Meet Our Jewelry & Craft Authors
Specializing in beading (stitching and stringing), jewelry making, wirework, metal clay, polymer clay, and more!
Published: June 27, 2008
CAROL A. BABINEAU
Carol was born and raised in New England. She is an Art Clay Master Instructor, one of just 10 in the United States. She is also a State Juried Member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, a juried member of the Dunstable Artisans, a member of the Enamel Guild North East, and a PMC Connection Certified Artisan (Levels I & II).
Carol continues to share her excitement for metal clay through publishing and teaching. She has published articles in Art Jewelry and Bead&Button magazines, and she teaches from her studio in the Picker Building, Nashua, N. H. She recently won the Art Clay World Presidential Grand Prize, third place, and honorable mention prizes in the fourth annual Art Clay World North American Design Contest.
Books by Carol:
Metal Clay Beyond the Basics
Visit Carol's website:
Art Clay Studio
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PAULETTE BARON
Paulette is known for creating three-dimensional sculptural art out of beads. Her pieces use different sizes and shapes of beads and are made using a wide assortment of off-loom bead weaving stitches. She teaches classes at several national bead shows. Paulette’s "Pinwheel Garden" necklace appears on the title page of Margie Deeb’s book, The Beader’s Color Palette. Her work is featured in Beading with the Brick Stitch by Diane Fitzgerald, The Best Collection of Beadweaving Stitches by 9 American Bead Artists by Kumiko Mizuno Ito, and in The Beaded Figure traveling exhibition.
Books by Paulette:
Beading Across America (with Amy Katz and Sherry Serafini)
Visit Paulette's website:
Paulette Baron: Beadwork Artist
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KATIE BAUM
Katie began her teaching career in 2003 as a middle-school science teacher. She has always been fascinated with sciences and experimentation, initially approaching silver clay with a logical "How is this possible?" attitude before falling in love with its versatility and creative possibilities. Katie came to work full-time with Art Clay World USA headquarters in mid-2007, after earning her Art Clay Senior Instructor status from Art Clay Senior Instructor and long-time mentor Judi Hendricks. Katie was initially certified by Jackie Truty, an Art Clay Master Instructor and president of Art Clay World USA.
In addition to directing the Art Clay Society, maintaining its website, and publishing its newsletters, Katie is also the marketing and advertising director and the wholesale accounts manager with Art Clay World USA. In her "spare time," Katie hopes to converse more often with her muses and create pieces from her heart and spirit.
Books by Katie:
Silver Clay Keepsakes: Family-Friendly Projects (with Judi Hendricks)
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MELISSA CABLE
Melissa has been creating jewelry for over 10 years and owned a bead store in Washington State for seven years. She has a passion for teaching people how to make jewelry, and has traveled and taught at bead stores and shows around the country. Melissa has been a popular instructor at shows such as the Bead&Button Show, Bead Expo, and the Puget Sound Bead Festival.
Books by Melissa:
Spotlight on Wire
Metal Gardens (forthcoming)
Visit Melissa's website:
melissacable.com
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MARTINE CALLAGHAN
Martine Callaghan has been passionate about wire and wirework for more than 10 years, ever since she took her first certified college course in jewelry making. In 2005, she launched a full-time career in jewelry, creating and selling unique, handcrafted pieces to individuals and boutiques. She also creates commissioned jewelry, has a successful line of custom-made bridal jewelry, and creates educational tutorials.
In 2009, she was named the “Jewellery Maker of the Year in Wirework” by the UK magazine Beads & Beyond. She is the magazine’s resident expert on wireworking, contributing a monthly column and answering readers’ queries through the magazine’s website.
Martine enjoys developing innovative wirework techniques and sharing her talents through writing and teaching.
