Welcome to our B.O.C. blog. Learn about the world of handcrafted ceramic beads, buttons, pendants & components.
Showing posts with label Spotlight Designer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spotlight Designer. Show all posts

Beads of Clay Spotlight Designer of the Week!

Introducing............................
Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp
Everyone say Hello to Marie!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


1. How often do you use artist beads in your work? Who was your first artist bead crush? (the artist that inspired you to start using or collecting art beads). What is your comfortable price point range for buying an artist bead or bead set? 
What is the most expensive bead you have ever bought?
 I pretty much always use Artist beads in my work, whether my own or someone else's. Susan Kennedy was the very first artist I ever bought from followed by LeAnn Weih. They were both very inspiring to my work and I have become friends with both of them.
I find that the price is not so much the issue as whether or not the piece inspired me! I prefer to save money of course, so if an artist has wholesale I always prefer to purchase larger amounts and will opt it almost every time. Of course I will splurge if I am in love wink For my Birthday last year I treated myself to a bead from Kerri Fuhr! I most likely don't have to tell you how much I spent. 
Worth every penny!!
2. Where is your favorite place to buy art beads? (Do you shop online? In person at bead shows? Bead shops? Large Online Suppliers? etc). And do you use a lot of the beads you buy or just hoard them?
I tend to buy on Etsy because it's easy to find all the best artists! Of course not everyone is on Etsy, so I will visit personal websites. Those I really love I subscribe to newsletters so that I don't miss out on deals and new items! I use what I have but wait for inspiration to strike for any particular piece. So I guess until that happens, I do hoard my beads, just a bit.

wink

3. What inspires you to create the style of work you make? Do you come up with a design first, then find beads to fit into that design idea? Or do you find a bead or artist object (pendant, button, cabochon, etc) and then create a design around it?
 I always let the beads speak to me first! They do the talking and I do the creating! I have done a couple sketches in the past, but I can't draw so that does not always work.

4. What are your favorite bead-related resources? Magazines, Books, Pinterest Boards, Blogs, Websites, FaceBook, Classes, etc. Do you look outside of the "bead industry" for inspiration? What are your favorite resources there?
Everything inspires! Other people's designs, magazines, nature, music, my children, pictures of places and things I have never seen... I don't let anything not take a chance to inspire me.

5. What is your favorite color palette to design with? Do you prefer a particular style of bead, button, pendant, etc? What is your bead downfall? You know - the one you just have to have no matter what?
I am in love with green! Earthy tones help too, but green is trees, nature, deep water, forest, grass... I love these things! There is just something about it that I can not help loving! If I can find some nice clay or lampwork beads in green I am done for!! I love to mix with copper components like a handmade toggle or one of my own handmade hooks!

6. What part of the world do you live in? Do you find that you are inspired by things around you every day or do you daydream about living somewhere else? What is your creative space like? Where and when do you find you create your best work (do you watch TV, listen to music, audio books, etc when you create)? What are your favorites.
 I live in Canada, about 3 hours north of Montana. Although I dream of living in Europe, I don't think I could ever really leave. The amazing mountains and forests filled with trees and rivers and everything that makes me smile, it's the most beautiful place on earth. I guess if I was to go anywhere, it might be closer to the mountains.
My workspace is not as inspiring as where I live. I used to have a room all to myself but gave it up when I got sick so my daughter, who is a huge help to me, could have her own room. Now I have to make due with music that moves the soul. I love a little of everything so I could not even begin to give you a list!



7. Do you have any furry friends or family that you are around a lot and they inspire (or distract you) from your work? 
I don't have pets but I do have children! 4 of them! Always fighting and making a racket! What can you do! That's life. My youngest is a mischief maker. She has gotten into my studio a couple times and spilled bead containers all over the floor, or left with something that I later have found in her room. I do try to involve her when I can, getting her to add beads to head pins or eye pins. She loves that part! Feels really involved!


