I started my love affair with actually making jewelry in response to the disaster of September 11, 2001. Several people in my department made patriotic, plastic beaded bracelets and sold them...the money was sent to the NYFD widows and orphans.
I thought I could make a nicer bracelet out of pretty glass beads. I bought some glass stars in red, white, and blue, designed a couple of simple bracelets...and started selling them right off my wrist. Then I bought my favorite natural stones (lapis) and sold bracelet after bracelet. By November of 2001, I had added earrings and necklaces to my repertoire and started a business called NorthWest Jewelry by Design. I took many classes to discover what my true loves were...basically natural beads with a mixture of silver and gold...although I still use some pretty glass and crystal beads also. Most of my jewelry designs are "one of a kind creations" and tend to combine silver and gold with color and be on a small scale.
My studio is located among the beautiful foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range in the historic town of Sublimity, Oregon. I sell my designs by word of mouth and at home shows. I also have my work on display at several local shops as well as at "Bush Barn Art Gallery" in the capital of Oregon, which is sponsored by the Salem Art Association.
Artist Philosophy:
My love of art and the creation of beauty started early in my life. I have also always loved geology and rocks. I never thought that these loves could be combined with my love of jewelry into a successful business!