Books by Martine:
The Absolute Beginners Guide: Making Wire Jewelry
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AIMEE CARPENTER
Drawing from her trademark sense of style, Aimee creates stunning color palettes and designs to suit every crystal taste. She has a remarkable ability for simplifying stitch instructions, and her detailed illustrations are exceptionally easy to follow. Aimee currently teaches classes at the White Fox Bead Studio in Maryville, Tenn.
Books by Aimee:
Endless Sparkle
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ANNA ELIZABETH DRAEGER
Anna Elizabeth Draeger is an associate editor at Bead&Button magazine, where she writes the popular online column “Ask Anna.” Her years of designing projects, teaching, and editing give her a lead on what interests beaders at all levels of experience. In 2009, Anna was named an ambassador for the CREATE YOUR STYLE with CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements program, a handpicked network of 34 designers worldwide who are passionate about and prolific in using these Austrian crystal beauties in their projects and as they teach.
Books by Anna:
Crystal Brilliance
Great Designs for Shaped Beads: Tilas and Tiles (forthcoming)
Great Designs for Shaped Beads: Long Drops and Daggers (forthcoming)
Great Designs for Shaped Beads: Peanut Beads (forthcoming)
Crystal Play (forthcoming)
Visit Anna's website:
Beadivine
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PAM EAST
Pam is an enamelist and a certified Master Instructor in Art Clay Silver. She has written numerous articles for such magazines as Lapidary Journal, Art Jewelry magazine, Glass on Metal, and Step-by-Step Beads. Her video, "Enamel Bead Making," has received high praise in reviews. She has appeared on the Carol Duvall Show on HGTV, and also on Jewelry Making on the DIY Network.
Born and raised in Southern California, Pam now resides in Alpharetta, Ga., with her husband, daughter, two cats, and Ferrari the Wonder Dog.
Books by Pam:
Enameling on Metal Clay: Innovative Jewelry Projects
Visit Pam's website:
Pam East: Fine Art Jewelry and Instruction
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KATHY FOX
Kathy began her professional career with Eastman Kodak Company as a sales account executive. After working with Kodak for almost 10 years she retired from corporate life to stay home and raise her two children. When her youngest was in school full time, she wanted to pursue a career that would give her the flexibility to be there for her children and in 2002, Kathy and her husband David opened The Place to Bead in Naperville, Ill., the first full service bead store in the area. During her search for unique and eye-catching beads for the store, Kathy developed a passion for Venetian beads, their history, and the Venetian culture. In 2004, Kathy and her husband expanded the business with the addition of Bella Venetian Beads and are now the largest importers of genuine Venetian beads in the country.
Kathy wants to help maintain the integrity and history of Venetian beads and has been a guest speaker at NAJA National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (Tuscon show, Feb. 2009) and Gemological Institute of America Alumni Manhattan Chapter, spring 2009, to share this information. She continues to manage and teach classes at The Place to Bead and also is the show promoter for the bi-annual Suburban Bead Encounter. Kathy enjoys traveling to Europe and in 2008 organized a Mediterranean Bead Cruise with land excursions to Venice, Murano, Torcello, and Burano.
Books by Kathy:
The Venetian Glass Bead
Watch a video interview with Kathy!
Visit Kathy's website:
Bella Venetian Beads
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NAOMI FUJIMOTO
Naomi began designing jewelry while earning her master's degree in sociology. In 1999, she left the academic life to pursue a career in making pretty things. She loves charm bracelets, handmade ornaments, and mixed-breed dogs.
Naomi has lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago. She currently lives in Milwaukee and is Senior Editor at BeadStyle magazine.
Books by Naomi:
Cool Jewels: Beading Projects for Teens
Visit Naomi's blog:
Cool Jewels Blog
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CHRISTINE HANSEN
A lifelong artist, Christine works with a wide variety of media. In addition to creating ArtCharms and designing jewelry, Chris makes art glass marbles and lampwork beads. She also enjoys beaded embroidery, re-purposing found objects, and drawing. Chris is a freelance writer, and has published numerous non-fiction articles for trade and consumer publications. Chris lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.