Mostly I guess I just love what I do and feel happy when I am able to create. I have made a point of taking the time to create lately. I was diagnosed with Breast cancer in May, so every little bit of creative energy I put out goes to healing. I am a firm believer in the power of creative healing!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Thank you Marie, for a fabulous interview. 
The BOC Team and I, send you warm hugs and healing thoughts. 
We look forward to seeing more new and fabulous work soon!

Please stop by Marie's Blog, Face Book page, or stores and say hi. 

Etsy Shop: http://skyejewels.etsy.com/ http://moreskyejewels.etsy.com/
Website: http://skyejewels.com/
Blog: http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/
FaceBook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/SkyeJewelsShop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skyejewels
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/skyejewels/

Posted by 8 comments:
Labels:

Beads of Clay Spotlight Designer of the Week!

Introducing.......................................
Linda Landig
of
LindaLandigJewelry


EVERYBODY WAVE TO LINDA!!!!


Name:  Linda Landig
Business Name:   Linda Landig Jewelry
ArtFire Shop:   http://www.LindaLandig.com


Created by Linda using a Pendant from Yolanda's Clay
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. How often do you use artist beads in your work? Who was your first artist bead crush? 
(The artist that inspired you to start using or collecting art beads). 
What is your comfortable price point range for buying an artist bead or bead set? 
What is the most expensive bead you have ever bought?

My first art bead love was lampwork.  I even took a lampwork class from Serena Smith (find her on Etsy) and made lots of wonky, lopsided beads! 

About 6 years ago a man asked me to make a necklace for his girlfriend.  Her favorite colors were yellow and purple.  Do you realize how hard it is to find yellow (not gold-colored) beads?  I couldn’t find anything worthwhile in lampwork, so I went to the BOC blog and started clicking on all the links.  Yolanda’s Clay Studio had a yellow and purple pendant that I liked.  I got it and she was my first art bead crush.  But to say that someone is your first art bead crush is a bit like saying you have a little spot of hives— it soon spreads everywhere.  That’s not to say that ceramic art beads are like hives!  But I will say that I’m always “itching for more”! I have many, many art bead crushes now.

The most expensive art bead I ever bought was a gorgeous, floral lampworked focal bead by Serena Smith.  It was $50.  I buy a lot of lampwork from Radiant Mind now, but Serena’s bead was my biggest splurge.

Earrings by Linda using beads From Marti Conrad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Where is your favorite place to buy art beads? (Do you shop online? In person at bead shows? Bead shops? Large Online Suppliers? etc). And do you use a lot of the beads you buy or just hoard them (and can we see a photo of your art bead stash - we love seeing bead stash pics!)?

I buy most of my art beads online now.  I use a lot of my treasures, but I hoard a lot too.  A few years ago my husband gave me an antique Hamilton printers cabinet for storing my art beads, gemstones and seed beads.  I have one drawer for lampwork, one drawer for ceramics, a drawer for metalwork etc.  I have to admit that the first two drawers are overflowing.  It needs some serious reorganizing.  I could curtail my purchases until my inventory thins a bit, but what fun would that be?

Created by Linda using Raku beads from Duane Collins and 
Fan beads from Golem Studio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3. What inspires you to create the style of work you make? Do you come up with a design first, then find beads to fit into that design idea? Or do you find a bead or artist object (pendant, button, cabochon, etc) and then create a design around it?

Color and texture are very important to me.  These two elements greatly influence the art beads I choose.  In turn the art beads inspire my designs.  Sometimes I have a picture in my head of where I want to go with a piece, but more often, I set the art bead(s) out on my work table and pull out all the beads I have that might possibly go with it.  It’s kind of like a tactile form of brainstorming!  Then I sort through this giant pile and narrow it down to the special beads that really sing out to me.  I usually design at night and I always stop short of adding the clasp.  Sometimes the morning brings new insights and revisions.  Its lots easier to rearrange a strung design before the clasp is attached!


