Triangle Jewelry Makers

Alicia Coats Jewelry

2012-01-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

I have always had a love for jewelry. When I was a child, my dad says I would wear up to 20 bracelets on my arms at a time & have to hold my arms up to keep them from falling off. When I got older (junior high), I still wore 20 bracelets at a time, but they fit!This was back when the colorful woven & corded bracelets were in style and it was cool to tuck your jeans inside multi-layers of socks! Ha! I've undergone several different jewelry (& fashion) phases throughout my youth. At one point I was into wearing a ring on every finger (yellow gold & sapphires for some reason), then there was a time when I wore hoop earrings so large they literally fit around my neck! Big hair & big earrings...ahhh...those were the days! :0) I've toned it down quite a bit since then, but I still love jewelry!

I have always been creative in one form or another. I played piano as a small child, took orchestra in junior high school, still have paintings that I did in my 20's hanging on my walls, & have a journal full of poetry that I wrote in my teens & early 20's. It wasn't until 2007 that I started making jewelry. I started out making pieces for myself as a hobby. Later, I started to make pieces for friends and family as gifts. I started to sell my pieces in 2009 to friends & finally opened up my website in 2010.

Along with designing jewelry, I work a full time job, am a wife & am happily owned by 8 fur kids (2 Chihuahuas - Peyton & Cody) & 6 cats (Callie & Spencer - "mine", Jack, Hailey, Mia , & Oliver - fosters). I do rescue work through Marley's Cat Tales (http://www.marleyscattales.org) & provide a foster home to the cats I've rescued as room & sanity permits.

http://www.aliciacoatsjewelry.com/

http://www.facebook.com/aliciacoatsjewelry

Shore Debris by Vicky Brown

2011-10-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Vicky. I have lived in Sanford since 2007 and pretend I live at the beach :) I love working with all materials, although for recent years, my concentration has been wire, shells, sea glass, and pearls. Don't worry, my husband thinks I can be distracted by any pretty stone for any length of time... and that means some stuff leaves my studio that is not exactly beach-themed.As for my access to authentic sea glass, I have been extremely fortunate. My parents just moved back to the United States after living in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for seven years. Sea glass still washes up on Guantanamo Bay's beaches with abundance because the currents are right and enough countries in that area have not been as turned onto recycling as long as the US has. Since I will no longer have this easy supply, I'm wondering if I need to hoard what's left of my stash :)

In the last couple of weeks I have become obsessed with coiling wire. I've been coiling 26 or 28 gauge wire by hand around 20 gauge wire and then using that new "larger" wire to make more designs.I had an idea earlier in the year of providing jewelry for men. Nothing has happened for me by way of necklaces, but tie tacks and cuff links are popping out of my hands like crazy. My husband thought it was a dumb idea because "nobody wears those anymore." Apparently he does not do enough traveling around big cities :) I've been making them out of stone cabachons, shells, sea glass, shark's teeth and other found objects, and I really enjoy how they have complimented the rest of my jewelry.

Shell collecting has been a big thing in my family - beginning with my grandmother who had a knack for finding large welks in Buxton, NC from 1970-1995. Since then, my entire family has migrated South - to Florida - and still do shell theme decorating. I use many found shells, but do occasionally buy shells when there are beautiful specimens that only wash up on Pacific Beaches (if I only had family living in Tahiti....)I have been working on my metal smithing (lots of trial and error... well, really lots of error, but I'm learning :) As of today, I am waiting for my first packages of precious metal clay to arrive the the mail! I can't wait to see what damage I can do combining metal smithing with the clay!

Website & Blog: Shore Debris
Facebook: Shore Debris on FB
Online Stores: Etsy, Beads, & Clearance on eBay

Linda Searcy Jewelry Designs

2011-09-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

I have always enjoyed handcrafting skills ever since I was a child when my mom taught me to sew on her industrial strength sewing machine. Through the years I've learned other handcrafted skills mainly from how-to books and retail store classes - crocheting, cross-stitching, knitting, quilting, and now jewelry making.

Wire wrapping anything and everything became my passion ever since I took a class on wire wrapped rings several years ago.

Ruby in Fuchsite Pendant

I have since expanded my jewelry making skills to include metalsmith techniques using torches, the jewelers saw, flex shaft, hydraulic press, rolling mill, etc. I gained these skills through classes and workshops at the Pullen Arts Center in Raleigh, NC, jewelry artists retreat, and local bead/jewelry supply stores.

Copper, Sterling, Topaz Earrings

I incorporate mixed metals (sterling, copper, and brass), gemstones, semi-precious stones, pearls, and crystals into my one-of-a-kind designs.

My newest line incorporates durable glass resin that I custom tint.

Now that I am ramping up with lampwork glass bead making, I will be adding my One-of-a-Kind beads to my collection.

Blog - http://www.lindasearcyjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/

ArtFire - http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/LindaSearcyJewelryDesigns

Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/LindaSearcyJewelry

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Linda.J.Searcy

Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/LindaS0928

Barbara Masters, Just Beautiful Designs

2011-06-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just Beautiful Designs creates collections of beaded and wirework jewelry and accessory designs that include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and beaded belts. Each piece of jewelry is hand made with careful attention to design and craftsmanship.