Books by Christine:
Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry (with Peggy Krzyzewski)
Visit Christine's blog:
Intuitive Sparks
Visit Christine's website:
Christine Hansen: Artist, Writer, Teacher
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HELEN HARLE
Helen Harle has been interested in crafts for as long as she can remember. She learned to knit and sew at age six and enjoyed knitting toys and making clothes for her dolls. Like many families, there was not much money to spare, so she would unpick unwanted garments and reuse the yarn and fabric for her projects. This continued into her teens, by which time she was making clothes, decorated with beads and embroidery, and restringing broken necklaces into new creations. Helen gets great satisfaction in making something nice from things other people throw away.
Helen lives in Torquay, Devon, England, with her husband, Adrian. They have two grown children, Tanya and Tom, and a new grandson, Christopher. When not making jewelry, Helen loves spending time in her garden, and she is a regular contributor to beading publications.
Books by Helen:
Create Colorful Aluminum Jewelry
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JUDI HENDRICKS
Judi sees life as a never-ending journey of creative expression and so is accustomed to starting off in one direction and ending up somewhere completely unexpected - or going in five directions at once. In her daily life, she's a contract designer whose projects range from developing data collection tools for the pharmaceutical research industry to designing print ads. In her evening and weekend lives, she's a silver clay artist and teacher as well as a potter, combining her work in porcelain clay with Art Clay Overlay Paste to create new levels of expression. Of her pottery, she says, "I love shaping the earth. It's like playing with mud where you just might end up with a cereal bowl."
Judi feels that everyone has an inner artist. "I feel that souls were born to create," she says. She believes that a lot of pain that people experience occurs when they have lost touch with their creative spark and creative process, almost as though they have forgotten how to enjoy playing, which makes it hard to enjoy life. She believes that silver clay's ultra-fast learning curve and affordability makes it a perfect playful medium for reopening the door to personal creative expression.
Books by Judi:
Silver Clay Keepsakes: Family-Friendly Jewelry (with Katie Baum)
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JAMIE HOGSETT
Jamie Hogsett is a bead lover, jewelry designer, beading instructor, freelance editor, and the Education Coordinator for Soft Flex Company.
She is the author of Stringing Style and co-author, with Marlene Blessing, of Create Jewelry: Pearls, Create Jewelry: Crystals, Create Jewelry: Stones, and Create Jewelry: Glass. Jamie's work has been published numerous times in Stringing and Beadwork magazines as well as in Beadwork Creates Beaded Rings, Beadwork Creates Beaded Bags, and Beadwork Creates Beaded Earrings.
Books by Jamie:
Show Your Colors (with Sara Hardin Oehler)
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CATHY JAKICIC
Originally from the Chicago area, Cathy came to Milwaukee to attend Marquette University in the early '80s and never left the city. She began making jewelry more than 15 years ago, while working at a Milwaukee daily newspaper. In 2005, she landed her dream job as editor of BeadStyle magazine. In addition to making jewelry, Cathy enjoys travel (and creating scrapbooks from her trips), baking, gardening, movies, and books.
She lives in a beautiful old house that is filled with beads and memories -- and says there's always room for more of both.
Books by Cathy:
Hip Handmade Memory Jewelry
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VIRGINIA JENSEN
Virginia is a designer and bead-weaving teacher from Grand Junction, Colo. After a full career in advertising and publishing that included awards for her graphic design, she now focuses on creating wearable jewelry with a trained eye for proportion, color palette, and pattern.
Virginia's beaded designs have appeared in many leading beading publications, including Bead&Button magazine. She is co-founder of her area's Art Jewelers Guild.
Books by Virginia:
Cube Bead Stitching
Contemporary Cube Bead Design (forthcoming)
Visit Virgina's website:
VirJen Mettle
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AMY KATZ
has been part of the world of seed beads since 1993 as a student, teacher, and designer. High-end jewelry has always been something she has admired and loved. When she began designing her own beadwork pieces, Amy decided to create a fine-jewelry look with seed beads and crystals. Using imagination and the highest quality materials, this vision has materialized into her signature style. Amy teaches nationally.