I am also strongly influenced by the lovely bead artists and jewelry designers that I have come to know online and in person.  I read their blogs, see their designs in magazines and chat with them online.  It’s hard to overestimate the influence they have had upon me as a person and as a designer.

Linda Created this for a Beads of Clay Designers Challenge.
She used a Pendant & beads by Shaterra Clay Studio, Beads by Marsha Neal Studio, Yolanda’s Clay, Golem Studios, and chain & bead caps from Vintaj.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4. What are your favorite bead-related resources? Magazines, Books, Pinterest Boards, Blogs, Websites, FaceBook, Classes, etc. Do you look outside of the "bead industry" for inspiration? What are your favorite resources there?


I mentioned blogs and magazines above.  My favorite blogs would include, Lorelei’s Blog http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com/ , Beads of Clay http://www.blog.beadsofclay.org/  and  Art Bead Scene  http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

My favorite jewelry magazine is Stringing. 

I am also inspired by the colors in textiles and by flowers.

Created by Linda using a Pendant by Shaterra Clay Studio


5. What is your favorite color palette to design with? Do you prefer a particular style of bead, button, pendant, etc? What is your bead downfall? You know - the one you just have to have no matter what?

I especially love the colors of autumn and those are my favorite colors to wear.  Deeply saturated colors and unusual but harmonious color combos appeal to me.  I have a few pastels in my shops, but I am not usually drawn to pastels.

Lately my favorite beads are rustic and earthy, with rich textures.  But - and here’s the contradiction – I recently bought some pastel lilac and yellow beads from Marti's Buttons and Beads, because of the unusual color combination and their really unique shapes.

*note TO Linda*  if you ever want to sell this....CALL ME!!!!  






6. What part of the world do you live in? Do you find that you are inspired by things around you every day or do you daydream about living somewhere else? What is your creative space like? Where and when do you find you create your best work (do you watch TV, listen to music, audio books, etc when you create)? What are your favorites?

I live in the Pacific Northwest corner of the United States.  This is a gorgeous part of the earth and I truly love it here, although I don’t know if it directly influences my work.  I think that eventually my husband and I will live here part of the year (to be near my father, our 2 adult children and our grandson) and live part of the year in Mexico or somewhere in Central America.  Exactly how that will work out remains to be seen.

My studio is a spare bedroom in our house.  I dream of it being a peaceful, well organized, creative retreat, but in reality, it is messy and chaotic.  I am a night owl and you can usually find me creating in the wee hours of the night.



7. Do you have any furry friends or family that you are around a lot and they inspire (or distract you) from your work? You are welcome to add photos of them or tell a brief funny story about them and your jewelry designer life and how they intermingle.



Our rescue dog, Chochi, is my studio helper.  He lies at my feet, sniffs the beads I inevitably drop on the floor and begs for food and affection.  My husband is my biggest supporter.  He often steps into my beady sanctuary to see what I am up to and to offer his appreciation of my efforts.






Posted by 13 comments:
Labels:

Beads of Clay Spotlight Designer of the Week!

Introducing...............................
Grace Neff
of

Wave to Grace!!!!!!

Created by Grace, Pendant by Marti Conrad

1. How often do you use artist beads in your work? Who was your first artist bead crush? (the artist that inspired you to start using or collecting art beads). What is your comfortable price point range for buying an artist bead or bead set? What is the most expensive bead you have ever bought?

I use artist beads ALL THE TIME! I think my first bead artist that inspired me was either Gaea or Karen Totten. I try to stay under $20 for pendants, and I can't really remember what the most expensive bead I've ever bought. I think it might have been recently, and it was under $20, or else it was a silver pendant with a lovely piece of moonstone in it, I think that was $25.

