I have been creating since I was very young. My passions and interests are broad and I love exploring them all.
My favorite creative outlets are writing, photography, upcycling, and jewelry design, Looking back over the years, I see the patterns in work that has captured my interest. In writing, I look for structure and organization. For my visual endeavors, I love connecting with color and layout.
Growing up, little got me more excited than a new box of crayons or markers. The possibilities were endless! I would color in books, create my own designs, and use color to organize my life…today I still keep track of my schedule using different color marker for different types of activities!!
When I'm not fascinated with color, I'm focused on composition and layout - in my head there is just a "right" way something should look. When scrapbooking, I move things around until I get just the effect I'm looking for. I've found it works the same way in my jewelry design - I shift the beads, the labels and pieces of glass until I achieve patterns that look just right. I've also realized that often that look isn't symmetrical….I'm not sure why, but the way it is.
I don't know exactly how I landed on wine and beer bottles as the foundation of my jewelry designs, but I can say I've always been fascinated by the unsung packaging designers who create the artifacts I leverage - the cork and label designers in particular. In addition, I love the memories that are attached to different brands and bottles. When someone selects a piece from my shop or has me create a special order, there is typically a story behind the bottle they select.
My creative path has also intersected with another passion of mine - reducing the impact we have on the environment. I love that I am creating a 2nd life for wine and beer bottles that would otherwise be discarded. I also strive to use recycled beads and natural stones as often as possible and ensure other elements of my business are sustainable.