Books by Amy:
Beading Across America
Visit Amy's website:
Bead Journey by Amy Katz
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PATRICIA KIMLE
Patricia has always been involved in art, from childhood on. Her early interests focused on apparel design and later, jewelry. She holds a Ph.D. in Textiles and Clothing and taught apparel design at the college level for seven years.
Patricia has been exploring polymer clay for nearly 20 years. About 5 years ago, she added metal clay to the mixture to create mixed media jewelry. She sells her jewelry to galleries and gift shops across the country. She has two lines; a fashion line which combines silver and polymer with a strong nature theme, and an inspirational line which incorporates scripture verses and prayers in the silver. She uses all original drawings, carved designs, and molds of foliage collected in her own yard in her artwork. Patricia has written over 30 project articles for jewelry craft magazines and general craft publications. She teaches polymer and metal clay at events around the country, including the Bead & Button Show.
Patricia lives on a small “hobby farm” in Ames, Iowa, with her husband and three children, a large garden, sheep, a few chickens and ducks, and a dog. She enjoys cooking and needle arts when not in the studio.
Books by Patricia:
Perfectly Paired: Designing Jewelry with Polymer and Metal Clays
Polymer Clay Canes (forthcoming)
Visit Patricia's website:
Patricia Kimle Designs
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PEGGY KRZYZEWSKI
As a mixed media artist, motivational speaker, and teacher with over twenty years of experience, Peggy’s goal is to provide a safe and non-judgmental place to practice the four Es: Enjoyment, Empowerment, Exploration and self-Expression. Her classes focus on having fun as well as learning techniques. She earned her Master’s Degree in Life Coaching with an emphasis on Creativity, and leads workshops devoted to claiming one’s Creative Spirit through art; her business name, ARTandSOULtoo, reflects that combination. Peggy currently teaches fused glass and mixed media jewelry, polymer clay, paper making, metal working, gourd art, WishCrafting, and assemblage.
Books by Peggy:
Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry (with Christine Hansen)
Visit Peggy's blog:
ARTandSOULtoo
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HEIDI KUMMLI
Heidi's beadwork is an expression of herself, and her feelings for Mother Earth and the creatures upon her. Heidi started working in beads in 1975 and remembers making jewelry even as a young child. Her great-grandmother was a Chippewa Indian whom crafted beadwork for vaudeville. She feels the gift was passed down to her, and through researching Native American beadwork techniques and trial and error, her work has continually evolved. She currently lives on 12 acres in the Colorado Rockies with her husband Gregg, and their son. Their home is totally off the grid, using only the sun and a back-up generator for power.
Heidi has won numerous design awards throughout her career. Most recently she won 1st Place in the Finished Jewelry class and 2nd Place in the Seed Beads class at the Bead&Button Show 2008. Heidi has also written several articles on beadwork techniques and her work has been featured in several books. Heidi hopes through her work to share the beauty that surrounds her and spread enlightenment and happiness.
Books by Heidi:
The Art of Bead Embroidery: Technique, Design, & Inspiration (with Sherry Serafini)
The Spirit of Bead Embroidery (forthcoming)
Visit Heidi's website:
Free Spirit Collection
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KAREN LEONARDO
Karen Leonardo has been a lampworker and jewelry designer since 1996, and she has authored and contributed to a number of lampworking and jewelry books. She has invented a glass tool called the Leonardo Petal Puller, which pulls petals from glass rods to be used in sculpted glass flowers. Karen also has a tool line called The Leonardo Imprinters; the tools imprint various designs into the hot glass.
Karen's accomplishments include honors in the art world as well as the business world. She is proud to be nominated for awards, such as the Pennsylvania Artist of the Year and The International Who's Who of Business Women and Entrepreneurs. A member of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers, Karen runs a successful lampworking website with her beads, jewelry, books, and tools, and can also be found on etsy and eBay.
