SPOTLIGHT: Beadwright

    Nicole Campanella

Name: Nicole Campanella
Etsy shop name: Beadwright
Website: http://www.nicolecampanella.com
Blog:http://www.beadwright.blogspot.com
Location: on the beach in Florence, OR
1. What kind of materials do you use in your creations? I incorporate so many different materials in my work.  To list just a few, of course glass beads, gourds, just about anything from nature including animal parts.  I harvest most of the bone from hunting camps. I was taught to use all things in respect. When creating with hide, feathers, bone, or fur the art is to honor the animal. The same is true when working with drift wood, plants, rocks or shells.  I also draw, paint, do leather work, basketry, wood work, I love power tools, a bit of welding.and all of it has beads somewhere in the pieces.  I call myself a multimedia artists who specializes in beads.
2. How did you get into this form of art? It started when I was 16 years old selling my embroidery and beadwork on Market street in SF. I have been creating and selling my art ever since. I will be 56 on April 27, so 40 years.

3. What inspires you? Do you have a plan before you make a piece, or do the materials “speak” to you?I never have a plan and I don’t work with patterns. It comes so natural to me. I see or hold an object and I know what I will create with it. The idea may change during the process, however, I never take anything apart.

4. Do you have a certain design style? I don’t have a design style. Every piece I make is so different from the previous piece.

5. What is your favorite technique? Without a hesitation Peyote stitch. I am known in bead circles as “Peyote Woman”

6. Other than Etsy, where could someone find your creations? I don’t carry too many finished pieces on etsy or any other online venue.  The reason is that I have clientele that I cater to. I also find that online buyers for my type of art do not see the quality or detail of my pieces, therefore they don’t want to pay the prices I ask.  However, you can see some of my work on my website or blog.

7. What is your favorite part of being a member of EtsyBEAD?  Hands down the members of etsyBEAD group. I have come into contact and even become friends with some of the most amazing people. Each one an artist along with other skills that make the group a pleasure to be a part of. Other online groups that I have been involved with were actually boring with nothing to do. etsyBead members strive to have something going on all the time. Oh and chat.  Our Tuesday night chat is the first time I experienced chat. It was so much fun and everyone made me feel so welcome and at home. Now I don’t miss Tuesday night unless it is an emergency.

     

 

 

            

 

 

  

 

 

             

SPOTLIGHT: SToNZ

Name: Susan
Etsy shop name: SToNZ
Website: www.stonz.etsy.com
Blog: http://beachstonz.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stonzware/
Talent Database: http://thedb.com/stonz
Indiepublic: http://www.indiepublic.com/profile/SToNZ
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

1. What kind of materials do you use in your creations?
I mainly work with beach stones, sea glass, sterling silver and freshwater
pearls.

2. How did you get into this form of art?
I have been making art as long as I can remember. My art passion led me to
art school where I followed the path of commercial graphic arts. This in
turn, led me to illustrating greeting cards for a huge corporation for many
years and eventually running a graphic design/illustration business from my
home studio while I raised my twins.

I took many jewelry classes when I was younger and have always enjoyed
creating jewelry. One summer I was walking on a beach collecting smooth
beach pebbles and seaglass and was wishing I could ³wear it² somehow.
It dawned on me that I could turn it into high quality jewelry. I bought a
drill and experimented until I found my own style.

I have also always been a beach girl, collecting sea glass, shells and beach
stones from every beach I visit in my travels. When I discovered I could
actually combine my two loves: making creative and fun stuff with hanging
out on beautiful beaches collecting natural treasures, I knew I¹d found my
dream!

3. What inspires you? Do you have a plan before you make a piece, or do the materials ³speak² to you?
It¹s all the materials. I have bowls all over my studio full of pebbles and
other found objects. Sometimes when I discover a new style of chain or
finding, I look through my bowls for the right little stone to go with it. I
just try different combinations until something fits just right. Often the
final piece turns out much different than what I first imagined it would
look like.

4. Do you have a certain design style?
Well, now that depends. I am also a graphic designer/illustrator and my
³style² on those areas has always been rather whimsical and cute. (And
juvenile! I have also done a lot of designing for children¹s products) With
my jewelry, I am much more serious. I think the seaglass and wrapped wire
adds a touch of whimsy, but my StoNZ jewelry is far from cute. I am not into
bling and sparkle. It¹s casual, natural, organic, tactile, textural,
dimensional, and modern all at the same time. My homage to Mother Nature.