The designer, Barbara Masters, has been involved in artistic endeavors and jewelry making for many years. Barbara loves the play of colors, textures and shapes. Many pieces often have a slightly bohemian twist or organic nature. She would love to work with you to be sure get something that will make you smile and your heart sing whenever you wear it.

Just Beautiful Designs offers a variety of services, including:

* Jewelry design consultation to create a completely new piece for you or to reinterpret something old and make it something new again. Barbara will create a personalized, custom-made piece for your wedding or other special occasion.

* Beading parties that allow you to indulge your own creative side.

* Home shows that allow you to enjoy time with your friends, while browsing through an array of Just Beautiful Designs hand-crafted jewelry.

Website: Just Beautiful Designs
Contact Barbara
Etsy shop

Christi Cramer, Gem Gypsy

2011-04-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Christi Cramer and my interest in art began in junior high school with drawing and sketching and eventually lead to photography (still a major art interest) and jewelry designing.

My interest in rocks and minerals started at age 10 and eventually lead to a Graduate Gemologist Degree (GIA) in 1984. I have worked in many "facets" of the jewelry industry for over 30 years including estate jewelry buyer, appraiser, diamond buyer, and wholesale precious and semi-precious stones.

My love of Celtic music, culture and symbolism blossomed from my family background from both my parents. I really enjoy Irish music and dance and the emotive qualities that the ancient mystic symbolism of the Celtic tribes stirs within us.

My nickname- the Gem Gypsy- comes from the fortunate opportunity of being able to travel, working all kinds of events (Irish festivals, gem and mineral shows, Renaissance Faires, Highland Games) while also learning new skills and looking for interesting materials to design into jewelry.

Email: gemgypsy@bellsouth.net
Etsy: earthtraditions.etsy.com
gemgypsyenterprises.etsy.com
Web: www.earthtraditions.com
FB: Earth Traditions

Jen Hilton Jewelry

2011-02-13T12:24:00.001-08:00

Hi, I’m Jen Hilton. I’ve been loving jewelry and making my own for as long as I can remember -- which is more than 30 years!

My ideas and inspirations come from history, mythology, nature, literature, movies, and dreams. I use made-in-the-USA parts as much as possible, and always select quality ingredients such as real semi-precious stones, handmade artisan glass and ceramic, freshwater pearls, Czech glass, Venetian millefiori, Swarovski crystal, lead-free and nickel-free metals. I enjoy working with found items and antiques, and will upcycle vintage and unwanted items into beautiful adornment, or recycle old and broken jewelry into new creations. I also create replica jewelry for cosplay and costuming.

Every one of my pieces is made with intense love and fearless creativity. Many people make jewelry — I strive to make magic.

My steampunk jewelry is featured in the books Steampunk-Style Jewelry by Jean Campbell, and 1000 Steampunk Creations by Dr. Grymm.

I am the founder of the Triangle Jewelry Makers and author of the blog Bird on the Half-Hard Wire about the business aspects (rather than the creative or how-to) of making handmade jewelry.

My website: JLHJewelry.com
My email: JLHJewelry@gmail.com
On Facebook: Jen Hilton
On Twitter: JLHJewelry

Liv'nGood Jewelry

2011-02-13T12:22:00.001-08:00

I grew up in a house filled with art painted by my Mother while she was pregnant with me. Perhaps due to that early initiation, I have always had an imaginative streak, but I could never quite get my visions to work out in reality the way they did in my mind.

In efforts to find an outlet for this creative itch, I tried several different arts and craft styles: writing, water color painting, knitting, basket weaving, drawing, cross stitch & embroidery, cartooning, quilting, writing (again), stained glass, stenciling, mosaics, and more. I would start and stop, and start and stop, but none of these really struck that deep-down chord until I tried jewelry making.

My first beading class in 2007 instructional, but not very inspired. It did, however, prove to me that yes, I could in fact make something people would wear. After class, I purchased a few magazines for inspiration and to research sources. In the back was a small black and white ad for a chainmaille bracelet tutorial kit. Having always been a sucker for a gorgeous silver chain, I decided to give it a shot. I credit that decision and that ad for getting me where I am today.

Chainmaille provides the structure that my analytical side strives to impose on everything, while letting my artistic streak "sneak in" and make something beautiful. It also appeals to my inner historian, who gets to make art out of a technique that began as a tool of war.

My interest in chainmaille led to wire wrapping, initially just to make my own clasps and ear wires. Wire wrapping led to fused loop-in-loop chains – yet another historical method of making jewelry. And this led to metalsmithing, because once you start creating with metal and fire it’s hard to stop.

All of these techniques, and a few others I’ve picked up along the way, combine in my work. And while this is my artistic outlet, I always keep in mind that ultimately jewelry is about beauty and wearability, as viewed by the buyer.

My website & blog: livngoodjewelry.com
My stores: Etsy ~ Artfire ~ 1000Markets
Twitter: LivnGoodJewelry