Inspiration: Nature, texture, color, contrast

Random Facts About You?

I love my husband, children and family.
I have collected rocks and shells my whole life.
My taste in food and flavors is ever changing.
I love a good read.

What got you started crafting?

I started working with beads, sewing and knitting as a young girl and have always enjoyed creating. I began making jewelry and working with clay about 5 years ago. Now I have the time to experiment and express the artist in me, and to incorporate new media and methods. Once I began working with wire, I was hooked on using that in my designs. In the last 4 years I have devoted much time to my crafts and enjoy every moment of it!

What is your source of inspiration?

As I mentioned in the title: Nature, color, texture and contrast inspire me. Shapes do also - when I see a uniquely shaped bead I picture how it could accent a piece. I have always loved natural stones and shells and frequently work them into my jewelry designs. With pottery I frequently use shells to imprint decoration on the surface of my bowls, napkin holders, etc. Putting items with contrasting textures (matte versus shiny, e.g.)as well as contrasting colors often influences my jewelry designs.

I collected variously colored ocean polished pebbles on a trip I took 2.5 years ago and am still making wire wrapped necklaces with them. Often I get caught up in sorting and re-sorting the pebbles by color, size and shape and come up with new designs and combinations. Sometimes I add crystals or other beads to my wire wraps to enhance the the natural beauty.

What have you made recently?

I saw a polished black and gray oblong Paleozoic fossil cabachon and had to have it! It reminded me of the large polished Paleozoic fossil slab that my husband and I bought in Quartzite several years ago during their annual rock and mineral show (our slab sits in front of our fire place - too heavy to be mounted on the wall above which was the original plan). Back to the cabachon - of course it had no hole, no problem for me. So I began to wirewrap the cabachon with silver wire and to make a bail (loop in which to suspend it from the strand). I also had some black wire so I embellished the silver wire near the bail with the black wire. Then I looked for complementary beads to string the cabachon, not wanting to overtake it's natural beauty. I bought some snowflake onyx in small rondelles and some opaque white quartz round beads. Then, to contrast sizes, I used small hematite colored seed beads as spacers. Thus, I was able to make a complementary but not overpowering strand on which to string my spectacular pendant. I made earrings to match using huge round silver jump rings as a base around which I wound the black wire. then inside of the jump rings is a loop of the same beads as the strand, in the same pattern. You can see pictures of this set in my on line ETSY shop.

Where do you sell your crafts presently?

I have an ETSY on line store. In addition I sell to friends and family, at jewelry parties, and at art and craft shows.

Why are handmade crafts important to you?

I take things I buy (beads, wire, jump rings, etc.), make (ceramic pendants, pewter pendants, wire beads, etc.) or find (stones, shells, etc.) and put them together with other things I make, find, or buy and thus the end product is unique and handmade.

Find Me

Location
Southern California

Email Address
Beth Mann

Personal Website
http://www.bethmann.etsy.com

Store Website
http://www.bethmann.etsy.com