Polymer Clay bead artist Rejetta Sellers from Jetta Bug
Q: Can you tell us a bit of the beginning of your career as an artist. When did you start your career and what did you do before. Was this transition difficult?
A 50% off sale in the bead section of my craft store is how I fell into making jewelry. I had always loved working with my hands: flower gardening, needle art- cross-stitch, crewel, embroidery, and historic costume making but I had never thought of jewelry making. But that day in the store I just went for it and bought some beads and a stringing chain. I was happy with the results but it wasn’t until my mom, literally, took it off my neck for her own that I contemplated making jewelry. I became more confident as time went on and decided to try a
contest in Stringing Magazine. I was picked for editors choice! My confidence was boosted to try my pieces for publication after that. Then my closet of jewelry grew until I had to try and sale it or stop making jewelry- gasp! So I opened my Etsy shop with my fingers crossed.
Q: Are you self-taught?
Mostly. I am very visual and have loads of books and magazines that I go to for inspiration. I am always game for experimenting with an idea and seeing where it will lead. I started out my jewelry making journey with bead weaving projects- seed beads were an inexpensive start. Then I noticed my tastes veering toward chain maille and dabbled with that until prices of silver became too high. But one magazine I came across had polymer clay projects that really captured my whimsical nature. I visited my craft store again years later and bought a rainbow of polymer clays and started to play.
Q: Why did you choose the medium polymer clay? Are you planning to explore other materials as well in the future, like glass, ceramic or metal?
I love the feel of the polymer clay in my hands, shaping it between my fingers. It is the one medium I have tried that allows for mistakes, to reshape and try again. I sculpt and shape each bead individually, taking up to and over an hour per critter. I feel like I breathe life and personality into each piece. I am so proud of them when I place them in their box and send them off to a new home. I won’t be giving up polymer clay anytime soon!