JET Artisan Profile:Delores Malcomson of JewelrybyIshi

Hello - I'm Delores Malcomson, owner of JewelrybyIshi on Etsy!

I started beading in the spring of 2009, as a desire to add some simple stone jewelry to my art gallery (Ishi Gallery) on Etsy.

I thought that it would be interesting to incorporate a few natural stone necklaces into the gallery, to complement my painted rock artwork. Not knowing anything about beading, I solicited the aid of a friend. I wanted to add a clasp and a pendant to a string of natural stone beads to make a necklace. She happily taught me how to do this. Then she talked me into going on a tour to a huge jewelry supply warehouse, that has beads and pendants from all over the world. Right then and there, I was bitten by the beading bug!

Turquoise and Silver Necklace and Earrings Set

I met several other beaders on the tour, and a small group of us decided to meet once a week to bead. The women were very encouraging and willing to teach me all that they knew about the art of beading and making jewelry. Little by little, I was learning the basics of beading and building up my own collection of tools and supplies. Soon, my gallery became overwhelmed with jewelry creations (no longer looking like a gallery!) so I decided to open a third Etsy shop - Jewelry by Ishi - for my jewelry creations, and also my collections of Vintage Designer Jewelry.

Cobalt Blue Dichroic Glass Necklace

 I sold my first piece of jewelry in 2009 from Ishi Gallery to a lovely woman in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. It was a beautiful necklace made with a Vintage red and gold Chinese cloisonne fish pendant that I beaded with yellow quartz beads, red coral, freshwater pearls and gold plated beads.

I get inspiration for my jewelry designs from everywhere and anything. I can look at a pendant and the design and colors in it will start the creative process of designing a necklace for it. Next I'll go looking for beads and accents that will complement it. Sometimes just seeing a design in nature will inspire me to create a piece of jewelry.

Inspiration is all around me and just comes up in me, as well. I can see a piece of jewelry in a magazine or on someone that will spark an idea for a design. My design will not look the same, but elements of what I have seen will be incorporated into my own design.

Designing and beading my own creations has led to the never ending pursuit of searching for interesting and beautiful pendants and beads that will allow me to create unique, one of a kind jewelry pieces.

I especially favor Vintage Chinese cloisonne, hand carved cinnabar, hand carved stone, Mideastern inlaid stone metal pendants and beads, Dichroic class, semi-precious stones, coral, abalone, other shells and freshwater pearls. I also love to use lots of accent beads in the form of metallic gold, silver, copper, brass, and pewter metal spacer beads.

Initially I started out making only necklaces, but I have been expanding my interests to designing and creating earrings and bracelets. I have recently learned how to make some of my own custom designed findings. Now when I desire to make a particular pair of beaded earrings or a special
pendant that requires a unique finding, I can create it myself.

 My favorite tool is round nose pliers. It allows for more creative work, since I can create loops and circles. I look forward to creating my own pendants with polymer clay, and it would be fun to create pendants and beads with Silver Metal and Copper Metal Clays.

It would be wonderful to learn how to work with metal and enamel to make cloisonne pendants, using my own designs. Wire wrapping is of interest to me and something that I would like to learn to do. Bead embroidery is a beautiful art that I would love to learn and to incorporate into my shop.

I love all sorts of animals and creatures, and over my lifetime I have had many! Currently, my husband Jack and I have 3 indoor cats (Betsy, Shadow, and Tiger) and lots of wild outdoor birds that we feed in the yard, and who keep our cats entertained at the sliding glass doors.

We also have a resident squirrel (sometimes two) and some years a chipmunk or two, that run all over the back yard and hillside keeping all of us entertained.

Jack supplies them with delicious nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to pamper and bribe them into staying around. The skunk wanders through the yard every night to nibble on any leftovers. She is very pretty and we enjoy seeing her.

Then, there are the deer and raccoons that make their way through our yard to the river, nibbling on whatever is available depending on the time of year (I have to take care to get my share of the cherries and apples!).

I enjoy sewing, crocheting, embroidery and cooking (mainly because I love to eat a variety of foods). The study of Nutrition has always been of interest to me. Science, archaeology, and historical personages are of great interest to me and I enjoy the programs on the History Channel.

I have more interests than I will ever be able to pursue in this lifetime, which include the desire to learn to play the piano and guitar! I want to get my hands into clay and create ceramics. I have a few clothing designs that I would like to create and possibly have put into production. I would like to do character portraits, in oil or acrylic. The list goes on and on ...

