StudioDTQ

Loading profile

Member since: 2007/11/08
Country: United States of America
Birthday: 2012/01/01

Private pictures
About me: Working in fine jewelry stores both on the east and west coast, I’ve had training in diamonds and gemstones, metals and gifts. Adding to this is my 15 year background in the retail clothing industry encompassing knowledge of fashion and color metrics. Rounding out my arsenal of understanding is instruction in body image and style, color and skin care. With all this knowledge of fit, color and image for what looks good on people, it can be a powerful combination but just because you know HOW to do something doesn’t mean it’s easy to find what you’re looking for to help complete their look. Jewelry and accessories have always challenging, especially locating a “fit” with color, metal and scale. I’ve always hunted to find jewelry that fit my own style and needs because I know that trends come and trend go, but what works well on the individual person, does not wax or wane. Fast forward a few years and after having three active children, I “retired” from the working world and settled in for Scout meetings, homework monitoring, bake sales, play and choral rehearsals.
Then in January of 2005, during an uneventful winter vacation, I discovered a forgotten eagerness to create by playing with a jewelry kit from one of my children’s stockings. I’ve always been a creative person; I occasionally sketch and paint, I crochet and I love the little ornament kits you find at craft stores, but I never took the enthusiasm seriously. Until I played with that necklace kit. “Wow,” I thought. “If I can do this with a kit, why can’t I make my own jewelry and in my own color schemes to fit ME and I can stop searching for things too hard to find!”
Kits quickly changed to hand picked components- glass and handmade lampwork beads, wonderful Swarovski crystals, semi-precious gemstones and yummy organics. Stringing soon developed into wire wrapping and then incorporating chainmaille into my pieces. Single metal themes evolved into mixing copper, sterling and other media. I even started making my own clasps, cutting chainmaille rings and constructing other findings to personalize my creations. I offered these precious items as gifts to friends and family. Soon after, when family and friends started buying pieces or asked me to make special treasures they could give as gifts; I realized I had a talent I had not been using.
Nature inspires me but I’m not bound to it. Industrial shapes intrigue me but that isn’t the rule. Color and texture stirs the core of me but I don’t follow patterns wholeheartedly either. I mostly create off the cuff, not by sketching or conventional methods. I will sketch a particular shape or part of a design but mostly to organize it in my disorganized mind. Sometimes I create to quiet the voices in my head (not the psychotic voices- they never shut up-LOL!) and tame the muse who is unrelenting sometimes in her pursuit to move me. But mostly I create because it’s the best way I know to feel connected to the rest of the world. In my designs I’ve always gotten a strong reaction. To be honest, making others think and react-the whole basic physics thing-action and reaction; isn’t that what we as humans are supposed to do?
Experience and Creativity: I'm drawn to just about any kind of wire. I'm like a raven. (Oh! Something shiny!) But right now it's mostly copper. Crystals and copper are warm and friendly and fabulous and can even have a vintage look or it can also have an industrial modern kind of look. Fun in a kicky kind of way- I love to explore and experiment. I have no idea what I'll work with next- I like to live in the moment and in my designs.
Hobbies and Interests: Chainmaille or even as small as chain making is my biggest hobby right now, and I would like to teach in the future. Who knows! I had no idea how much fun I was missing until I started to create! And on another level, I just got a torch and I can't wait to try my hand at soldering or jewelry repair- maybe even lampworking! Maybe I'll become a plumber! :) Kidding! I also like winetasting and shopping- brick and mortar or online. Love to look! Color, movement, style- I love it all!
Fields of Creativity: Chaimailling, wire wrapping, beading, crocheting, some sketching but only for my own use. I LOVE to make my own findings!!!! I love handmade lampwork beads, textured findings and almost any interesting bit of whatnot. I am the master of my destiny and I intend to master it well.
Favorite Movies and Books: I haven't been reading lately as I spend all my time creating or researching the creative process so any of my current reads are Bead and Button, Step by Step Wire, Art Jewelry and such. But I liked the Harry Potter series-I read them to my kids. Lord of the Rings (I read the books before it was fashionable to, let alone watch the movies), and of course the classics. My favorite all time movie is Blazing Saddles-weird, huh? But I also like all the Disney stuff. Pirates of the Caribbean series stands out. Star Wars, Star Trek and the like.(Are you noticing a rebellious, oddball theme here?) Kids will change your tastes to me and I'm sure it's for the better! :)