Beautiful Necklace by Grace...Pendant by Karen Totten

2. Where is your favorite place to buy art beads? (Do you shop online? In person at bead shows? Bead shops? Large Online Suppliers? etc). And do you use a lot of the beads you buy or just hoard them (and can we see a photo of your art bead stash - we love seeing bead stash pics!)?

I buy art beads online, from the artists' Etsy shops, and I use many of them soon after buying them. I have a small stash, See below!


3. What inspires you to create the style of work you make? Do you come up with a design first, then find beads to fit into that design idea? Or do you find a bead or artist object (pendant, button, cabochon, etc) and then create a design around it?

I almost always find the pendant first and create the piece of jewelry around it. The pendants or beads themselves inspire me - the colors, the textures, the design on the pendant. I'd say it starts with the colors, those inspire me to pick the beads, and then the design falls into place. Sometimes the design comes to me right away, as soon as I get the pendant, but it all depends on whether or not I can pull the right beads together.

Created by Grace....Pendant by Clay Designs by Glee

4. What are your favorite bead-related resources? Magazines, Books, Pinterest Boards, Blogs, Websites, FaceBook, Classes, etc. Do you look outside of the "bead industry" for inspiration? What are your favorite resources there?

I don't read beading magazines at all. I get a lot of inspiration from blogs and Facebook pages from other jewelry artists. Honestly, the beads themselves serve as inspiration, and I also get a lot of inspiration from nature and art.

5. What is your favorite color palette to design with? Do you prefer a particular style of bead, button, pendant, etc? What is your bead downfall? You know - the one you just have to have no matter what?

Lately, my color palette seems to run to earthy, with aqua or turquoise or some blue, and then creams and browns. I also use a lot of greens lately too. I can't think of any one bead lately that I HAVE to have, although I do tend to use some kind of jasper lately as filler beads. My biggest downfall lately is ceramic beads and ceramic pendants.

Designed by Grace......Pendant by White Clover Kilns

6. What part of the world do you live in? Do you find that you are inspired by things around you every day or do you daydream about living somewhere else? What is your creative space like? Where and when do you find you create your best work (do you watch TV, listen to music, audio books, etc when you create)? What are your favorites.

I live in the US, in California, Central California to be exact, in Los Osos. We live quite near to the ocean, and this part of California is not densely populated nor is the coast overly developed. Its a beautiful place to live and I do draw inspiration from the ocean, the beaches, the hills. My work space is in our family office, which also serves as a craft space for my two daughters. I have a work bench that I stand at to work, and I typically have my favorite strands of beads on the table in front of me to pull from. Lately I like to listen to NPR when I work, or silence works well lately too. If I listen to music, it would be Adele, Matthew Good, or Never Ending White Lights.



7. Do you have any furry friends or family that you are around a lot and they inspire (or distract you) from your work? You are welcome to add photos of them or tell a brief funny story about them and your jewelry designer life and how they intermingle.
I have a husband and two daughters and a dog, and they all distract me, the husband seems to pull me away from the beading actually more than the others! He doesn't "get" my beading addiction, although he has grown, I think, to appreciate what I create.

Necklace by Grace.......Pendant by Suburban Girl Beads
(note* Suburban Girl Studio  just got back from Bead Fest and will 
reopen later in the week with new stuff and free shipping (for a limited time)


8. What else could you tell us about yourself?

I am a chemist by training, and my real job is teaching chemistry to mostly engineering majors, but I'm a scientist, lover of nature and artist in my heart. I love stones so much partly for the science and chemistry behind them - these are the rocks and minerals that make up our world, and at the very basis of them are the elements, which make up everything. I love knowing what chemical elements make up my favorite stones - like the fact that lepidolite is the most common ore of lithium, I know all these facts about the chemical elemental nature of lithium, and yet because of the way the mineral is put together what results is this gorgeous purple stone. I appreciate ceramics and glass for the science that goes into creating them as well. I love pulling all those beautiful parts of nature together into my own creation, my own art.


Thank you Grace, for letting us

 into your Beady World!



