Arelle Anelis Rodriguez  **NEW**
Arelle Anelis Rodriguez is a D.C. based designer and entrepreneur originally from Puerto Rico.  After six years of actively engaging in her own creative process, she recently established her own unique and wearable form of art: the Arelle Wood Jewelry Collection; a professionally handcrafted line of jewelry.  Her artistic style has evolved into a mixed media frenzy of colors, textures, shapes and sizes.  She focuses on combining the many stylish combinations that reflect and engage our fashion psyche.  Every piece has its own tone and place within her creative conscience.  She continues to study the history, folklore and sociological aspects of jewelry, as well as different jewelry making methods and design.  Arelle received her B.A. in Art History and Studio Art from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is currently working towards a Registered Gemologist certificate from the International School of Gemology.  She has taken various jewelry making courses and studies with reputable designers and jewelry artists in the industry.  She strives to create original pieces that are functional yet provocative, abstract yet feminine, maintaining a delicate balance between geometry and nature.

More about Arelle and her work can be found on her website:
http://www.arelleanelis.com


Nancy DeMulder  Business Name:  By Jewelartist
I have been on the scene of the jewelry business for more than two dozen years.  I began to pursue my technical knowledge of jewelry-making while living in Santa Fe, NM, where I graduated from St. John's College.  Always fascinated with jewelry, upon my return to my home base in the Washington D.C. area, I attended local jewelry-making classes and studied gemstones.  Then I decided to follow my dream of becoming a professional jeweler and enrolled in the Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, PA.  I studied for a year and graduated with a diploma in jewelry repair and stone setting.  After working for a master jeweler for five years making and repairing at the bench, I now exhibit my own work at local juried shows.  I have participated in several shows with the Creative Crafts Council and the Washington Guild of Goldsmiths.  I also hold a diploma in counter-sketching from the prestigious Gem Institute of America which I received with honors.

I work in sterling silver and gold, using a combination of gemstones, pearls, along with various types of stone, glass and crystal beads.  My line of brooches and pendants with pearls and exotic materials, such as coral, fossilized bone and beach pebbles have been in demand.  I employ numerous techniques to add texture and dimension to my work.  Having had several years of technical experience at the bench provides me with an edge as I produce several lines of jewelry, some that are classic and others that are fun and funky.  I have been making beaded jewelry for 25 years, and I have been making and repairing jewelry for 16 years.  In addition, I have been teaching jewelry arts for 15 years.
 

Stephanie Everett  Business Name:  Designs by Stephanie

For more than 20 years I have worked as a research scientist for the US Navy.  I enjoy the challenge of working with cutting-edge technology, and that fact that my job is always changing.  But, I am happiest when I am working with my hands, making things that bring pleasure to others.  I particularly enjoy making wire jewelry because of its infinite possibilities -- it is exciting to watch plain wire and a bunch of beads transform into beautiful jewelry right in my own hands.  

I got involved in making wire jewelry sort of by accident.  During a
vacation in the gem-rich region of western North Carolina I found a nice piece of topaz, and decided to have it cut and polished.  But then I was faced with the problem of what to do with an unset topaz.  As a crafter and a hard-core "do-it-yourself" person, I did not want to just purchase a setting for it -- I wanted to make something myself.  But, I had absolutely no clue what to do.  A few days later, at a small craft fair, I happened upon a wire artist selling fancy wire pendants, rings and earrings, and I was entranced.  I had never seen jewelry like this, and I was fascinated.  A few weeks later I encountered another wire artist at a local gem club show.  I peppered him with questions and watched with awe as he transformed straight wire into works of art.  He was very friendly and extremely patient, and encouraged me to give wire work a try.  So, I immediately purchased a beginner's kit, with tools, an instruction book, and some practice wire, and the rest, as they say, is history.

More about Stephanie and her work can be found on her website:
http://www.jewelartists.com/stephanie

   Class Samples from 11/04/2005 
 
     Swirl Wrapped Pendant Class                    


Debbie Gudelsky  Business Name:  Interior Intentions for "Spiritbeads"

My love of color manifested into the creation of "Spiritbeads" about five years ago, after taking a beading course at the Omega Institute with Eleanor Wiley, beader and author of "A String and a Prayer".  Spiritbead strands are talismans that embellish the home, workspace or vehicle, as well as necklaces to adorn yourself with.  Using color symbolism, good intentions for well-being are translated into beautiful strands of beads.  Spiritbeads become visual and tactile reminders of the actions we need to take or context we wish to carry forward in our lives.  

