Diana Thill

Diana Thill

Hummingbird Treasure Box
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2009 Beading Contest
Finalist

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Reno, Nevada

Describe your artistic style.
I am quite eclectic, my style changes with each project, or my mood.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
My inspiration comes with wanting challenges in the pieces I am working on, and my husband is a professional graphic artist, he supports me.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?
I enjoy working with all manner of beads depending on my project, but I prefer seed beads.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Hummingbird Treasure Box

What inspired this design?
I have a small, hand carved ''trinket box'' in the shape of a hummingbird. When I began making my beaded treasure boxes I thought it would be a challenge to create something similar in beads.

How did it come together?
It was planned out in as far as my husband designed the vines on the main body of the box, and I started making the embellishments such as leaves, flowers, and bird as I continued with the beading.

Share Your Background


When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I started with tubular peyote bracelets about 15 years ago, and I just kept trying new projects.

Who introduced you to beading?
I am self-taught.

Do you have an artistic background?
My mother was a knitter so she taught me how to knit and embellish or add my own styles to my knitting.

How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and BeadsĀ®?
My mother-in-law had given me one of the Fire Mountain Gems catalogs a few years ago.

What other hobbies do you have?
I love to knit my own creations such as poncho's and shrugs. Also crocheting and playing with polymer clay.

Beading Success


What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
It's a ''full-time hobby,'' my husband is very supportive in my quest to explore my talents, so I am constantly working on 2 or 3 projects at a time.

If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
I participate in a few craft fairs in the area, I mainly sell my pieces by word of mouth and am trying to put together a website.

Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
A couple charity shows per year.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
If you find something you love to do and are passionate about it, keep at it and never stop trying new things.