In grade school, before ever finding my love for two dimensional art, I loved jewelry. With my tiny little hands, perfect for maneuvering about threads and seed beads, I began making friendship bracelets and beaded jewelry. Later, as an adult, I worked in a retail jewelry store, where I learned to professionally string and knot pearls. So, I guess you can pretty much say I’ve been doing this my whole life. This time around, I am focusing on using genuine gemstone beads and crystals, vegan-friendly materials, up-cycled vintage items, and other materials inspired by the earth. You can see all of my jewelry in my Etsy store. To the left are the prototypes for my 2015 Fall Line that will be released in October.
One of the materials that I use (pictured) is polymer clay. Polymer clay is a fabulous medium, because there are truly no design limits. There are hard and fast rules for metalwork, so it didn’t fit with my rebellious spirit. Polymer clay is the perfect medium for the rebellious artist. It allows me to design as I am creating without having to sketch and plan it out, as I have always done with my painting. Likewise, it is the perfect jewelry to wear for us rebels, as it will always be one of a kind, as are the rocks that populate it.
Because polymer clay is so versatile, I have different collections that come from different inspirations. I started with Gaia Rocks, which have a bohemian feel and are inspired by the earth, natural elements, and the world around me. Some of my other collections are inspired by the music and counter culture that flavored my youth. Those collections are called Grunge Rocks and Punk Rocks, and one of my signature designs is named “Heavy Metal”. Here are some examples below.
I also fancy myself an eater of plants and lover of yoga, and wanted to create jewelry in the popular wrap bracelet style with the mantra “do no harm” or “ahimsa” in mind. These wrap bracelets are strung on a material called called genya. Genya is an animal-friendly fiber cord that has the look and feel of leather but is made from polymers impregnated with natural plant fibers, has a high tensile strength and does not fade. Genya is great for stringing beads and making bracelets and necklaces. I use nylon thread instead of silk. Below is a sampling of some of my popular styles.
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