I create Spiritbeads as gifts for people to give themselves or to others.  For the past three years I have taught Spiritbead creating to individuals receiving care at Georgetown University Hospital at bedside, as well as workshops at Fairfax Inova Hospital.  I love sharing with others the beauty of color, the enjoyment and relaxation of beading, and their own unique creative spirit.

I trained at the Corcoran School of Art and hold a degree in Fine Art and Psychology from George Washington University.  I'm an active member of the Society for Art in Healthcare.  When I'm not beading, you can find me drawing botanical and mandala works of art, gardening, or cooking!

More about Debbie and her work can be found on her website:
http://www.spirit-beads.com


Monica Han  Business Name:  Dream Beads
My niece is a beader, and one day I was looking for a beading book for her birthday present in 2002.  As I was browsing, it dawned on me that I could follow the instructions found in the book.  I immediately went out to buy some beads, and have been beading ever since.  I have always been doing something with arts and crafts whether it was drawing, painting, framing, knitting, or crocheting.  But, I have to say, beading fascinates me the most!

Other than learning from books and magazines, I have taken many classes in the area bead stores and art places.  For the last couple of years I have taught friends and children.  I started teaching professionally only recently in the fall of 2005.  I enjoy teaching others to find the joy of beading, and the money helps me buy more beads :).

I sell jewelry at a couple of local shows each year.  And, my proudest beading moment was when my 'Blue and White Chinese Good Luck Lock necklace' was chosen as one of the top 20 designs in the professional category of Swarovski's 2005 Design contest.  It was most recently published in Swarovski's design book.  And, most recently, I was notified that I won second place in the shell category for Fire Mountain Gems 2005-2006 design contest!


Kim Joy  **NEW**
I was raised in upstate New York and now I live, work, and play in Springfield, Virginia.  I have been a stained glass artist and teacher since 1982.  My work can be found in private and public collections worldwide.  I have been working as a bead artist since 2001.  Most of my jewelry pieces are in the traditional style, and I am now working to branch out and incorporate materials not usually found in the mediums I work in. 

I have been taught by local artists in New Mexico.  As related to beadwork, I have received instruction from PJ Solomanson of Kailua, Hawaii and I have apprenticed under Janet Flynn of the Beaded Rabbit in Great Falls, Virginia. 

I come from a family with various artistic talents - watercolor, woodworking, quilting, stained glass, masonry, and poetry.  In following with my ancestral footsteps, I have chosen to work with stained glass and beadwork as my mediums to express my artistic heritage. 

I believe that through my pieces, I can grow and learn more about the world around me, and where I came from.  I hope that my work will inspire and encourage others in their artistic endeavors. 

I am a member of Artisans United in Annandale, Virginia.  I also belong to the National Capital Art Glass Guild, the Northern Virginia Bead Society (currently acting President), and the Bead Society of Hawaii, Oahu Chapter.  My work can be found at Artisans United, Kawamura Arts & Crafts Center in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and at various local craft shows. 


Jill Krasner



I have been designing, illustrating, painting and writing most of my life, bringing bits and pieces -- fragments -- of my thoughts, observations, fears, hopes and dreams into each piece of my art.  My work is an expression of my travels along life's path.. a sometimes complicated, frequently challenging journey of love.  Being able to share my work with people from all over the country -- and the world -- brings me immense joy.  I am so luck to wake up each morning and spend the day doing what I love! 

More about Jill and her artwork can be found on her website:
http://www.jillkrasnerstudios.com






Gina Reynolds  Business Name:  Creative Accents Studio
I am a registered nurse by profession, and I entered the world of craft art as a creative outlet and life balance retreat.  Like so many other craft artisans who have explored a number of craft art mediums, the more I explored, the more I wanted to learn.  Each new discovery lead to an even greater desire and interest to advance my crafting skills one step further.  While my current craft works include Art-Cards, Polymer Clay, and Wire Work, it was in 2003 after taking several glass art classes with local glass artist Judith Conway, that I discovered my true creative passion for designing and making jewelry.  From that moment forward, I decided to devote most of my time to mastering jewelry art.  My primary jewelry art work is designing and creating fused glass cabochons that are transformed into beautiful pendants and bracelets using chain maille, wire wrapping and wire sculpting techniques.  