I'm active on Social Networks! You can find me here:

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jewelrybyishi/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/JewelrybyIshi
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Jewelry-by-Ishi/283229351724933
StumbleUpon: www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/Ishidee
Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/blog/ishidee

Here's a look at my Jewelry Shop ...

JET Artisan Profile:Pam Robinson of CoolJewelry and CoolJewelryJR

I have always loved jewelry. It's  personal female fave of mine ... I'll take jewelry over handbags and shoes ..

How I Became a Jewelry Artisan

 It unfolded like this: a friend who was selling a line of jewelry asked me to become part of her downline. It got really creepy. During training sessions we were "supposed" to wear the jewelry. Honestly, it WAS pretty, but I just could not conform. I'd show up wearing just one piece of the designated jewelry, and the rest was from my jewelry box.


Then I found Etsy. I did a bunch of research via direct purchase of goods from all over the U.S. Spent a ton of money! But I was working, I loved jewelry, and so it was a win-win.

Mahogany Obsidian Murano Glass Sterling Silver Bracelet

And THEN I spent a mega ton on stones, beads, lampwork and hardware. I still have a LOT of it in the studio from which I cull when making jewelry today! I sometimes wonder ... you bought THAT??

What I do comes naturally. With color matching in my DNA and a love of texture ... I was off and running, no training, no anything and have not ventured away from my original style which is "random chaos."

Bohemian Beaded Bracelet / Carnelian Boho

I so love to see others moving into other areas
and techniques. I don't trust me with a torch.

I haven't been making jewelry a long time. I made my first piece in late 2007, and sold my first in early 2008. I still recall the gal who put my pathetic earring photo in the TOP row of her treasury and it hit the FP ... she is no longer on ETSY and I hope it wasn't a side effect of the photo ......oh, it was awful.

I love to use all kinds of stuff in my designs. Anything is fair game! Why? When you have a chaotic personality like mine that slides over into the process of making jewelry just about anything can catch my eye.

Orange Tangerine Coral Asymmetrical Dangle Earrings

Lampwork is a definite. Polymer clay and vintage beads are used as embellishments. The gemstone beads and hardware are top dollar; and there's a definite boho style that pervades my work.

I like making necklaces and earrings. But I truly LOVE making braceles because they are small works of art ... oh sure, there are the "safe" strand of whatever stretch bracelets ... but I am bringing ME to the stretch bracelet ... for folks who love them, and hate to fool with clasps.

 Oh, and I make some more mainstream pendant necklaces for folks buying a gift and don't know *exactly* what to get. That might be guys.

My method of inspiration is sorta strange but it works along with my eclectic style. My creative

Bright Boho Lampwork Wire Wrap Necklace

process consists of me heaping mounds of everything except for precious metals on the kitchen table.

I then go about my madness of finding the *exact* (in Pam's eye) perfect matching components ... yes, this has morphed from the studio into the kitchen -- photos would be scary.

My tools are basic; pliers, cutters, files ... there is one tool I use for just about everything though. The magnifier I need to wear to see up close ... I love it, and I even got a second one for closing wire wrapped jewelry.

Modern Glass Post Earrings

Of course I would LIKE to learn more jewelry making techniques and expand my skills. In my next life - with a fire dept close-by, like maybe next door I would love to work with a torch, patinas, PMC, etc.

My current sport is adopting Sir Theodore Nibbles (a Norwegian Forest / Angora cat) who is a diva ... never lived with one before now. And I need to visit Sephora a LOT for all of his black eyeliner.

Need to get my passport renewed so I can get back to The Netherlands ... I enjoy traveling!

You can find my jewelry on Etsy, in my two shops there. My original shop is CoolJewelry, at  www.etsy.com/shop/cooljewelrydesign. Also visit CoolJewelryJR, at www.etsy.com/shop/cooljewelryJR -- Cool Jewelry at a much lower price point!



Here's a look into my shop ...

 

JET Artisan Profile: Deena Roberts of Deeta By Design

Welcome! I'm Deena of DeetaByDesign. I have been surrounded by art my entire life, as my dad was in the art business. I spent weekends as a kid at the California Design Center in his showroom.

I suppose that is where my love for design grew the fondest. I have a love of both fashion and interior design, majored in Art throughout college, am a licensed Make-up artist, and fell deeply for making jewelry.

