wearable art. As each year has gone by, I became better at the craft and I have been able to sell my jewelry at arts and craft fairs and out of my house.

I am now a member of the Peninsula Art League, located in Gig Harbor, Washington. I am also a member of the “Ebb Tide Art Gallery,” a cooperative art gallery where I am now selling my jewelry and wearable art. http://ebbtidegalleryofgifts.com

What medium do you work with mostly?
Bead embroidery

Why did you become enchanted with this style of jewelry-making?
Watching an Owyhee Indian, in Idaho, making jewelry got me hooked!

Where and How do you sell your jewelry?
I have an Etsy site and sell out of a local Art and Gift Gallery.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Pretty in Pink and Purple. This piece just seems to go together so smoothly and all the colors are brilliant.

What inspired this design?
The dichroic glass cabochon. I matched all the colors to the glass cab.

How did it come together?
I start all collars and half collars with a basic pattern and then it just evolves from there. Most of the time I don't follow a pattern and a freeform piece evolves.