BEAD PEEPS 3rd Annual HOP N SWAP

I'm taking part in BEAD PEEPS 3rd Annual HOP N SWAP hosted by Linda Anderson. 

This is the first time for me to do this event. 

As part of the requirements we have been asked to tell a little bit about ourselves, what we do as jewellery artists, our style, our likes and dislikes, our preferred materials to use and what we don't like to use at all. 

I am sort of retired, (as in not working but not old enough to officially retire.)

I have been making jewellery for at least 10 years.

I work primarily with semi precious gemstones, glass beads, copper, silver plate or silver-filled wire, leather, chain, linen, silk and other fibres. I don't do bead embroidery but I do use seed beads as spacers or for filling up stringing wire to make it pretty. 

I also work with metal clays, in past using a friends kiln I made pendants in copper clay, bronze clay and steel clay. Now I limit myself to silver clay as that can be torch fired.

The past two years I have started to use recycled or reclaimed copper wire and sheet metal to create nature-inspired jewellery. Fold-forming is a favourite technique I use to texture and shape my pieces.

 I also love to work with wire to create my own chain links, clasps, ear-wires and other findings. I have a whole slew of wire in different gauges so that when inspiration strikes I am ready to go. 

My style is "scattered"; symmetrical , asymmetrical, chunky , delicate, sedate, classic, funky, steampunk-y, Iv'e done them all.  I have yet to focus on one particular style. 

Lately I have fallen for the tribal (amulet, talisman) look, so that may be my new go-to style. 

I also am a lover of symmetry, so a classical look often finds it's way into my completed projects. 

I am NOT afraid of colour and use some unusual combos to create fun and unexpected results.

edited to add* i love colour and other than beige I am open to any colour combos even black and white or grey *

My most popular items for customers are my earrings. I like em long and large but am also comfortable making smaller ones to suit my customers tastes. 

I don't think there is a material I wouldn't use except for cheap plastic. (That doesn't include lucite or bakelite or resin as these are not cheap.)

I like to remake older jewellery into new designs. As a child of depression era parents I was taught not to throw anything away if it has any useful life left in it, so I am a big recycler, re-user.  This includes leather scraps , old belts, rhinestone brooches, copper roofing, electrical wire etc. I think you get the picture. 

This year I am hoping to incorporate needle felting into my jewellery lineup; I'm thinking amulets, talismans, and other tribal  inclusions. Perhaps I will put my rusty embroidery skills to use, to embellish felted or fabric pieces, that I can incorporate into some new designs I have floating in my head. 

My muse had better not take a year off like she did last year. 

Looking forward to meeting my partner and sharing some bead love. 

Ceramic buttons (by a fellow artist ),
that I wired into a single unit and hung from multiple leather cords;
my first STATEMENT piece. 

recycled aluminum tag, fold-formed & hammered,

 coloured with alcohol inks, with glass o-rings as spacers and dangles

(sold)

leather scraps made into fringe with brass beads gold wire and cotton cord 

(sold)