Please show Grace some love by visiting her store!


Grace Elements on Etsy




Posted by 16 comments:
Labels:

Beads of Clay Spotlight Designer of the Week!

Introducing............
Tracy Zeller
of
Getta Gift Jewellery

Everyone...wave at Tracy!

Here are her links:
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift
Blog: http://jewellerywithatwist.blogspot.com/
FaceBook Business Page: www.facebook.com/GettaGiftJewellery
Twitter: @gettagift
Pinterest: I don't pin often, I got bored. 
Tracy's Creation using Karen Totten's Focal


Tracy's Creation using  Duane Collins Focal



1. How often do you use artist beads in your work? Who was your first artist bead crush? (the artist that inspired you to start using or collecting art beads). What is your comfortable price point range for buying an artist bead or bead set? What is the most expensive bead you have ever bought?
I use artist beads in most of my creations. I really fell in love with SeaShore Glass, Amanda's beads make me very happy when I use them. She puts so much care into making her beads and ensuring that you are getting a quality product. 
My breaking point is $35.00, just because I want to make a quality piece that is still affordable for my customers. The most expensive bead was $38.00 (haha, I know its above my breaking point, but it was gorgeous!). 


2. Where is your favorite place to buy art beads? (Do you shop online? In person at bead shows? Bead shops? Large Online Suppliers? etc). And do you use a lot of the beads you buy or just hoard them (and can we see a photo of your art bead stash - we love seeing bead stash pics!)?
I buy mainly online. We have a few local bead shops, but nothing with unique stuff. I mostly use Etsy and Facebook to purchase most of my items. I like supporting the small, independent businesses like myself. And yes, I am a hoarder, I started beading in January 2011 and still have items in my bead stash that I have been hoarding, its so hard to part with some of them. I sometimes feel like Gollum from Lord of the Rings when I'm holding my beads, my precious.

Tracy's Creation using MarlasMud Focal



3. What inspires you to create the style of work you make? Do you come up with a design first, then find beads to fit into that design idea? Or do you find a bead or artist object (pendant, button, cabochon, etc) and then create a design around it? 

My mood inspires me. I've notice that I create the best when I'm feeling good. I pretty much stay away from the bead table when I'm not feeling myself. I typically create around a particular bead or focal. I see things in my mind and try create it, but some times (most times) they start to take a different direction as the piece is coming together. Its not uncommon for me to put together a necklace or bracelet 4-5 times before I actually end up with something I like.

4. What are your favorite bead-related resources? Magazines, Books, Pinterest Boards, Blogs, Websites, FaceBook, Classes, etc. Do you look outside of the "bead industry" for inspiration? What are your favorite resources there?

I really enjoy seeing fellow artisans and their work, especially if I'm in a slump. The use of their colors, techniques really give me a boost. I enjoy reading bead magazines and keep a stack beside my bed for late night reading. I also enjoy looking up new techniques on You Tube, watching videos on how to do new things. I hope some day to expand my abilities into creating components of some kind, but at the moment being a full time mom takes up most of my days. 

5. What is your favorite color palette to design with? Do you prefer a particular style of bead, button, pendant, etc? What is your bead downfall? You know - the one you just have to have no matter what? 
I'm an Autumn girl and I love the earth tones. I try really hard to push myself outside of those rich, earthy colors. I'm naturally drawn to them, I can't resist. I push myself to do pinks, light purples & blues & yellows. I appreciate the colors, they just don't always come naturally to me. 
I really don't have a preference for bead, button, pendant, I could take any of the above as long as the piece speaks to me. The moment I see a bead, pendant, etc. and if an idea immediately pops into my head THEN I know I have got to buy that particular item. 

6. What part of the world do you live in? Do you find that you are inspired by things around you every day or do you daydream about living somewhere else? What is your creative space like? Where and when do you find you create your best work (do you watch TV, listen to music, audio books, etc when you create)? What are your favorites.

