The Year of Jewelry Project 2012

Abigail Miller

About Abigail (posts as: AbigailM47)

I'm almost 60, was trained in biology, fell into jewelrymaking almost by accident. I live in north Texas with two cats, a beehive, an ancient pasture-pet horse, and lots of wild cardinals and other birds. I dropped abruptly off CWJ a couple of years ago. I peeked back in and discovered a new YOJ in the making, and decided to be assertive and go for it.

Frances Whited

About Frances (posts as: Bebop Beads)

My mother was a talented and inventive seamstress and cook. She was also a Boy Scout den mother, and it was she who introduced me to bead weaving on the loom. It was great for making cool hippy-chick beaded chokers in the late 60s and early 70s. Ever since then, I've been fascinated with seed beads. When I took a class in freeform peyote stitch, I knew I had found my medium  last! It has everything that appeals to me: the ability to create wearable art, complete freedom in form, projects small enough to work on anywhere, and, best of all...seed beads, with their wonderful palette of colors and finishes, from glimmery metallics to silky mattes.

Bonnie Schilder

About Bonnie (posts as: bonstitches)

Hi all! I'm so pleased to be a part of YOJ - to make new friends, be inspired by their work and stimulate my own creative juices through the winter months. Now I just hope I get my first piece done in time! ;-)

Sarah Small

About Sarah (posts as: bysalla)

Cindi Hendrickson

About Cindi (posts as: CindiKHendrickson)

Hi!  I am a jewelry designer in the Houston, Texas, area.  I began as a beader and now have ventured into the wild and wonderdul world of wire!  I am a newbie, but have fallen in love with wire work. To support this addiction, I am a high school science teacher, working with at-risk students.  I love my day job!

Cleopatra Kerckhof

About Cleopatra (posts as: Cleopatra Kerckhof)

When I finished art school, I couldn't decide whether to specialise in fashion or jewelry design. I chose the first and quickly found out that was a mistake. It took me 25 years to do something about that and now I've been wire wrapping for 3 years. Wire wrapping  is not very well known where I live, so I'm self taught. Nature inspires me a lot - especially peacocks. I like to make elaborate designs with colorful stones that take ages to finish. :).

Debbie Bobby

About Debbie (posts as: dbobby)

Dawn Morrill

About Dawn (posts as: Dawn M)

Debbie Coller

About Debbie (posts as: Debbie Coller)

I love to make jewelry.  I have been working with wire for over 25 years.   My Dad is an electrician and I used to "borrow" his wire.  " I often work in a series as I try to answer my muse.  She asks what if.... and I am off on a journey.  Each piece unique.  My journey takes me to many places.  I enjoy creating each piece some more challenging than others but each a piece of me.  I hope you enjoy my journey this year as I tackle the YOJ 2012.  The way things have been going in my life 2012 will be a year full of change.  I am divorcing and moving and trying to keep my muse happy thru this transition will be interesting so bear with me.  I have my kids to keep me going at home and now I hope YOJ will keep my muse going.

Diana Schmidt

About Diana (posts as: DianaS)

Eva Sherman

About Eva (posts as: evasherman)

I began beading as a way to spend time with my daughters, but soon became hopelessly addicted.  In 2005 I traded in my architect's hat and opened Grand River Beads and Gift Gallery in the Cleveland area. Since then, I have grown to love working with wire and metals and look forward to taking on the year of jewelry challenge in 2011!

Swati Nigam

About Swati (posts as: FleurViolette)

I, like everyone else here, love to make jewelry :-). So I have learnt different  methods of  jewelry making. I work with wire wrapping, silversmithing, PMC/Art Clay, and have also worked a bit with lost wax casting. Apart from loving to make jewelry, I love to oggle at, and drool all over the awesome work of my jewelry making friends...so much so that they often need to wipe all the drool off their work. ;-). Come drool with me....its just so refreshing to see all this lovely work here!!

Joella Miller

About Joella (posts as: joellam)

A glitzy red bracelet at Marshal Field's in Chicago caught my eye a few years ago and here I am. I starting with stringing and expanded from there. As I'm always looking to learn something new in the world of jewelry, I'm excited to be in the YOJ and hope I can keep up w/ the weekly challenges. I do a weekly market in Madison on Saturdays and a small one on Sundays closer to home during the summer in addition to a few art shows fairly close to home.

