Jewelry Creations
Though Cynthia started designing jewelry in 2009, she hasbeen interested in crafting and creativity all of life. Her family is full of creative individuals. Family gatherings often revolve around their latest creations. Her family appreciates all types of crafts and jewelry. Cynthia is a native Tennessean and lived in Alabama, Georgia and Arkansas before returning to Tennessee in 1993. She nad her husband will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2010. Her husband is supportive of her creative endeavors and has often said that she should be having “fun.” They have two adult children who are college students. She has worked in higher education since 1982.Though challenging, I enjoy custom designed orders. It is a pleasure to create a special piece for someone and then see a surprised or delighted expression from my customer. Repairing jewelry may test my patience, but I may attempt this process after careful consideration. Most of my jewelry collections include one of a kind pieces and may even be difficult to duplicate, due to the availability of supplies. Requests for special beads are met with delight. Even identical jewelry is made in limited supply. My husband wonders why I do not develop a piece of jewelry to create in a mass-produced fashion. Mass-production just does not fit my artistic style since this method does not seem to foster creativity. Trying new techniques and using new types of stones invigorate my creative juices. One thing that I enjoy about making jewelry is that if a piece becomes a creative disaster, then I can still learn from the process and I can take it apart and still have most of the original materials.
In learning new ways to make jewelry, I have been vastly inspired by reading jewelry magazines, books and countless websites. I have been stirred and enthused by numerous jewelry artists. Sometimes I have asked other beaders/jewelry designers, “Can I do this or use these stones together?” The answer is always a resoundingly positive response. “Of course!” I may inquire, “Can I combine natural stones with glass pearls?” The answer is again, “YES!” One of my jewelry friends suggested that I have a way with color. Wow – This is motivating.
Other influences include my mother and my sister who have been crafters ever since I can remember. Both have added jewelry to their repertoire of hand-crafted skills. We are thrilled to learn when a bead show is coming to town. My two aunts have encouraged my jewelry making skills and given my art as gifts to their friends. My aunts’ joy in collecting jewelry has impacted my interest in jewelry.
