Jewelry Artists

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Margo Strong

Margo Strong

Sweet Nectar
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Contest 2010
featuring Metal Clay, Metal Beads,
Wirework and Chain
Finalist

 Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Eureka, California

Describe your artistic style.
A bit of everything. Probably mostly contemporary ''in-style'' jewelry.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Nature, colors. As I see the beauty that surrounds me, I become inspired to portray that peaceful feeling in my jewelry.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Metal clay, all types and sheet metal/wire and recently glass.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Sweet Nectar

What inspired this design?
This piece was inspired by nature--created in the summer when all the flowers were blooming and I saw two beautiful, almost iridescent bluish-green dragonflies near some flowers.

How did it come together?
I knew I wanted to create a piece with dragonflies using silver clay, but I wasn't exactly sure what I would do until I actually begin working on the piece.

Share Your Background


When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I began making jewelry (simple beading) about six years ago. Visiting our local bead shop, I discovered many gorgeous beads, but I never made jewelry so I wasn't sure what I could do. I was at Borders Bookstore one day and came across ''Beaded Thongs'' which are actually bookmarks made with string and beads. I figured I could do that, giving myself the opportunity to purchase and use all of those gorgeous beads. After several trips to the bead store, the owner suggested I try my hand at making jewelry rather than just bookmarks. I decided to go for it. My goal and dream is to make jewelry to be worn by actors and actresses while filming, but I am not really sure how to go about making this happen.

Who introduced you to beading?
The owner of our local bead shop here in Eureka, California. Her name is Arby.

Do you have an artistic background?
No actually, I am a certified English teacher and when I became unemployed, I decided to try selling my jewelry.

How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
My husband and I were on vacation and the prior guests had left a Fire Mountain catalog behind. I had been making jewelry for only about one week at that time.

Do you belong to any beading societies or beading groups?
Yes, online only. Precious Metal Clay (PMC) Guild and Beading Daily.

What other hobbies do you have?
Reading, scrapbooking, camping, playing and creating with my grandchildren, gardening, baking.

Beading Success


What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
I make jewelry daily. I love it, absolutely! I have a kiosk at our local mall, where I sell my jewelry (but business is extremely slow) and a website (which needs to be updated) if I am not able to create for a few days, I feel absolutely lost.

If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
This is my first contest, I did a few fairs this past summer and I have the kiosk at the mall and the website.

Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
Yes, Breast Cancer Awareness and mental health for teens. I have also donated a few pieces for local events.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Create--create--create--from the heart!! My husband keeps telling me ''You need to make this or that'' but what I need to make is what my heart and hands desire--and I do exactly that.

View all of Margo's designs in the Gallery of Designs.