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

JET Artisan Profile:Jennifer Smith-Righter of WearableByDesign

Hello! I'm Jennifer and my Etsy shop is named WearableByDesign. Most of my jewelry is made with fine silver, gold or sterling silver, and many of the pieces feature top quality gemstones. I also enjoy working in metal clay.

I took a jewelry class as an elective while going through a program in Art and Architecture.

When I got out of school I decided I preferred to work on a much smaller scale and I loved working in metals. I also needed to be able to have a skill that is portable as I move around a lot.

I took my first jewelry making class in college. Later, I took the Jewelry Technical Intensive at the Revere Academy. I've since taken a few Master's Symposium classes at the Academy. 

Working for myself making jewelry seemed like just the right thing for me. And I've loved it!

I opened my shop - WearableByDesign on Etsy in May of 2008. I sold my first piece of jewelry in my Etsy shop (pictured at right), and Etsy has become a very important part of my business.

Since that first sale, I've sold many pieces in WearableByDesign. My jewelry is traditional in many ways, though I do have some pieces that could be considered "unusual". They are ALL unique designs that will not be found in chain jewelry stores or in department stores.

If you wear one of my pieces, chances are you'll never see anyone else wearing the same thing!

 I was a creative sort of person at a very young age. Like most kids, I made a pair of earrings out of copper wire and beads in elementary school.

They were pretty crude!

But I loved them and never forgot how making my own jewelry gave me a satisfied feeling.

Of course I became much better with practice and education

I make pendants, necklaces, and earrings - but my favorite things to make are rings.

Rings are more personal than other types of jewelry. People bond with rings. My rings are very classic in appearance, but the designs are mine. Some are bands, like the Handmade Silver Squares Ring pictured on the right. I make this style to order in a limited range of sizes.

One of the bands I make in a full range of sizes is my pretty Silver Olive Leaf and Berries Ring.

I also enjoy making rings with gemstones. Some of my rings feature faceted gems in prong settings; others are bezel set, and can be made with faceted gems or cabochon cut gems like the ring below ...

My Silver Tourmaline Ring with Dark Red Plum Cabochon is made with a hand formed open back bezel setting.

The band is an embossed sterling silver shank that measures just over 2 mm wide and architecturally supports a gallery wire compartment, above which is the platform holding this spectacular 12mmX10mm tourmaline. This is a unique, one of a kind ring!

  Only one is available. Some things just can't be made in multiples.

Like most artisans, I'm inspired to create by my surroundings. With me, its mostly from seeing a new

scene. I can get in a rut so I often go to museums and travel as often as possible.

Also, other people's work can inspire me so a trip to a museum I've never been to is exciting!

 An example of this type of inspiration is my Silver Alhambra Pendant, pictured at right.

From the item description:

"Irrigation may not be particularly interesting or beautiful, but the Alhambra Palace sure is, and so is this pendant, inspired by the palaces architectural forms. Made from sterling silver, the design is a geometrical arabesque – a rhythmic linear pattern of interlacing tendrils of foliage common in Islamic art."

Just like other jewelry artisans I have my favorite tools ... and for me that would be my rotary hand piece and my engravers ball. These tools are used very often at my bench!

I am always expanding my skills and looking for new ways to make my jewelry unique.

The latest techniques I am learning and bringing into my new designs are micro chasing, piercing and repousse. I took a class from Tom Herman of Seven Fingers. His work is just AMAZING!

Next I want to learn more about mechanisms. Anything that is mechanical intrigues me. I've made several pieces that touch on this, and I want to explore this genre.

There are many things you would never expect to see in or as jewelry that are fabulous miniaturized, polished and made into wearable jewelry art. Pictured on the right is my award winning
Chain Reaction Industrial Gears Necklace, and in my shop there are other examples.

My Silver Industrial Chain Necklace is based on a classic suspension bridge design and my cool Silver and Brass Transformer Riveted Kinetic Necklace is a unique movable necklace that can be transformed for a different look!

 

I recently opened a second shop with my Daughter Shannon named SimplyWearable. This shop features smaller, lighter, feminine styles in sterling silver and Argentium silver (tarnish resistant) at a very affordable, lower price point - with the same quality level of design!