For me, the art of jewelry making is not only a gift, but also a way to express my appreciation for transforming undiscovered treasures into functional art.  Many of the techniques I incorporate in my jewelry art designs are self taught.  I draw inspiration from other craft artists, my creative energies, and my fascination with unusual shapes, color mixing, and "can do" attitude to explore new things.  What I love most about jewelry making is the alpha process, transforming unconventional objects and glass into beautiful cabochons and the omega process of allowing the focal piece or fused glass cabochon to direct the final design.  Over the past year I began incorporating glass beads, semi-precious gemstone beads, and Bali beads to enhance the reflective beauty of the wire sculpted pendants.



While I enjoy the process of jewelry making, it also brings me joy when I see pieces worn by my customers or I am asked how a piece was made.  I realized after a few jewelry making demos at private showings, teaching basic jewelry making techniques to interested customers was another way to share my passion for jewelry making.  Hence, in addition to making and selling jewelry I began offering basic jewelry making techniques to interested customers, which has included bead and wire dangle earrings, wire wrapped bangles, and wire sculpted bead pendants.  While I am currently working in my field of professional study, my ultimate aspiration is to turn my passion for jewelry making into a full time operation and have my jewelry art in specialty galleries/shops, teaching, and authoring a jewelry art book.  Until this is possible I will continue mastering my skills, sharing my passion for jewelry making and having fun while learning and trying new techniques. 

More about Gina and her work can be found on her website:
http://www.creativeaccentsstudio.com


Marla S. Rudnick
My interest in fibers drew me into weaving wire in my work with sterling, fine silver and other non-ferrous metals. My knitted metal work has evolved from a basic understanding of the craft to an investigation of how knitting techniques can be integrated into functional jewelry. I look for interesting ways to combine fiber techniques with metal incorporating forging and free form casting in addition to traditional metal techniques in my work. The beauty of these pieces is enhanced by pearls, unique stones and beads.

From an early age I was "home schooled" in art.  My mother, Libby Rudnick, is an accomplished artist who trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.  My mom can switch from realistic pencil sketches to oils to clay sculpture with ease.  She took me to most of the art shows at the Philadelphia Museum of Art when I was a child.  She also let me zoom around the University Museum (Philadelphia, PA) and observe a plethora of archeological treasures.

I have studied at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT, Philadelphia College of Art, Philadelphia, PA, and The Craft Alliance in St. Louis, MO.  I learned knitting in as a young girl and learned to work with non ferrous metals as a student at Lower Merion High School  (Ardmore, PA). 

In 2002 I put knitting and silver together.  I've enjoyed experimenting ever since.  Marla is a member of The Washington Guild of Goldsmiths and the Potomac Craftsman Fiber Guild. Her work can be purchased at The Wesleyan Potters  in Middletown, CT, American Craft in Takoma Park, MD, The Potomac Craftsmen Fiber gallery in the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria,VA , Dava in Hamden, CT  and other fine stores.

More about Marla and her work can be found on her website:
http://www.marlasrudnick.com




Lorena Scott
I have been interested in all types of needlework since I was a little girl.  My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was a young girl and I was taught by my 6th grade teacher to knit.

I stopped knitting because there were no interesting patterns available, but I continued crocheting when I was a young woman.  I started back knitting about 8 years ago when my daughter asked me to knit some hats for her.  However, I didn't become interested in knitting with beads until about four years ago, when a friend taught my knitting guild how to knit a beaded amulet bag.  I became intrigued with the beauty of the beads and began knitting different types of bags and also teaching classes. 

A friend introduced me to bead crocheting earlier this year and now I'm hooked.  I really enjoy designing and crocheting different projects.  I hope that I will be able to instill this same love of this art in you.


Lucy Shapiro  Business Name:  Beaded Lace
I design and sell handmade beaded jewelry.  My creations include stretch and wire adjustable length beaded jewelry, which are crafted into delicate floral and twisted patterns, some with coordinating ribbons and sterling silver.  I particularly enjoy creating custom jewelry designs.  My colorful designs are made with mixtures of silver-lined seed beads from Czechoslovakia and Japan, faceted glass beads, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver wire, hematite, blue topaz, amethyst, emerald, garnet, Indian silver, freshwater pearls, semi-precious nuggets, and many other beads.  My best selling styles are floral style necklaces and earrings made with Swarovski crystals on sterling silver wire.

