JET Artisan Profile:Lisa Alcala of EmeraldPixie

Hello! I'm Lisa Alcala, and my Etsy shop is EmeraldPixie. I make handcrafted sterling silver, 14K gold and gemstone jewelry.

I became inspired to make jewelry in high school. I could never find jewelry that suited my style, so I would get pieces from thrift stores, take them apart and create new jewelry designs with the components.

The very first piece I created all on my own was out of beads when I was in college. There was a local bead store that allowed people to create

Rhodolite Garnet and Silver Stud Earrings

their own pieces. Tried it once and I was hooked on jewelry making.

I learned how to bead on my own. When I moved on to metalsmithing I read books first, then while watching a jewelry making TV show on DIY, I watched master metalsmith Carl Stanley create a stunning cuff bracelet.

I looked him up on the internet and discovered that he teaches workshops at Farrin O'Connor Design Studios in Pasadena, Ca. I have learned metalsmithing from wonderful teachers like Carl Stanley, Margo Farrin, and Sue Matz.

My favorite materials to work with are sterling silver, gold and gemstones. Gemstones influence my creative process. Many of my designs are minimalist styles, because I want to show off the stone - not the piece that holds it.

I work my creations around whatever gemstone I am working with, like the Geometric Cut Blue Topaz in Sterling Silver Ring pictured on the left. I love setting unusual, freeform gem shapes.

I make earrings and pendants, but my favorite jewelry items to make are rings. I would make rings all day long if allowed.

My favorite tool is the flex shaft. It allows me more freedom because it's such a versatile tool. Although, I would have to say that the tool I could not function at all without is my torch.

I recently learned flush setting or gypsy setting gemstones. This method of setting allows me to offer
an entire new range of items like the beautiful Shooting Star Sapphire and Silver Ring at right.

I would eventually like to learn the lost wax casting technique.

Please visit my shop on Etsy:
http://www.emeraldpixie.etsy.com

I'm here on Facebook ...
http://www.facebook.com/emeraldpixiejewelry

And you can follow me on Twitter here:
twitter.com/Emeraldpixjewel




 

JET Artisan Profile:Rene Rydell - McIntyre of endlessbounty

I was inspired to become a jewelry designer when I was a teenager. I was constantly creating my own designs my altering things I would find at the mall and the stores. I liked to keep up with trends but I wanted to be uniquely defined by my own style.

I wanted to put my "spin" on accessories so they were recognizable as a "Rene' Piece" Ha ha ha!

I think Depeche Mode, The Sugar Cubes and The Smiths had a lot to do with that. :)

At one point in time I even had earrings that were a fork and a spoon...go figure!

Smoky Quartz Crystal Onyx Steel Yin Yang Bracelet

I made my first "real piece" of jewelry when I was living in upstate New York in 2004. I went to Woodstock and while I was there I met a woman who taught me a lot about gemstones. That fueled my fire to start designing.

Shortly after that my friend told me about Etsy. She said my possibilities were Endless and hence - EndlessBounty Jewelry was born!

Because of my stylist background Bracelets will always be my Number 1 thing to make. People used to hear me jingle and say, "Rene's here!" I was known by the clanging of my jewelry! No matter what I design daily, a bracelet will always come out of the mix.

Faceted Pink Topaz  Crystal and Copper Necklace

 My favorite materials to work with are most definitely copper and crystals. I feel like they are harmonious. Copper can be changed colorwise and can compliment ANY crystal.

Jewelry made with plated metals may tarnish and fade. Gold and Silver can be pricey. Using copper and brass in my designs allows me to make beautiful original pieces without charging my customers an arm and a leg. Everyone should be able to afford beautiful jewelry.

This is Morrissey. Not a cat!

 Music influences my creative flow. I couldn't breathe without it. It's beautiful. It brings me inspiration. (Morrissey on the right).

Well, that and my kitties. They hang around when I work and watch in fascination. (Insert crazy cat lady joke here. lol!)

Music and my kitties are important, but I could never be without my pliers! They are my best friend. sometimes I wish I could have them surgically attached.

My father was a contractor and he used to tell me how valuable his tools were to him. I still have one of his hammers. :) But anyway, my pliers are a godsend. From Coiling to Crimping to Setting stones - they save the day!

Plum Leather Crystal Cross Cuff Bracelet

Currently I am doing some Leatherwork. It's not as easy as it looks. Leather can break a needle as if it were a toothpick! But I love the Glam Punk Edgy-ness of it. 

 I want to learn how to intricately wrap whole gemstones. It will take patience and a lot more time per piece but maybe if the summer isn't too crazy you'll find me practicing by wrapping seashells in the beach.

I see some Stone artists and just think WOW - That is AMAZING! I want to get back to my roots with Gemstones and their metaphysical properties...it makes you feel good.

