JET Artisan Profile:Kerry of WanderingJeweler

Hi! I'm Kerry, and my Etsy shop is named WanderingJeweler. My specialty is bicycle chain jewelry - but of course I make other things too!

I've been a creative person for a while now. Do you remember gimp plastic lacing?

I must have made about a hundred of gimp plastic bracelets in a rainbow of colours and some that glowed in the dark.

I tried creating many different things from candles to T-Shirt designs and I found that making jewelry really got my creative juices flowing.

I’m mostly self-taught and I’ve taken several weekend workshops: in soldering, foldforming, sawing, resin, etching, riveting, etc.

Bike Jewelry Pendant

I was working on my bike one day and I decided to replace the chain. When I removed the chain I thought I could make a piece of jewelry from it that I could wear everyday!

I sold my first piece of handmade jewelry at a Farmers’ Market in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada.

I live in Campbell River, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada with my husband and our energetic dog Kodi. I love to search for sea glass on the weekends with Kodi.

Bicycle Chain Earrings

I really enjoy making pendants. More than any other type of jewellery. But I do make earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and resin pendants.

Of course the largest section in my shop is devoted to my bike or Bicycle Chain Jewelry! But lately I've been exploring other jewelry making methods and techniques, and one in particular appeals to me.

I recently began making etched brass and copper jewelry like my Haven Guard brass circle pendant (above) and my Hot Pink Etched Spiral Brass Circle Pendant (on the left).

Etching metal using electricity is a lot of fun and I think it taps into the scientist part of my personality!

I want to improve my skills in soldering and stone setting.  Learning these techniques would allow me to expand my line.

When I’m designing a new piece I like to just dump items out on my desk and I shift them around and combine them until I see a combination I love.

One of my favorite places is my workshop. I love getting a new tool and learning how to use it. But I love all my tools, and the basic tools are the ones I could never do without.

My favourite tool is my 3 lb sledge hammer, I love the sound it makes when it strikes the metal.

My other favourite tool is my riveting hammer, it’s tiny and can get into small spaces.

The hammers are favorites but you can see ALL of my tools are important to me. Just look at my collection of pliers!

Bicycle Chain Metal Flower Pendant

You can find my jewelry in my Etsy shop, here:

www.etsy.com/shop/WanderingJeweler

And also on my website, here:
www.wanderingjeweler.ca






I'm active on these Social Networks:

Facebook www.facebook.com/WanderingJeweler
Twitter www.twitter.com/WanderingJewel
RSS feed - www.etsy.com/shop/WanderingJeweler/rss
Google plus plus.google.com/108061457366971030526/posts
RebelMouse www.rebelmouse.com/wanderingjewel/

Bike riding is great exercise and it really is fun!

My husband and I have toured parts of Canada, the United States and Europe on our bicycles.

We have cycled over 10,000 km in 2 years.

Many of my pieces are inspired by my travels by bicycle!

I get the recycled bicycle chains I use to make my jewelry from my bikes and also from my friend's bikes.


I hope you visit me on Etsy! I think you'll love what you find. I make unique jewelry you won't see everywhere.


In my shop you'll find many examples of cycling inspired jewelry as well as beautiful jewellery items made with glass, metal, shells and resin.


I love experimenting with lots of different materials and techniques so my shop is continually changing and evolving.

 
There is always something new to see at WanderingJeweler!

Our bikes need a rest too!

Poor things are loaded down like pack mules!


There is a lot to see in my Etsy shop, and just so much space here. So please visit!



Here's a look at some of the jewelry you'll find:

JET Artisan Profile -Denise and Craig of LoveStoneArts

Hello! I'm Denise (photo on left). Craig (photo right) and I make everything we sell in our shop, LoveStoneArts. We're new to selling jewelry, though we have made things for many years.

My first pieces of jewelry were not sold but bartered. A girl who was selling trade beads in a little general store told me what she wanted made and that I could keep the rest of her beads as payment. No real sales until our Etsy shop opened in 2011.

Craig and I are both so generous that we would give you anything you wanted!!

Necklace of Sun-Kissed Stones, Crystals and Copper

I grew up an avid rock hound and received a rock hammer and cold chisel for my 8th birthday. It was my absolute favorite gift! I gravitated to the artists in my circle of family, friends and neighbors.

I'm incredibly sentimental about pieces of jewelry that hold happy memories of loved ones. Example, a gorgeous hand drilled turquoise nugget that my grandma bought me when I was about 4 years old. We got off of the train in Yuma Arizona where an old Navajo artist had his silver jewelry displayed on a blanket spread out on the platform. The memory is so vivid.

Happy Hearts Necklace Celebration of Dia de los Muertos

Almost every family visit becomes a jewelry workshop. The photo of Craig has him teaching our nephew Sam how to make a brass spider. All the kids in our extended family from age 9 up have some soldering experience.

I began making unglazed stoneware beads to use in macrame and free form crochet necklaces in my late teens. My good friend was a potter and her mother was a fiber artist so the "Crazy Bead" necklace was born!

Puka shell necklaces were next- my Hawaiian sister in-law and I collected the shells on remote stretches of the Kona coast

Then - African trade beads, I love them to this day!! I learned my earliest techniques from helpful

Anasazi Earrings Emerald Valley Turquoise and Sterling Silver

ladies in craft stores. I would show them what I had, explain what I wanted to do, and they would sell me the supplies and demonstrate the techniques. I tried this with silver soldering in 1990 but never quite got my momentum. Note- I still have a little silver that I bought at $15 an ounce!

Craig and I have taken two silver classes from Nicole Valentine of Victoria Canada.

I'm especially fond of silver and opaque stones like turquoise, malachite, coral and lapis.

Love, love color changing stones- opals especially. It is probably obvious that my favorite material is the one that has most recently caught my eye!

Fire Opal in Wide Sterling Band

Craig likes to make rings! I like to make necklaces most of all. I wear something around my neck every single day even if I'll be in the woods. That's my thing!

Botswana Agate Sterling Ring Generous Oval

Both Craig and I draw from our travels and a shared interest in diverse cultures for design inspiration. We often start with a classic design and give it a rustic or contemporary twist.

We especially like to custom design a piece with the recipient's preferences in mind, translating a little information into a One Of A Kind piece of jewelry!

Our favorite tools have to be our Smith torches. I can't do without the round nose pliers of course.

Yes ... Coffee IS an important part of our business!

We love all of our tools lots and lots!!

We're always learning new techniques.

The latest thing I've learned is to add household ammonia to liver of sulfur solution for a very black patina on silver.



I plan to begin making lampwork beads and working with precious metal clays.

I also want to work with gold.
I need a sponsor!

We love tools!

We are avid mushroomers, avid cooks, avid
photographers, home remodelers- we have lots of interests and we're avid about them all!!

Love our bulldogs Sitting Bull and Mucho Gusto and the parrots Poppers, Archie and Zsa-zsa.

Mushrooming!

We have a supplies shop but I have not really launched it. I have been working on tutorials to feature in this shop. The photos and editing required are what is slowing me down in getting more supplies listed. Here it is: www.etsy.com/shop/LoveStoneArtsDIY




You can visit us on Facebook. Please LIKE our page while you're there!

www.facebook.com/lovestonearts

Follow us on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/LoveStoneArts