My passion is incorporating people's family heirlooms into current pieces and making them relevant to hand down through the ages.

Bronze Heart, Pearl and Gem Necklace

My drive for making jewelry totally changed after we lost our oldest son to a tragic accident a couple of years ago. He had always been so inspired by what I did. I turned that into my tribute to him...thus...the name of my business evolved into Deeta...his nickname for me.

I have always wanted a "hobby". But I fell both blindly and hard for making jewelry when a wire artisan I knew showed me how to wire wrap. The tools felt so right in my hand and it took nearly no time for me to grasp the basics of wire wrapping.

My passion for design fell right into place. I had always loved

Faceted Watermelon Tourmaline Rondelle Bracelet

stones and beads. She was kind enough to take me out to help me purchase my first bit of silver, quality stones and my tools, and that was the beginning of my new passion.

I began making jewelry nearly five years ago. My husband was traveling quite a bit, and our twins were small, so after they went to bed
I spent my nights trying new things, looking at stones online, etc. A great gal at the jewelry store I frequented was an incredible inspiration and really helped form the style of my designs today. But, making jewelry took on a much more meaningful approach after the company was given a name for our son.

Labradorite Sterling Silver chain link bracelet

Twig of Laguna

Five years ago, when I first began making jewelry I sold my first piece. Since then, my creations have grown so much! As I have taken on a more natural approach, I have been fortunate to have been asked by a few Rock band members to design them custom pieces, and my more natural collection is sold at a wonderful boutique on the Southern California coast called Twig of Laguna.

I still love working with Sterling Silver, Gold Vermeil and Bronze metals. But it's the stones that I really enjoy. It amazes me how the attraction to one stone or another can change with one's mood.

I love to sit in my workspace and just gaze at them while the creation just evolves. I know it sounds funny, but a creation must "feel" right and just flow.

Some days, that occurs more naturally than others. I also love incorporating leather in my designs. I love how a piece takes on a different perspective by adding buttery soft leather to it.

Sterling silver Bangle Bracelet

I truly enjoy making necklaces the most, probably because that is where I began, but I do enjoy making a bracelet here and there, as well!

Like most artists, I am highly inspired by nature and my surroundings. My workspace is a wonderful niche, in line with beautiful trees just outside the windows.

I love my tools. And I take care of them. Fortunately, when I invested in my tools, I was lead in the right direction, and still have my original set of pliers and nippers!

I'm working on expanding my skills, so my business can grow!  I look forward to taking on Precious Metal Clay so that I may make my own charms and bezel settings to add to my pieces in the future.

Citrine, Turquoise, Leather Bee Bracelet

Find and "Like" my Facebook page here:

www.DeetabyDesign.Facebook.com

A peek into my shop ...

 

Thanks for visiting!

JET Artisan Profile:Nancy Russell of NancysCrystalFantasi

Hello - I'm Nancy Russell. My Etsy shop is named NancysCrystalFantasi, and the shop is where you'll find my latest necklace, bracelet and earring designs.

My handcrafted jewelry features a lot of color, and I design many pieces with a theme or an occasion.

I offer a line of Bridal and Wedding jewelry, featuring pearl and crystal pieces for the Bride and members of her party.

I love making Holiday themed jewelry so there's always something fun to wear in my shop on special occasions!

And my line of School Team Spirit Jewelry has become very popular! Made with school colors, logos and slogans, fans of our local school teams have a fashionable way to show their support!

Stacked Heishi Turquoise Earrings

I've always loved jewelry, always wanted something to match every outfit in my wardrobe but my budget wouldn't allow for that. Ha!

I saw the jewelry that two of my co-workers were making - and selling - and decided maybe I could learn to do that, too.

Another co-worker and I began learning from them when we formed a sort of in-office lunch-time jewelry making class.

I learned the basic skills of stringing, crimping, etc. from them.

Purple Stripe Agate Necklace

After I retired I began expanding into other
areas mostly by watching or reading tutorials on the Internet.

I made my first (good) piece of jewelry about six years ago while I was still working in public school administration.

Once I made my first piece I was hooked.

After I retired, I opened up my Etsy shop in October 2010. My very first sale wasn't in the Etsy shop, it was a local sale--a Christmas necklace and earring set made with all Czech crystal cube beads.

I love being able to work with many different materials including gemstone beads, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and gold filled wire.