Books by Karen:
Art Bead Jewelry: Seasons in Glass
Visit Karen's website:
Leonardo Lampwork
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MELODY MACDUFFEE
Melody has been designing jewelry for 20 years. Her work has been shown in juried competitions in several states. She teaches internationally and manages the class program for her local state-of-the-art bead store. Melody is the author of Boutique Bead & Wire Jewelry, the coauthor of Beaded Edgings, and has contributed to dozens of other beading books and publications.
Melody is the executive director and co-founder of Soul of Somanya, an organization dedicated to develop sustainable employment opportunities in the field of beadwork for residents of the town of Somanya-Krobo in the eastern region of Ghana, West Africa. Please visit www.soulofsomanya.net for more information.
Books by Melody:
Lacy Wire Jewelry
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IRINA MIECH
Irina was born in Kiev, Ukraine. She pursued degrees in international relations and Russian, but became interested in beading while running an import business that dealt in Morrocan jewelry and handicrafts.
Irina began teaching Precious Metal Clay classes as a Certified Instructor in 2002, and became a PMC Senior Instructor in 2005. Her work has been featured in Bead&Button, BeadStyle, and Art Jewelry magazines. She lives in Brookfield, Wis., with her husband and two sons.
Books by Irina:
Inventive Metal Clay for Beaders: Exciting Projects for All Levels
Metal Clay for Beaders
More Metal Clay for Beaders: 18 Innovative Projects
Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders
Metal Clay Rings
Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders 2
Irina's Inspirations for Jewelry
Classic Style, Fresh Look (forthcoming)
Watch a video interview with Irina!
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NANA V. MIZUSHIMA
Certified in both Art Clay and PMC programs, Nana has been teaching metal clay classes and workshops since 2002. She has taught regularly with Colorado Free University, Front Range Community College, and the Rocky Mountain Bead Society. Nana has twice demonstrated her metal clay techniques on the popular DIY Network's jewelry making show hosted by Jackie Guerra. In 2003, she took second place in the Lapidary Journal's Bead Arts Awards, and in 2002, her work appeared in Positively Precious Metal Clay, a national juried exhibition at the Artisans Center of Virginia.
When she's not teaching metal clay classes or working on jewelry, Nana pursues her interest in international affairs. She has worked for the Fulbright Commission in Tokyo and Jakarta. Most recently, she taught international relations at Teikya University in Denver. Nana lives in Colorado with her husband, John, their children, and several pets, including Spooky the dog.
Books by Nana:
Metal Clay Magic: Making Silver Jewelry the Easy Way
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SARA HARDIN OEHLER
Sara Hardin Oehler is a well-known jewelry designer residing in sunny Phoenix, Ariz. She has designed jewelry and written for numerous publications including: Beadwork, Stringing, Jewelry in Fashion Trends, Simply Beads, The Flow, and Today’s Creative Home Arts.
As “Ask Sara” of the Soft Flex® Company, she has had the opportunity to have her work featured in advertisements, signs, fliers, postcards, and other marketing materials. Sara has demonstrated and showed her designs at hundreds of bead shows in her 12-year career.
Books by Sara:
Show Your Colors (with Jamie Hogsett)
Visit Sara's blog:
Soft Flex Girl
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CINDY THOMAS PANKOPF
Cindy is a graphic designer turned award-winning beader, author, and instructor with a passion for teaching beginners. She has a true gift for sharing techniques, tips, and tricks in a clear and friendly tone. Cindy is a master instructor for Art Clay Silver, is PMC certified, and also teaches beading and metal clay classes in Brea, Calif., and at the Bead&Button Show.
Books by Cindy:
The Absolute Beginners Guide: Making Metal Clay Jewelry
Watch a video interview with Cindy!
