A customer once used the words "quirky" and "nifty" to describe my work....it's one of my favorite descriptions. Other than that, I'm not sure how to describe my work to you.Take a look around, come see me at in-person events, it's the best way to get to know my work. I hope you find something that you'll love to own as much as I loved creating it. I make what I make because it's what I love to do. Many times I've been told that people can tell, when speaking to me about my work, that I put my heart & soul into it, and that it shows in my creations. All I know is that I would be very sad if I couldn't create the things I do, and that my customers always come back for more.
"....a passion, a skill, an art, and a way of life...." It's how I live, it's what I do.
All of my jewelry and decorative items are crafted by me using only my hands, a small assortment of tools, and lots of different materials. Most of my jewelry is made with sterling silver, copper, or other metals. I use vintage silverplate flatware...spoons, forks, knives, in both jewelry and decorative items such as spoon chimes and ornaments. I use horseshoe nails, coins, hardware doo-dads: any "found object" made of metal is sure to catch my eye and be saved for some future use. I tend to lean towards rustic and nature-inspired....shiny and blingy isn't my thing. Forms & techniques used include wire...sheet metal....cold connections...soldering.
I sell my creations here on my website, in my Etsy shop, at several different festivals, a handful of retail locations, and wholesale. If you are interested in carrying my work, please contact me for wholesale pricing.
The very beginning:
....one day, my then 6 year old daughter broke her simple (but favorite!) beaded stretch bracelet. I purchased stretchy cord and fixed it, made a few more, and thought "hey, this is rather fun". I did a web search for "bracelet making"....found some information and tutorials, read, read some more....bought some craft wire....bought some beads.....and started playing. I've been hooked on wire and metal from the very beginning.
Entirely self taught, I've learned, and am still learning, most of my techniques through reading, internet tutorials, & a LOT of experimentation. After about a year, I'd made too much jewelry for one person to wear, so I started selling a few items on Ebay. After the first busy holiday season, I decided that, really, I should have my own website. Which led to more learning. Then a neighbor suggested I sell my items at a local artisan shop...I very nervously took some of my work in, they liked it!! So now I have what amounts to my own business....all from a child's broken stretch bracelet!