Melissa Muir

About Melissa (posts as: MelissaMuir)

Maryalece Lohmiller

About Maryalece (posts as: minkeygirl)

This has started out to be the most unusual year of my life so far.  I decided to join YOJ to begin to shed my shyness about public exposure to my work and as a way to discipline myself into some sort of order in my art.   However, my family has been wrought with some incredibly serious health problems in this beginning part of 2012.  I have been at the side of my dear ones in Intensive Care in the hospital, as well as regular hospital beds, doctor's offices, and middle of the night vigils watching over those I cherish more than anything else in this life.  I have learned to keep my serenity through these difficult times by keeping my hands busy with my wirework.  I never dreamed I would  be working in such strange places and would become so mobile with my tools, wire, and an occasional cab now and again.  So, even though my posts are going to be late and most likely quite random,  it's not because I have not been creating. I also am a landscaper and love my gardening business as much as my jewelry making.  Thankfully, I can take a break in mid-winter to take care of the events that have been coming my way. Bending wire has become a meditation, a prayer, a way to calm the mind and steady the heart.  The work I have been doing is much more meaningful these days.  I truly hope it shows! My goal is that it becomes more and more like the amazingly beautiful, precise work I see here  from the other incredibly talented artists here in the YOJ.    

Heather Morales

About Heather (posts as: MooSiE)

Sue Schroeder

About Sue (posts as: newtowire)

I am going to take the plunge.  My goal for this year is to make one tutorial a week.  I have over 52 of them so that is not a hurdle.  I work full time just like a lot of you, so time is always an issue.  I know i will learn from your tutorials, as a lot have been purchased from members, maybe now i will learn easier ways to do things....lol.  The picture taking will also be a huge challenge for me.  I have to look for a new camera or figure out what is wrong with mine or maybe it is the user...  Looking forward to posting week one.   Sue

Nicole Hanna

About Nicole (posts as: Nicole Hanna)

pat moses-caudel

About pat (posts as: patmcaudel)

Perri Jackson

About Perri (posts as: Shaktipaj)

I'm a jewelry artisan and author working primarily in small gauge wire with cold connections. My focus is the creation of sculptural pieces inspired by traditional  handmade textiles, beadwork, knotting, braiding, and embroidery. I've been published in Beadwork magazine and have either been a finalist or placed in the annual Bead&Button Bead Dreams competition since 2007. I've written over 25 paid and free tutorials for various jewelry projects and techniques.I'm happy to be a part of this year's YOJP - it feels like coming home. This project marks where I truly came to believe I had a talent to share. It encouraged me to work INSIDE my creative box by forcing me to really study my creative medium. Yes, there ARE new things under the sun - and I haven't begun to scratch the possibilities of cold-worked wire jewelry.Here's to a beautiful, enlightening, and productive year - YOJP Rules!!Perri

Pamela Whitlow

About Pamela (posts as: pwhitlow)

I'm a nurse practitioner who has been creating jewelry as a hobby for myself, friends and family. Then people began stopping me on the street to ask where I had bought my jewelry, and when I said I made it myself they would ask how much I would sell it for. Thus in 2010, I became more serious about jewelry making and began selling items at craft shows. Although my main focus is still wire wrapped jewelry, I have branched out into dichroic glass, precious metal clay, and some light metal smithing. My goal is to create Fun Handmade Jewelry for those from all walks of life.

Ann Sanicola

About Ann (posts as: SanicolaDesigns)

I started making jewelry as a child creating play-doh beads and stringing them with kitchen twine. I later moved on to buying old pieces of jewelry in second hand shops and reworking them. In my adult jewelry making life, I have worked with Precious Metal Clay, beading, wire and metal work. I am currently enamored with enameling.

Sandy Cahill Johnson

About Sandy (posts as: SCJJewelryDesign)

I started making simple jewelry as a diversion from breast cancer treatment in 2007.  My little diversion grew to an obsession!   I believe your jewelry should be as unique as you are. I'm passionate about creating quality jewelry that helps the true you, shine through.  I love creating jewelry using sterling silver, fine silver, natural stones and pearls.  I specialize in using many different textures and shapes to add depth and dimension to each of my pieces.  I've taken many jewelry design classes from nationally known artisans and local Seattle area art schools.  I truly enjoy every minute I spend creating my jewelry.  I am eager to share my creations with you and hope you enjoy them.  I sell my jewelry at www.scjjewelrydesign.etsy.com.   My blog site is: www.scjjewelrydesign.blogspot.com.  Sandy

Sherry Cook

About Sherry (posts as: Sherry)

This is the year I'm going to get truly serious about taking my jewelry making to the next level.   I have been so blessed over the last few years to learn different techniques from several truly inspiring jewelry designers.  It's now time to take what I've learned and find my own voice.  My hope is that YOJ will introduce some discipline into this part of my life that has so often had to take a back seat.   One self-imposed criterion I'll be working under is that 80 to 90 percent of the materials used in each piece must come from my current stash (we'll see how long it takes me to break that one, LOL).

Talula AKA Lola D

About Talula (posts as: talula_rouge)

Hi! I've been making jewelry for over 12 years. I love wire. It's amazing. However, I like bead weaving as well. Currently my favorite stocked are brick , herringbone, and right angle. My other obsessions?- writing and photography. This year I am planning on writing a book that combines all three! I look forward to the fun this year!

Valerie Jewell

About Valerie (posts as: valjewell)