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 web site:
Art Clay Studio
|
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 Web site, 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)
|
Karin Buckingham
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 (forthcoming)
Visit Karin's blog:
Artful Crafts
|
Anna Elizabeth Draeger
Anna Elizabeth Draeger is an associate editor at Bead&Button magazine, where she writes the popular 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 (forthcoming)
Visit Anna's web site:
Beadivine
|
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 web site:
Pam East: Fine Art Jewelry and Instruction
|
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
|
Christine Hansen
A lifelong artist, Christine Hansen 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
Visit Christine's blog:
Intuitive Sparks
Visit Christine's web site:
Christine Hansen: Artist, Writer, Teacher
|
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)
|
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
|
Virginia Jensen
Virginia Jensen 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
Visit Virgina's web site:
VirJen Mettle
|
Patricia Kimle
Patricia Kimle 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 (forthcoming)
Visit Patricia's web site:
Patricia Kimle Designs
|
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)
Visit Heidi's web site:
Free Spirit Collection
|
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 (forthcoming, with Christine Hansen)
Visit Peggy's blog:
ARTandSOULtoo
|
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 Web site with her beads, jewelry, books, and tools. You can also look for her on Ebay and etsy.
Books by Karen:
Art Bead Jewelry: Seasons in Glass
Visit Karen's web site:
Leonardo's Lampwork
|
Mary Lynn Maloney
Mary Lynn is a mixed-media artist, designer, teacher, and author with a background in graphic design and a degree in arts and humanities. She grew up in a large Irish-Polish family, where the arts, reading, creativity, and imagination were highly encouraged.
Mary Lynn's designs are regularly featured in crafting magazines and books. In addition to her design work, Mary Lynn creates found-object assemblage art and collage that she exhibits in a local gallery. She lives in Port Townsend, Wash., with her husband, Victor Judd; their two cats, Simba and Loki; and 37 trees, which they haven't named yet.
Books by Mary Lynn:
Memory Art: 30 Ideas for Shadowboxes and Other Keepsake Displays
Visit Mary Lynn's web site:
Mary Lynn's Collage and Assemblage
|
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
Visit Nana's web site:
About the author: Nana V. Mizushima
|
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 web site:
Jeannius Designs
|
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
|
Heidi Schueller
Heidi is the author of Easy Scrapbook Embellishment and Ready, Set, Scrap! She also created scrapbooking projects that were featured in the booklets Mini Memory Albums, Scrapbooking with Beads, and More Scrapbooking with Beads. She also designs scrapbook layouts for many leading manufacturers.
Heidi has a fine arts degree from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. She lives in Waukesha, Wis., with her husband and three daughters.
Books by Heidi:
Easy Scrapbook Embellishment
Ready, Set, Scrap: Fun and Easy Scrapbooking Ideas for Girls
|
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)
Visit Sherry's web site:
Sherry Serafini Jewelry Design
|
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
|
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 web site:
Beth Stone: Beaded Jewelry Designs
|
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 |
|