My etsy shop is: www.endlessbounty.etsy.com
Follow me on Twitter @EndlessBounty
Like my page on Facebook: Endless Bounty Jewelry Designs


xoxoxox
Ren

JET Artisan Profile:Debra Jeffries of DebrasDivineDesigns

Hello! I'm Deb, and my shop is DebrasDivineDesigns. I have always made jewelry since I was a little girl with flowers, grass, things I found and would bring them to my mom. As I got older, it just developed into something more substantial and wearable!

I am really a self taught artisan, but I have admired and learned from photos, magazine ads, TV shows, films and videos. I grew my craft from ideas I had seen, inspired by these popular media.

I have taken a few mini courses in silversmithing, copper enameling, glass fusing and stained glass but have developed my craft beyond the basics on my own, with my ideas and techniques, resulting in my line of exclusive designs.

Copper Wire Wrapped Dumortierite Necklace

I sold my first piece of jewelry to a friend from church who liked my gemstone necklace. It was turquoise....she asked me to make one just like it.

I do have my favorite materials to work with, and you can see that by browsing my shop. I love working with metals that are from the scrapyard. It makes me feel good to see old discarded metal cables and scrap being utilized to create something beautiful and artsy!

Real Blue Morpho Butterfly Necklace

I admire and love gemstones, but my deep love is God's creations...butterflies!

Using the wings from expired butterflies is such a thrill as they dry and self preserve but to place them in glass is a beautiful way to display both their inner and out wings. It is a great way to showcase their incredible beauty.

I make mostly butterfly wing pendants because they are incredibly popular. I do make quite a few rings and earrings also, to offer a full line.

I call my business "Debra's Divine Designs" for a reason. I truly feel divinely inspired to be

Madagascan Sunset Moth Heart Shaped Pendant

able to come up with some of the things I do. I pray over each piece I make pouring love and blessings from above through my silly human hands. Many ideas come to me in dreams.

My favorite tool is my glass grinder. Also my controlled temperature soldering iron. I truly love that thing!

I am always looking to learn and expand my jewelry making skills. I am currently teaching myself "form folding", a metal folding technique that has inspired me for a long time.

My Studio - I love working here!

One of my Etsy friends is taking a course and It inspired me to look up "how - to" videos on YouTube. I'm practicing it and really looking forward to mastering this technique. I also want to learn silversmithing skills so I can add and imbed gemstones into my current line of products... including gemstone accents for my butterfly pieces.


You can find DebrasDivineDesigns here:

My Etsy Shop

Twitter: twitter.com/DesigningDebra

Facebook: debrasdivinedesigns3D

Pinterest: pinterest.com/3ddd/

JET Artisan Profile:Gaetana Parris of SatinDollCo

Hi! I'm Gaetana, and my shop on Etsy is SatinDollCo.

I attended and graduated from the Katherine Gibbs School with an Associate Degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising.

Although my main focus is designing women’s apparel, I decided to initiate company business with creating handbags and accessories.





 I'm a fashion designer by trade, and designing jewelry just fell into my lap one day.

I mentioned making earrings to my older sister and the next thing I knew she ordered a book for me. I skimmed the book to see what components I needed and that was it. I never really read the book. Ssh... Don't tell my sister!

I'm self taught. After purchasing everything I needed I free styled it. I used to play with beads for hours mixing and matching the colors to create unique combinations.

 On the left are one of my early earring designs.

I made my very first piece of jewelry shortly after I graduated college with my degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising in the summer of 2004.

I can't remember the exact color combination but it was a pair of glass beaded earrings. They were simple but cute.

I love making earrings, and I have a huge collection to choose from in my shop. I love big, bold style, like the pair you see below ...

 The Tribal Flowers Wooden Beaded Earrings on the right are fabulous for summer and beach wear! Light but a really nice size, these are so fashionable - and they'll definitely be noticed!

I do have a special love for earrings ...

My father has been a vendor in New York City - Brooklyn to be specific - for more than 30 years.

Shortly after I graduated college, while trying to find my first fashion design job I was working full time with my dad. He convinced me to make a bunch of earrings and sell them at his vendor location. Since they were so simple to make and the beads were so easy for me to get I sold them 1 pair for $3 and 2 pairs for $5.

They were a hit in no time. 

So earrings play a big part in the SatinDollCo shop.

And you'll find so many different types.

 I love working with natural materials like wood, shell, mother of pearl, and coco pukalet to name just a few.

Our Trek in the Desert Mother of Pearl Glass and Wood Beaded Dangle Earrings are just one beautiful example of what I can design by using natural materials. 


I'm an earring type of girl. I can't leave the house without a pair on, and I think every woman should wear them everyday too. So my favorite type of jewelry to make hands down is earrings.

But of course I do make other kinds of jewelry ... Bracelets and Anklets, Hair Accessories and more!

Me being a fashion designer has a huge influence on where and how I get my inspiration.

Everything is done by collections. I get inspired by everything; newspaper articles, movies, TV shows, plants, food, lands far away etc.