JET Artisan Profile:Vintage Inspired Jewelry by Michele of Malves1009

Hi! I'm Michele Alves, and my shop on Etsy is malves1009. I opened the shop in April 2007, and since that time my jewelry has grown into a line that is a combination of traditional vintage styles and my own designs.

You'll see a lot of antiqued brass, crystal, and copper jewelry in my shop. Recently I've been using crocheted techniques in my jewelry designs, as you can see in my new crocheted chokers collection.

My jewelry line includes earrings, a nice selection of bracelets, and of course necklaces - but also many other items like rings, hair accessories and more!


My mom was my inspiration. We were always doing something crafty. If it wasn't sewing, or floral arrangements we always found something to do that was creative.

She always wanted a shop of her own, so she asked to me research it, and that's how I found Etsy.

I started out as someone who surfed the forums and figured I would give it a try. I sold my first bracelet within a few weeks! It was an exciting and nervous moment for me, being new to this.


I'm self taught. My first challenge was taking apart a crystal necklace my grandmother gave to my mom.

It was a double strand necklace which she said was too heavy to wear. Mom said to make two necklaces out of it if I can, one for her and one for me.

I ended up making two necklaces and a bracelet out it, and she was so thrilled.

Something about the that sparkle of those crystals had me hooked from that moment on. When my mom became ill I used to sit by her bed and put up a tray table and we would create jewelry together.

Aqua Blue Crystal Earrings

Now, creating jewelry is one of my favorite things to do. I like to use a lot of crystal and brass in my designs; it keeps things affordable for my customers.

I believe you don't have to spend a fortune to own beautiful jewelry!

Vintage Inspired - Lady Cameo

As time passed I realized that jewelry making wasn't just beads and string, it was much more. 

I'm a person who gets bored easily so I like learning and trying different techniques in jewelry making.

I love vintage inspired style, so cameos, filigree, floral components and antique finished ear wires, links and chains are some of my favorite things to create with.

Emerald Green Earrings

Turquoise Kumihimo Braid Beaded Bracelet

Beaded and fiber Kumihimo braids are my obsession right now!

They can be done in many different colors, fibers and cords to make all different designs.

Beaded Kumihimo braids are so precise and perfect looking. The bracelet on the right is a great example of what can be made with this fantastic beading method. 

Multi Colored Jade Leather Wrap  Bracelet

I also love the wrap bracelets that are so popular now. These are not as easy to make as they look but the result is amazing!

The one pictured on the left is made with multi colored jade. But they can be made with any beads and vintage button clasps.

They can be made in any size and in so many colors!

Crocheted Earrings with Pearl Dangle

 I almost forgot to mention my passion for crocheting!

This has opened up a whole new line for me. I recently discovered that I can use crochet to make so many new jewelry designs, and they fit in perfectly with the vintage theme of my shop. The earrings above are light and so pretty. I can make them in so many colors to match any outfit!

I have been crocheting since I was very young. My great aunt taught me the basic techniques.

From there I read books and magazines to learn more.

I have made several blankets, sweaters, baby gifts, accessories and even pet items.

I find it a very relaxing and enjoyable activity to do.

When you look at a finished blanket, crochet looks like it is a very complicated and time consuming thing to do.

Actually, its the kind of activity you can do when watching TV. You get into a rhythm and don't even think about it after a while.

Once you know a stitch, it can move along very fast. There are lots of patterns online and always new things to make. I love it!

This is one of my new crocheted choker necklaces. I've made many of these by request. This type of necklace is very popular for weddings, and can be made in any size to fit children and adults.

My favorite tools? There are so many! But I would have to say my pliers are always at hand.

One technique I would like to learn is casting. Casting always has my interest; it would make creating my own designs a lot easier. I would like to learn it one day.

 I love it when my  my daughters give their input on some of my designs. It lets me know that their grandmother's inspiration - and mine - is part of them and I hope this will continue.

You can find me here
www.etsy.com/shop/malves1009
www.facebook.com/michele.alves.1675275
twitter.com/MAlves1009
pinterest.com/malves1009/
www.thecraftstar.com/memberDetail/4648/michele/

My jewelry is sold at Hold Fast, a very cool clothing and music shop in Asbury Park:
www.holdfastasburypark.com/

Mollie Ann and Joe Meserveof Rough Magic Creations

Hello! I'm Mollie Ann Meserve. My husband Joe and I make the handcrafted copper creations you'll see in our RoughMagicCreations and RoughMagicHolidays shops on Etsy.