5. What is your favorite technique?
Well, I know it¹s frequently overused these days, but I am completely hooked
on sulphur oxidization. I just love the way it adds depth to silver. I do
feel it¹s important to buff the silver after darkening it so it¹s not just
all black. The point for me is to add dimension to a piece and have a
delicious contrast between the bright silver surface and the darkened inner
crevasses. I love what it does to silver chains as well. My family hates the
smell when I do it in the kitchen, though!

6. Other than Etsy, where could someone find your creations?
There is an adorable interiors shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio on Main St.
called three.home that carries StoNZ jewelry. I am thinking about more
venues, but that¹s it for now.
The owner found me on etsy and I couldn¹t say no when I saw how cool her
store was!

7. What is your favorite part of being a member of EtsyBEAD?
I have learned so much from the team about beading techniques, marketing
ideas, and supply resources. And it¹s inspiring to see what they are doing
and how they do it!
Creative people need to share ideas and encouragement to keep the energy
flowing. Sometimes connecting with like minded folks is the only way to stay
inspired when things, forgive the pun, get rocky!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPOTLIGHT: GalleriaLinda

         

Name:Linda Harrell
Etsy shop name:GalleriaLinda- finished jewelry
                              GalleriaLindaLoft – supplies and vintage
http://gallerialinda.etsy.com
http://gallerialindaloft.etsy.com
Website:  www.gallerialinda.com
Blog:http://gallerialindashowcase.blogspot.com
Location:Lakeland, FL

                            

1. What kind of materials do you use in your creations?
I explore designs right now that utilize glass beads and seem drawn to glass
because glass can become what it is not with metallic finishes, fire polish,
lampwork, crackle, and more, they are just interesting! I love the way light
dances in the glass.

Recently, I have explored using quality acrylic, which has brought to me
some inspiring surprises.

Mixed metals of all kinds are a favorite, have explored polymer clay for
pendants, and am starting working with silver wire.

You will notice that a lot of my designs incorporate Swarovski crystal
pearls of various sizes. My design perspective is contemporary and I like to
use traditional materials in an unexpected way.

 2. How did you get into this form of art?
I was interested in making jewelry in college (a “few” years ago), and
although I did not have the time to take jewelry classes, I hung out with
those who did! I have an interior design degree so my career has had an
artistic and design focus going from interior design to graphic design to
web design, and now back to jewelry design.

 3. What inspires you? Do you have a plan before you make a piece, or do the
materials “speak” to you?
If I ever HAD to plan out a piece – I doubt it would happen! Frankly, I love
to look at the materials to see what catches my eye with textures, colors,
and finish, then they are put together. I am known to go into a bead shop
with a list and come out with “so off the list” items that just caught my
eye – things that I would never “list” to buy — but they work!

I also get inspired by the photography. I have worked hard to improve my
photos and have retaken photos many times trying different backgrounds,
props, and lighting. The photography is a creative outlet for me as well.

 4. Do you have a certain design style?
I would say contemporary is my overall style. Because of my studies in
architecture and interiors, I am drawn to clean and simple as a design
style.

 5. What is your favorite technique?
I think one thing that is different about my designs are the mix of colors
and materials. I like to use materials classically but in a different way.

 6. Other than Etsy, where could someone find your creations?
My web site www.gallerialinda.com is the site that I promote because it hosts my Etsy mini that links back to the shop. I wanted a central place
where people could access my shop and blog and anything else I add. I now
need to update it to add my 1-month old supply and vintage shop!

Several of my good friends in Indiana and Texas are “Galleria collectors!” I
will be shipping of a portion of my shop to Texas for a jewelry home show.

Be sure to stop by Lakeland, FL to see the most latest designs from
GalleriaLinda.

 7. What is your favorite part of being a member of EtsyBEAD?
The etsyBEAD group is a very unique creative group. I enjoy the friendship
and the sharing of ideas the most. The organization team does a fabulous job
for all of us. They are to be commended for their commitment and work to
make us all look good!