I am a Mom, and I have a masters degree in counseling, being a former career counselor and teacher.  I love creating jewelry, and started my own business, Beaded Lace, in 2000 and put my website, www.beadedlace.com online in 2004.  I have been in many local area juried shows and boutiques over the last several years.  My jewelry is inspired by color and by "pushing the limits" of color and beaded mixtures.

More about Lucy and her work can be found on her website:
http://www.beadedlace.com


Mindy Skelton
I am a self-confessed bead addict and I make no apologies.  It's taken me years to find this wonderful world and I have no intention of leaving.  In past lives I've taught, rescued abused children, programmed computers, been a silversmith, and made dolls, fairies, and dollhouse miniatures.  I hope I learned a little something from each career, but I was ready to move on (OK, maybe not from the dolls).  

Now the "real" world is somewhat removed and I spend my days in a cabin in the woods watching wall-to-wall chipmunks, squirrels, and cats while playing with my beads.  I love the colors, feel, finishes, and shapes of beads and the almost magical way they combine to create little works of art.  I've been beading for several years but I'm always looking for new ways to put beads together; for ways to combine colors that should clash as well as colors made to go together; for ways to build textures; for ways to make works of art that beg to be worn!

One part of beading that I've especially come to enjoy is the teaching.  I get real pleasure out of seeing what my students create, and am always amazed at the range of different outcomes we get from a single starting point.  I've learned a lot from my students and I hope they've learned as much from me.  Beading is a constant wonder to me, and it pleases me no end to help other people find out how talented they really are!


Sheila Spangler
Born and raised in a small town in the southern part of beautiful British Columbia, I married an American from Pennsylvania, and currently reside in the countryside near Chambersburg, PA, not far from my husband's birthplace of Waynesboro. 

I've created wearable art for many years, and began beaded knitting in early 2000.  My first endeavors were small amulet bags on necklaces.  They were, and still are, well received.  In October of 2000, our daughter, Rachel, asked if I would make a beaded knit handbag for her, reminiscent of the 1920's bags.  I not only did so, but used a pattern from that era.  Shortly after that our son requested a bag for his wife, and since then, I have made numerous beaded knit bags, large and small, many of them from vintage patterns, also some of my own design.  Each handbag takes many hours to fashion, using silk or pearl cotton #8, or equivalent weight thread, and very small steel needles, size 000 or 0000.  The beads I use come from all over the world, when frames are needed to complete the item, there are also many sources.

My work has been shown in galleries on the east coast, and I do commissioned pieces and sell most of my work privately.  In the past couple of years I have branched out to include many types of beadwork, and must state in all honesty that beading is my addiction!




Jessie W. Stern  Business Name:  Basically Buttons & Beads
I am a 1963 graduate of the Ohio Sate University School of Journalism.  I spent 30+ years as a medical research photo-journalist.  For 12 of those years, I was the White House Correspondent for Agence de Presse Medicale, an electronic medical news service based in Paris (France).  The company, which I helped found, was purchased in 2000 by Reuters Limited of London (England). 

During my 20+ years as a member of the White House Correspondents' Association, I hosted more than 1,000 guests at formal "black tie" dinners with various Presidents of the United States.  My personal guests were corporate presidents, Ambassadors of major nations, and leading medical scientists including Jonas Salk, M.D., the developer (in 1955) of the first polio vaccine; Albert B. Sabin, M.D., the developer (in 1961) of the oral polio vaccine; Robert C. Gallo, M.D., a pioneer in AIDS and cancer research; and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., a major infectious disease expert. 

I have been married to Marc for 44 years, I am the mother of three, grandmother of five, and I have three "grand-dogs".

I have designed and created hundreds of beaded necklaces, 15 of which have been featured on the back covers of different bead magazines.  For 12+ years, I have taught bead lovers many beginner and advanced techniques. 

My travels to 35 countries and to all 50 states included collecting antique buttons for my beading and knitting passions.  After I retired from medical photo-journalism, I converted my hobbies into my new vocation. 

I am active in Jazzercise and the Curves programs being a 30-year veteran of exercising my right to exercise!