For a long time my husband Joe, who works beside me in the workshop, had been suggesting that we try our hands at jewelry making - probably because, while I had a box full of commercial pieces, none of them really looked like "me."

 Then, several years ago, while Joe was recovering from hip replacement surgery, I lived for three weeks in a hotel room in Portland, Maine. When our daughter came to visit from Kansas, she found me bored to distraction and wallowing in self pity. Good girl that she is, she treated me to instant therapy - shopping!

In our adventures we found ourselves in a gorgeous bead shop in Freeport. We were there for hours and went back the next day too. I bought a few gemstones, a bit of beading wire, a handful of crimp tubes, a clasp or two … and never looked back.

Mahogany Obsidian, Poppy Jasper and Copper Necklace

I made my first piece of jewelry about an hour after that first trip to the bead shop. At least that's when I started a necklace. It took me the better part of a weekend to finish it because I kept making mistakes, messing it up, taking it apart and beginning again.

I learned jewelry making by trial and error, and error, and error. Yes, that means I'm pretty much self taught. I've also learned a lot from books, internet tutorials and other designers I've met online, first in a jewelry making forum and now through the knowledge, generosity and support of my fellow Jets. But mainly, as in other areas of life, I've learned from my mistakes.

Men's Rustic Bracelet

And I have the scars, and many jars of scrap copper, to prove it.

When I first started working with wire, I bought a roll of hardware store copper for practice before tackling the more costly sterling silver. Ruined the entire roll. Bought more rolls. Ruined them too. Bought more, and more, and more, until I learned to master that wily stuff.

In the process the strangest thing happened ... I fell in love - with copper. Yes, I enjoy working with sterling too, and gemstones, and other beads, but nothing feels quite so at home in my hands as that simple, humble, warm and forgiving hardware store metal.

Copper Scallop Shell Dish

Nowadays, we also buy copper by the sheet, for our decorative dishes, cuffs, pendants, bookmarks and Christmas ornaments.

Whether working on a cuff, pendant, dish or tree ornament, I'm always happy when there's a piece of sheet copper on the topsy turvy antique flat iron I call an anvil and my trusty ball peen hammer is in my hand.

My very first sale was on Etsy - to a friend I had met through the jewelry making forum.

She was "priming the pump" so to speak, and I'll be forever grateful for that act of kindness. And I like to think she really did want those earrings!

Copper Starfish Necklace

Living for 24 years on the coast of Maine has had an enormous influence on my imagination and expanded my horizons beyond my wildest dreams. I love the rustic beauty of the woods, the many colors and moods of the ocean, the sparkle of sunlight on snow, the frost feathers on our window panes.

I believe this place has worked its way deep into my subconscious mind, and I'll often jump up first thing in the morning, grab a pencil and paper and doodle out a couple of newly hatched design ideas. And sometimes they make sense.

Although my favorite tool is the above mentioned hammer, I could probably get by without it. What tool could I not part with?

Well, I was going to choose one of those multi tasking gadgets that can do anything and

Copper Cuff Bangle Bracelet

everything. But then I thought, no, the one I really must have serves a single purpose, doing what nothing else can do: my nylon nose pliers for straightening wire. I have four and would be lost without them.

I recently learned how to make my own 12 gauge head pins, which look more like matches than jewelry findings. New things I want to do are enameling copper and riveting.

These are both high on my list, but the skill I really need to learn is soldering. Not very glamorous but becoming increasingly necessary as Joe and I look forward to expanding our line.

A bit more about us ... Joe and I both enjoy cooking (he bakes all our bread) and gardening, especially growing our own vegetables. And we seem constantly to be renovating our house - room by room, ever a work in progress.

And ... We share our home with a sweet little black kitty named "Dinah the Velvet Petunia" and a 75-gallon tank of tropical fish, all named "Watson."

We have three Etsy shops ...

www.etsy.com/shop/roughmagiccreations
www.etsy.com/shop/roughmagicholidays
www.etsy.com/shop/roughmagicals

Please visit and follow our blog:

RoughMagicCreations.blogspot.com

You can "LIKE" our Facebook page here:

www.facebook.com/RoughMagicCreations.Jewelry

Please follow us on Twitter:

twitter.com/RoughMagicME

And our Pinterest Boards:

pinterest.com/roughmagicshops