Christmas ornaments. “I was getting burned out
on painting and needed a new idea. I sat down
with some beads and a spoon bowl and the jewelry started. One thing led to the next and now
I have a whole room full of jewelry making supplies.”
Pinterest is a big inspiration to Kim. “I spend hours
looking at what is out there. I make notes on what I
like and try to incorporate it into our finished product. I have found so many artists beads out there to
use. You see a component that someone has used
and it sparks a design. One picture can lead me to
a hundred others...oh I have fun looking! You run
across a design with a new technique and off I go to
learn about it. I never stop wanting to learn.”
Enameling and soldering is what Kim wants to learn
next. “I have the equipment and supplies. I just need
to get my feet wet and try it. Mike and I both would
like to learn to solder.”
I asked Kim what were the must have tools in their
workshop, and she told me “We have had the for-
creativebeadchat.com
tune to own equipment that is one of a kind. My
father has made us a couple of pieces too. He made
a vice stand from the axel of a tractor and has also
made us a silverware bender from odd pieces he
had on hand. We have a wide range of hammers
collected over the years to a modern dremmel to
polish cut ends. Hammers picked up at junk stores
are great to mar the surface of the flattened spoon
bowls.” Sounds like quite a collection!
Her advice to new aspiring artists is “if it’s your passion, go for it....don’t forget to learn, and to keep
learning along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask questions there are many answers out there. I have
found many new friends on line this way.”
One other tip she gave was in being unique. “I think
our success has been that we have a varied booth.
Along with our jewelry we have wood items, painted
items and crafted items. I have always tried to have
something different than what all the other booths
are offering. We have always tried to take something
old and make it new again. Try to make your creations unique. Put your own flair to your work.”