I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Calgary is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to the west and then we have the wide open prairies to the east. We get the best of both worlds. Is it sad that I don't feel like I have created anything based upon my surroundings? And I don't daydream about living anywhere else, so what's that telling me??? LOL I really create for me. 
I have a nice work space in our basement, but always end up monopolizing our dining room table. I typically work on my jewellery in the evenings after my child goes to bed, so that puts my creativity between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. or I try to squeeze in a pair of earrings while my child is watching a cartoon so that's why I always end up in the dining room, for convenience. 
I don't really pay attention to the music or tv on around me while I'm creating simply because the sounds can range from my favorite music to an episode of Caillou. Again, I'm unaffected by that, I'm usually somewhere in my own head thinking and talking the piece through.


Thank you Tracy! We love getting to know Jewelry Designs!

To see more about Tracy and her her work
please visit her:




Posted by 10 comments:
Labels:
Bead of Clay Spotlight!
Designer of the week!

(Pendant by Marlasmud)

1. How often do you use artist beads in your work? Who was your first artist bead crush? (the artist that inspired you to start using or collecting art beads). What is your comfortable price point range for buying an artist bead or bead set? What is the most expensive bead you have ever bought?

99% of the jewellery I make will have at least one art bead elements to it and usually more as I like to mix different media. I'm actually quite new to the world of 'clay beads' and only started using them regularly at the beginning of this year. I'd come across a few clay artists on Etsy and through online challenges and blog hops but when I was invited to join a private bead group on Facebook I actually met those artists and many more making beautiful beads with clay. Probably the first artist I bought from was Marsha Neal - those beautiful flower pendants were just iresistible. I've fallen pretty hard for the earthy rustic work and delicious glazes of Karen Totten too and I also have a soft spot for the beads of my fellow Brit Caroline Dewison who seems to be to be getting better and better with each bead. However, if you take a look at my ceramic bead stash you'll see lots of other artists featured in there and hey, I've only been at this for six months so I'm still in the discovery phase. I have every intention of adding artists to that stash, once the bank lifts the restraining order from my account - this is not a cheap addiction you know. Generally speaking I think ceramic beads are well priced and don't usually reach the giddy heights that some lampwork beads do for instance. The most I've probably paid for clay beads is £25 for a set and £18 for a focal which was for myself. The price has to equate to what I can sell a finished item for so expensive sets would generally be split across a number of finished items where as a cheaper set may be used complete. As a general rule I would say £15 for a set and £10 for a focal are comfortable price points but then again I have champagne tastes on a beer budget and absolutely no willpower!


(Pendant by Golem Studio)



2. Where is your favorite place to buy art beads? (Do you shop online? In person at bead shows? Bead shops? Large Online Suppliers? etc). And do you use a lot of the beads you buy or just hoard them (and can we see a photo of your art bead stash - we love seeing bead stash pics!)?

I would love to buy art beads face to face but sadly, the UK doesn't have bead shows on the scale of the US and Bricks and Mortar bead shops are few and far between. I much prefer to buy beads direct from the artist and if possible get to know a little about them and their working practices - makes it so much more fun. This might sound a bit like I'm stalking them but I really only do that if there is a bead I really, really must have which is only, well, quite often really. I usually buy beads with the intention of using them but sometimes they do become 'my precious's' and I find it hard to let go of them. Make them into jewellery for yourself I hear you say...great idea - except I already have more of that than I can wear in a lifetime! That said I do make a lot of jewellery so yes I do use a lot of my beads. I can be a bit picky though and if I don't think what I'm designing is good enough for the bead it will go back in the box. I hope no Psychologists are reading this...

Below is some of Lesley's Art bead Stash
(Beads and pendants from ....well....everyone!)


3. What inspires you to create the style of work you make? Do you come up with a design first, then find beads to fit into that design idea? Or do you find a bead or artist object (pendant, button, cabochon, etc) and then create a design around it?