Visit Cindy's website:
CindyPankopf.com
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NEALAY PATEL
Nealay is a jewelry designer who incorporates fashion trends and the latest styles into his work. He has been published in several beading magazines, including Bead Unique and Bead&Button, and has taught at beading stores. In addition to designing jewelry, Nealay teaches a course in fashion jewelry at the Tulsa Technology Center in his home state of Oklahoma.
Books by Nealay:
Jewelry for the New Romantic
Watch a video interview with Nealay!
Visit Nealay's websites:
facebook.com/nealay and behance.net/nealayjewelry
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JULIE PICARELLO
Julie has developed an enormous following in the polymer clay community due to her remarkable ability to create inviting color palettes and showcase them in her work. As a respected and sought-after artist and teacher, she has become a show favorite and attracts crowds of followers eager to purchase and learn how to make her signature pieces. Julie is an active member of the polymer clay community and also teaches for polymer guilds. Her teaching has taken her to many venues and major shows throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Books by Julie:
Patterns in Polymer: Imprint and Accent Bead Techniques
Visit Julie's website:
Yellow House Designs
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LAURA POPLIN
Laura Poplin was a finalist in the 2010 Halstead Grant competition, previously known as the Jewelry Design Business Development Grant, for up-and-coming jewelry entrepreneurs. Laura is a member of the Ohio Arts Council, the Dayton Visual Arts Center, and the American Craft Council.
Many Ohio galleries and boutiques carry her jewelry, which she sells under the brand “Enchainements,” from the French word meaning “linking.”
Books by Laura:
Unconventional Chain Mail (forthcoming)
Visit Laura's website:
Enchainements
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HEATHER POWERS
Heather is an artist well known for her beautiful polymer clay beads, collected by jewelry enthusiasts all over the world. Her work has been featured on television and in magazines and books. She is also the organizer and planner of the Bead Cruise, and is the founder and editor of Art Bead Scene, an interactive blog that celebrates art beads and inspires those who use them.
Books by Heather:
Jewelry Designs from Nature
Watch a video interview with Heather!
Visit Heather's websites:
Humble Beads and Art Bead Scene
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JEANNE RHODES-MOEN
Jeanne grew up in Maryland, and she began making and selling jewelry while attending college. She married and moved to Norway in 1991, where she spent the next 14 years learning and experimenting with Norwegian filigree techniques, eventually developing her own signature style based on Norwegian jewelry traditions. Jeanne currently lives in North Carolina with her two daughters.
Books by Jeanne:
Silver Threads: Making Wire Filigree Jewelry
Visit Jeanne's website:
Jeannius Designs
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SUE RIPSCH
Sue shares her expertise in chain mail in workshops across the country, and her original designs are represented in a gallery in Sedona, Ariz. She and her husband have developed her passion into a web-based business, "Jewelry by Sue," through which they offer finished jewelry, kits, and jump rings made to precise specifications. They travel together to many well-known bead, jewelry, and wirework shows to spread their knowledge and appreciation of the chain mail art.
Books by Sue:
Classic Chain Mail Jewelry
Visit Sue's website:
Jewelry by Sue
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GAIL RITCHEY
Gail is known for her innovative uses of polymer clay in home décor items, jewelry, miniatures, and more. She teaches her techniques, demonstrates at national trade shows, and tests new polymer clay products for manufacturers. Her first book, Making Miniature Villages in Polymer Clay, was published in 2000, and her designs have appeared in many leading craft magazines.
Gail has been featured on The Carol Duvall Show and Hands On Crafts for Kids. She is a member of the International Polymer Clay Association and the Craft & Hobby Association.
Books by Gail:
Artful Polymer Clay
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MAGGIE ROSCHYK
Maggie Roschyk is an accomplished beadwork artist whose work can be seen in many publications, including Bead&Button magazine, Art Jewelry Today, and 500 Beaded Objects. Maggie shows her work and teaches at many venues, including the Bead&Button Show in the U.S. and the Bead Art and Jewelry Accessory Fair in Germany. She will be a featured speaker at the 2011 International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) conference.