Normally when inspiration hits I have a sketch book somewhere close and I either write or sketch it down. I'll come back later and do detailed research about the era, culture and etc.

I'll then create a trend board or collage featuring pictures,inspiration, and color. From there I'll sketch my ideas. After that I'll most likely map out the materials I need, then purchase them.

Then each piece comes alive.

 My favorite tool would have to be my jewelry pliers. I can't make any piece without them. They are essential to everything I do.

The next jewelry making skill I want to learn is polymer clay. It's cool how something that used to be a lump of clay can be turned into something beautiful.

Square knot jewelry

The latest jewelry making technique I taught myself is the square knot or commonly known as the friendship bracelet technique.

It takes a steady hand and plenty of patience but overall I enjoy the look of the technique.

Find SatinDollCo here:

Etsy: SatinDollCo.etsy.com

Website: www.satindoll.biz

Blog: blog.satindoll.biz

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SatinDollCo

Twitter: twitter.com/SatinDollCo

Pinterest: pinterest.com/SatinDollCo

Instagram: instagram.com/SatinDollCo

JET Artisan ProfileStacy Browner of BlancheB

How BlancheB began ...

Blanche was my companion ... much more than a dog, she was family. When Blanche got sick in 2008, I needed a way to make more money to pay for very expensive treatments. I was so stressed about my fur babies that I had loved for 12/14 years. Both died within 6 months of each other, after a long battle trying to keep them well - which was devastating.

I began by selling a friend's jewelry on commission to raise money for these very costly medical treatments. I enjoyed selling jewelry, and thought I would try my hand at it.

I took a few classes, and started selling just my own designs. I was obsessed! I never had been crafty before. I loved this new creative outlet. It helped me to get past my grief.

I started by breaking up older pieces I had and didn't wear anymore, and used the parts to create my own jewelry.  A great example are the Cameo Bobby Pins on the right!

I make a lot of Bobby Pins - using older parts from other jewelry pieces, vintage buttons and more. You can see my entire selection of hair accessories - not just Bobby Pins but also combs and more - in my Hair Sparkle Collection!

Flower Bobby Pins (2)- Beach Tropical

This set of 2 Tropical flower Bobby Pins was made by me - with creamy ivory white velvety Fabric Flowers and AB rhinestone centers to add sparkle!

These are perfect for Summer wear or a day at the beach!

I wear a lot of necklaces myself, so I guess that is why I like to make them the most.

I love working with anything that grabs my eye, stones, shells, pearls, reclaimed pieces for an eclectic mix of boho, beach and retro looks. You can see that in my jewelry!

By combining vintage components with new parts, I can make unique styles and designs that are exclusively my own. This is what I love about what I do ... when you buy an item in my shop like the Garnet and Vermeil Bee Necklace on the right, you can be confident you will not see the same necklace worn by anyone else.

The styles in my shop are really an eclectic mix, because I use such a varied combination of found and vintage parts. You never can be sure what you'll see and I like it that way!

The Peace Peacock Earrings below are a fantastic example of the surprising variety offered in my shop. They have a truly retro look, which is actually very in style again!

These earrings were made with peacock printed Mother of Pearl discs and the iconic Peace symbols - which are as popular today as they were over forty years ago.

I love to dabble now that the floodgates are open! I'm not just making jewelry.

I have incorporated painting, paper crafts, knitting and I'm taking sewing classes now. Experience gives you a true appreciation of other's talents.

I wish I could wire wrap. I have tried a few times but just haven't gotten it. It seems I either ruin the item or the wire and I never seem to get over the hump. But I keep trying and there is hope!

I also have a vintage shop on Etsy here: chickievintagelove.etsy.com

Follow me on Twitter @ChickieVintage

Or on Wanelo at wanelo.com/ChickieVintageLove

Visit my Pinterest boards here: pinterest.com/slbrowner

JET Artisan Profile -Lucia Williamson of CrystalImpressions

I was inspired to make jewelry because my sisters were having jewelry parties. I bought a few pieces at these parties, looked closely at them and decided I could make jewelry.

I started out doing glass cats eye jewelry, but I have always loved sparkle and bling! So then I began buying Swarovski Crystals and gemstone beads to use in my designs.

I sold my first piece of jewelry to a family member.

I love to wire wrap; this is my favorite way to make jewelry.

Bracelets and necklaces are my favorite things to create.

My favorite tool - what I must have to create - are my favorite pair of pliers.

I would eventually like to learn metalsmithing.

I am inspired by gemstones that sparkle.

Visit my Etsy Shop to see my handmade jewelry!

You can see more of my handcrafted jewelry designs on Flickr

I have a CrystalImpressions shop on DeviantArt ...

I have done craft shows in the past.

I currently sell my jewelry @ Emmaus Jewel Shop Emmaus PA.

My hobby is making jewelry. I love music, cooking,
my animals and I especially love Persian cats!

Here's a look at some of the jewelry in my Etsy shop ...