It's difficult to say what inspires my style as there are so many things and to be honest, I'm not sure what my style is. I can be very fickle when it comes to designing and can be doing completely different things from one week to the next. I'm very organic in my working methods and rarely work out a design in advance - I'm more inclined to dive (well belly flop) in and see what happens. I may well stop mid-way through and practice and idea I have, particularly if there's a risk of ruining something or I'm using expensive materials. Very often the beads will dictate the design and numerous pieces have come about when beads have fortuitously come together on a chaotic workbench - all the excuse I need not to be more organised. 

(Dangles by Marsha Neal Studio)


4. What are your favorite bead-related resources? Magazines, Books, Pinterest Boards, Blogs, Websites, FaceBook, Classes, etc. Do you look outside of the "bead industry" for inspiration? What are your favorite resources there?

The best bead resources for me are the people I come into contact with through the online beading community. There is such a vast pool of inspiration and information at my finger tips I doubt I will ever need to go elsewhere. Blogs, Facebook, Pinterest - these are all extensions of that and I have my favourites, but I'm always finding new ones through those same people. I also have a love of design and art in general so can be influenced by many things - textiles, architecture, nature - almost anything and all the better if I can pick it up and put it in my pocket for future reference.

5. What is your favorite color palette to design with? Do you prefer a particular style of bead, button, pendant, etc? What is your bead downfall? You know - the one you just have to have no matter what?

"Favorite' questions are always difficult for me as it depends on the mood I'm in. In terms of the colours I wear myself it would be saturated autumnal shades - greens, ochres, russets, plums, rich and earthy tones like that. If you look at my jewellery portfolio you will find plenty in that palette, but also plenty of others including some pretty bright hues which I particularly seem to gravitate towards for challenge pieces of late. You're unlikely to find me doing much in fluffy girly colours though...that I struggle with! My current (for it will change) passion is for for disc beads - I find them quite challenging but really satisfying to master and I can't get enough of them. And as for the bead I have to have no matter what - it's the one I haven't seen yet. I love having new designs and If someone comes up with something original that presses the right button then I have to have it there and then.

6. What part of the world do you live in? Do you find that you are inspired by things around you every day or do you daydream about living somewhere else? What is your creative space like? Where and when do you find you create your best work (do you watch TV, listen to music, audio books, etc when you create)? What are your favorites.
I live in Dorset,a small county on the south coast of England and I love it! We have beautiful beaches and country side including a world heritage Jurassic coastline; a literary heritage with Thomas Hardy a native and his novels based on the region; a 'temperate' climate (can't believe I'm saying that considering current conditions) and only a couple of hours from London and Paris! I am inspired by my surroundings particularly the beach, though more so in winter than summer and whilst I like to travel, I'm one of those people who always loves to come home.


My work space is the third of 3 bedrooms in a very small 3 bedroomed house and quite frankly it's just too small!
I made a little space by creating a hot work area in the garage for the kiln, enameling and metal working equipment but come winter believe me, you want to be in that kiln! I'm forever reorganizing to try and make it more ergonomic but I really have run out of space. I have considered transferring to the second and bigger bedroom but that would mean no more than 2 guests at once and they would have to sleep on bunk beds and that wouldn't be fair would it? Although come to think of it, guests only get in the way and eat up my creative time and they wouldn't stay long if they had to sleep in bunks...Excuse me while I just go and take some measurements.



7. Do you have any furry friends or family that you are around a lot and they inspire (or distract you) from your work? You are welcome to add photos of them or tell a brief funny story about them and your jewelry designer life and how they intermingle. 

I have a small furry design assistant who is supposed to earn her keep by purring appreciatively at all my designs and boosting my delicate artists ego. Lately however I get the feeling that she just doesn't share my passion for all thing beady...


Lesley Watt

THEA Jewellery & THEA too




Posted by 10 comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)