Maggie is a contributing editor to Bead&Button magazine and the author of an online column called "Maggie’s Musings" at Bead&Button.com. Her goal is to inspire others to create beaded art that reflects their individuality.
Books by Maggie:
Artistic Seed Bead Jewelry
Watch a video interview with Maggie!
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BRENDA SCHWEDER
A collector of all things intriguing, Brenda's creative career started in silkscreen, collage, and assemblage. A segue into the world of jewelry design was spawned when she accepted the gig to co-author BeadStyle's Fashion Forecast. Brenda is now a frequent contributor to BeadStyle and has also been published in Art Jewelry and Bead&Button magazines, as well as a number of other pamphlets and books.
Brenda lives in Waukesha, Wis., with her found husband and not-at-all altered sons.
Books by Brenda:
Junk to Jewelry: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Found Objects in Jewelry You Can Actually Wear
Vintage Redux: Remake Classic & Collectible Jewelry
Visit Brenda's blog:
A Day in the Life
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SHERRY SERAFINI
Sherry is a beadwork artist who has been creating beaded body adornment since 1997. Unusual objects and shapes become part of a new story as she stitches beads and gemstones to a felt-like base. Sherry finds this meditative form of art to be a rich counterpoint to a society full of instant gratification. Sherry lectures and teaches throughout the U.S. Her work has been published widely, and has won numerous awards including People's Choice Bead Dreams 2006, Jurors Merit Award 2006 Bead International, Best of Pennsylvania Artisans and Kennedy Best Artist Nationally.
Sherry's one-of-a-kind designs have been worn by icon Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and are owned by by pro golfer Michelle Wie, Melissa Etheridge, and hip hop lead singer Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. She lives in Natrona Heights, Pa., with her two daughters.
Books by Sherry:
The Art of Bead Embroidery: Technique, Design, & Inspiration
(with Heidi Kummli)
Beading Across America (with Paulette Baron and Amy Katz)
Visit Sherry's website:
Sherry Serafini Jewelry Design
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JOE SILVERA
Joe graduated with a BFA in Metalsmithing with honors and later apprenticed as a goldsmith in southern California. After his apprenticeship, he worked as a model-maker for jewelers in Los Angeles and began selling his own jewelry at fine art galleries and shows across the country. His favorite technique is lost-wax casting, for which he carves rings and detailed sculptures of animals. Now, with 20-plus years of experience, Joe is a popular metalworking teacher in the San Francisco bay area and across the U.S. His classes provide a great foundation in the fundamental skills of jewelry and are mixed with laughter, encouragement, and lots of creativity.
Books by Joe:
Soldering Made Simple and the Soldering Made Simple DVD
Watch a video interview with Joe!
Visit Joe's website:
Joe Silvera: Wax Carver, Metalsmith, Teacher
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DEBBI SIMON
Debbi has worked with a variety of art media and subject matter over the years. Working creatively since 1993, her paintings have been exhibited in juried and invitational shows and group and solo regional exhibitions throughout the Midwest. She has won numerous awards for her paintings. Her original jewelry designs have been featured in Bead&Button and BeadStyle magazines. She has also taught classes at the Bead&Button Show and seminars for Swarovski.
Debbi studied art and design at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, earning a BFA in Design with a minor in Illustration and Photography. After spending a few years in the design field she decided that her passion was fine art and began painting seriously again. She continually experiments with different media.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Debbi is a mother of two wonderful children who have taught her to be all that she can be.
Books by Debbi:
Crystal Chic: Custom Jewelry with Dazzling Details
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KIM ST. JEAN
A former public school instructor and current owner of a retail store, Expressive Impressions, Kim now combines her love of teaching with her creative talent as a jewelry maker. Kim teaches metalsmithing and other jewelry-making techniques at the William Holland School of the Lapidary Arts, the Bead&Button Show, Swarovski's Create Your Style in Tucson, the Wildacres Retreat, and other venues across the U.S.