I love color, both bright and pastel, and I love to mix colors and textures.

So I suppose I would have to say that many of my pieces have been inspired by color palettes that have caught my eye. 

But I have a lot of fun making my glass tile pendants, and just discovered how fun it is to work with resin coated digital images that I make in Photoshop Elements.

I love using ice resin in pendant trays to seal my digital images!

Stephenville Yellowjackets Team Spirit Necklace

My team spirit line is becoming one of my favorite group of pieces.

Those are necklaces and bracelets with glass tile pendants of school/team spirit slogans or logos. They have become pretty popular.

And I've really begun to appreciate good tools.

Whatever tool I'm using at the moment becomes my favorite tool. When I tried to imagine having to do without a certain one, I kept thinking about them all.

I suppose I'd have to say all my pliers are my most vital tools, though.

Sterling Silver Treble Clef Necklace

I've been having so much fun learning new jewelry making methods! Each new project I take on teaches me new skills.

My husband wants a paracord woven bracelet with the local high school mascot on it, so I guess that's the next project I'll be learning to create.

But on a more serious note, I really want to learn soldering using my mini-torch so I can do more metal working.




I'm active on these Social Networks:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nancyscrystalfantasies
Twitter: twitter.com/Crystal_Fantasy
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/texasnan/
Stumbleupon: www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/baylorgal
Google+: plus.google.com/+NancyRussellNCFJewelry/posts

This is my fun place!

Setting up at a local show!

Here's a look at what's in my shop ...

JET Artisan Profile - Laura Stamper of laurastamperdesigns

Hi! I'm Laura Stamper, the owner / artisan of the Etsy shop laurastamperdesigns where you'll find many examples of my one of a kind jewelry creations.

I have always loved art. I was the little kid who drew pictures on the walls and made sculptures out of mud.

I collected and saved everything, took it apart and tried to make something new. I might have been the last one picked on the playground, but I was always the first one picked for any art project!

Asymmetrical Amethyst Earrings

I think the first time I made jewelry I was 11 or 12.

I painted birds on seashells that I had collected on vacation in Florida and turned them into earrings. My art background is painting, but I have experimented with many mediums. I can't really say what inspires me, because I find inspiration in so much. The shape of a stone, paintings by the masters,nature of a fable of story can send me in a new direction.

Modern Cameo Art Brooch of Eve and the Serpent

In the mid 1980's, I started working with porcelain on a potters wheel and hand building sculpture. I made little pieces of jewelry out of the scrap pieces and decorated them in little whimsical designs.

In 1991, I was laid off from my job and decided I wanted to pursue my art as it has always been my passion. I used my severance pay to invest in a small kiln and supplies and enter into art shows. By 1996, I went as far as I could go with just the porcelain pieces so I took a 16 hour crash course with a master goldsmith. I love that I get to incorporate these varied skills into my work.

Many of the techniques I use are unconventional. I love to experiment and try things that "shouldn't work".

Recently, I have begun to teach classes at Quench Jewelry Arts in Minneapolis where I an having fun

Water Cast Sterling Silver Ring with Peridot and 23k Gold

sharing some of these methods.

I would be hard pressed to say what my favorite part of creating is. There are so many steps to what I do and I relish all of them.

By doing the initial sculpture and then seeing the piece come to life through the glazing process allows me to utilize my love for illustration and painting. And who doesn't love playing with fire!! Working with metals and the torch are just too much fun.

My favorite tool might be my flex shaft. I use it in every phase of my work, from the clay to finishing the piece.

As far as what I like to make the most, that would be something I have not made before. I like to push my artistic envelope.

Statement Gold Nugget Ring with Amethyst

My most recent adventure has been in primitive casting. With this technique, I am recycling my scrap while allowing the shapes to add new dimensions to my work. I think next, I would like to try my hand with more advanced casting techniques.

Currently I sell my work on etsy and in select galleries and art shows. I also design for the catalog Uno Alla Volta.

When I'm not creating, I spend time with my husband, grand kids, two cats, a dog and an incredible group of friends.

How lucky can one gal be?

Here are some links to my jewelry shops, my blog and the social networks I'm active on:

www.laurastamper.com
www.etsy.com/shop/laurastamperdesigns
www.facebook.com/laurastamperdesigns
twitter.com/LauraStamper
laurastamper.blogspot.com/

And here's a look at what you'll find in my Etsy shop!

My Studio!