Books by Kim:
Mixed Metal Mania
Metal Magic (forthcoming)
Visit Kim's website:
Kim St. Jean
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BETH STONE
Beth calls beadwork "a puzzle with infinite solutions." The third in a line of beading artists - her grandmother was a beader and artist and her mother still is - Beth's first love is seed bead work and creating pieces of art by combining tiny points of color using different off-loom bead-stitching techniques. In addition to her seed bead work, she also creates one-of-a-kind and limited edition bracelets and necklaces using vintage and new glass, sterling silver, freshwater pearls, and gemstones. Completely self-taught, Beth says her mistakes are often the best lessons.
Beth has shown her work at local art shows since 1990 and had her work displayed and sold in a number of fine-art galleries and gift stores. In 1998, one of her pieces was published in Bead&Button magazine; she calls its publication "a dream come true." Since then, many of her creations have been featured in the magazine. In addition, from the premiere issue until January 2006, Beth was one of the contributing editors for BeadStyle magazine. Her work can also be seen in various books and booklets from Kalmbach Publishing.
Books by Beth:
Seed Bead Stitching: Creative Variations on Traditional Techniques
More Seed Bead Stitching
Visit Beth's website:
Beth Stone: Beaded Jewelry Designs
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KARIN VAN VOORHEES
Karin has always been drawn to crafts and making jewelry. She considers herself on her fourth or fifth career, having had previous lives ranging from high-tech and fast paced to the decidedly lower-tech.
Karin has had two roles at Kalmbach Publishing Co., first designing projects and writing for BeadStyle magazine, and now as an associate editor in the Books department. She has a B.A. degree from Denison University.
Books by Karin:
Altered You!
Mostly Metals: A Beginner's Guide to Jewelry Design
The Absolute Beginner's Guide: Stringing Beaded Jewelry and The Absolute Beginners Guide: Stringing Beaded Jewelry DVD
Visit Karin's blog:
Artful Crafts
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LESLEY WEISS
Lesley grew up in a family with a strong DIY spirit and has enjoyed doing crafts of all kinds since she was very young. She has been beading since 2003, when she began working for Kalmbach Books. She was the compiling editor for many books in the Creative Beading series, had a hand in dozens of other Kalmbach publications, and worked on the staff of Bead&Button magazine as well. Lesley enjoys how stitching with beads engages her analytical, puzzle-solving skills and indulges her creative side at the same time.
Lesley holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in writing from Pacific University. She lives in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Books by Lesley:
The Absolute Beginners Guide: Stitching Beaded Jewelry
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CYNTHIA WULLER
Cynthia's urge to learn and create is a daily quest, arising from her formal education, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicage.
She is a contributor to Art Jewelry and BeadStyle magazines. Her work can also be found in a number of books, such as Easy Beading, Vol. 4, The Art of Jewelry: Paper Jewelry, The Art of Jewelry: Wood, and Beading with Pearls. She lives in Chicago with her husband.
Books by Cynthia:
Inspired Wire |
NANCY ZELLERS
Nancy Zellers is a bead engineer—a designer and a writer who truly enjoys creating amazing beadwork "one little bead at a time." She takes seed beads and turns them into something different, bigger and totally unexpected using her analytical perspective and software design training.
Her first exposure to beadwork was in the ‘70s when she explored loomed beadwork and needlepoint. In the ‘90s, she took several art classes and started producing sculptural works with seed beads. These sculptures have appeared in over 28 local and national contemporary exhibitions. She has published over 35 articles in magazines and books, as well as several Interweave Press and Lark books. She has been teaching on the local and national level for more than 10 years.
Nancy can usually be found in her hot pink and lime green studio in Denver, sewing one little bead to another little bead.
Books by Nancy:
Bead Tube Jewelry
Visit Nancy's website:
NZ Beads
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