Prairie Sky Creations Has a New Website!

Check out the Prairie Sky Creations website at:

www.prairieskycreations.ca

Buds of May 2012

Thanks to all who came out, to all of our participating artists and to our special guest, Danielle Nicole Rands (Miss Southern Saskatchewan Petite)! We had a great time!

Miss Southern Saskatchewan Petite - Danielle Nicole Rands

ChicSation's Jewelery Design by Holly Ripplinger

Joanne Pelletier

Rock'n

Myrna Allan Jewellery

Metal Muse Jewelry

Surrayah's Jewels

D & D Treasures: Jewellery

Trixy Links Chainwear

Teresa Moxley

D.P. Creations

joni originals

Prairie Sky Creations

Did-it Designs

STONEWENCH

Beyond Sight

Buds of May - Thirteenth Artist is Prairie Sky Creations

I love colours and rocks and things that are different! I try to create pieces that bring out the best of the materials I use. I find the prairie sky so inspiring because it can be so colourful and HUGE.

I am an artist who currently specializes handmade jewelry, silverwork, lampwork beads, and other accessories. The materials I use are Sterling silver, copper, my own lampwork glass beads, semi-precious stones, crystals and other metals. I am also a member of JewelleryWon.

My lampwork beads are available at Beadplus and my jewellery can be purchased through at www.prairieskycreations.etsy.com .

Buds of May - Twelfth Artist is EllJay Design

EllJay Design by Laura Steadman

I have been involved in arts and crafts of all sorts for most of my life.  I love working with my hands and have done cross stitch, Hardanger embroidery, crochet, Origami, designed and made teddy bears, painting, and other things too.

Years ago, my step-father took a jewellery class and I was impressed by the things he made.  I wanted to take the class too but put it off for a long long time.  When I finally took the class I was instantly hooked!  

I am continually fascinated by the way a piece of metal can be transformed through many different techniques into something beautiful and wearable.  I have spent the last few years setting up my own studio and taking classes.  I work primarily with Sterling silver but will sometimes use copper and semi-precious stones and beads.  I have also taught a small class that involves fusing fine (.999) silver into a ring.  I was born and raised in Regina where I will continue to take classes and work on designing and creating new and unique pieces of jewellery.

Buds of May - Eleventh Artist is Stonewench

Maria Hendrika, Regina

I’ve always enjoyed making things.  I used to sew all of my clothes - often to go with favourite pieces of jewellery.  Now I choose my clothes as a backdrop for the jewellery I make.

I started making necklaces after winning beads and leather at a fundraising event.   Since then, I have taken numerous classes at the Neil Balkwill Arts Centre.  I work mostly in sterling silver and copper and I love working with rocks.  Semi-precious stones inspire me - I love the colours, the patterns and the weight of stone. 

I have always enjoyed wearing unique jewellery items and I’m delighted to be able to provide one of a kind pieces for my customers. 

I work under the name STONEWENCH and hope to see you at the Buds of May sale. 

Buds of May - Tenth Artist is Beyond Sight

Summer Hartzfeld - Beyond Sight Custom Jewellery

Summer Hartzfeld has been blind since infancy but that hasn't stopped her from crafting beautiful pieces of jewellery. She lives with her guide-dog, Lake, who helps her get around the city. She joined the Regina Farmer's Market in 1997. Lake and Summer make their way to the market by bus, with Summer carrying all her cases in a back pack. She designed her cases herself and had them made by a local craftsperson.

Summer chooses her pieces by shape and texture, rather than by colour. She prefers to work with natural material such as semi-precious stones, sterling silver, and shells. Summer crafts all her own wire components from sterling silver wire. By touch she is able to make perfect loops and swirls. She can feel the smallest inclusion in a stone and can frequently tell the type of stone by its feel.

“I start playing with the beads, feeling each one, and figuring what shapes it will go with. I choose my stones carefully. My hands are my eyes. For colour I have to rely on the description by my sighted friends. Majority rules when it comes to colour, as everyone seems to have their own way of describing it. I think the stones show how amazing God's Creation is.”

Buds of May - Ninth Artist is Myrna Allan

Jewellery handcrafted by Myrna Allan

Throughout my years of living in Regina, I’ve been regularly attending all the various nearby craft shows and purchasing unique gifts for family and friends.  I never thought I would eventually be someone that would have a table and sell my own wares.

I’ve always enjoyed creating different things with my hands, however, that was put on hold when I was deeply entrenched in work life.  When I retired from the provincial government, I knew that I wanted to do something creative once again.

In 2007 I registered for my first Jewellery class at Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre.  I’ve taken numerous classes and learned many different techniques.  Today I continue to take classes to improve my skills and incorporate many of the learned techniques into my Jewellery.

I really enjoy working with the various metals (silver, copper, titanium, and niobium) to make and design my jewellery.  Currently I’m enjoying the wonderful colours I get when anodizing titanium or niobium.  The brilliant blues and purples are my particular favourites.

Throughout the time at the studio I have met many wonderful people.  It’s been a great way to be creative and socialize at the same time. The social aspect of meeting others that are also creating is just what I wanted to fulfill my retirement.

In the past whenever I needed a pick me up or just wanted to treat myself I’d buy a new pair of earrings.  Consequently, I enjoy making mostly earrings but I do make pendants and some bangles/bracelets.

Most of my jewellery is fairly petite and delicate, with simple lines.  I believe my pieces are unique to themselves and no two are exactly the same, something is always a wee bit different.

 I hope you will enjoy wearing my jewellery as much as I enjoy making and designing the one of a kind pieces.

It is not my intention to make a living by selling my jewellery but to enjoy creating and cover my material costs.  I try to keep the prices down so that everyone can enjoy a new piece just like I have done over the past number of years.  Everyone needs to treat themselves!  Enjoy!

Buds of May - Eighth Artist is D & D Treasures: Jewellery

D & D Treasures: Jewellery


Debb Parent, has been creating a line of hand crafted jewellery for over ten years. She creates her works using Swarovski Crystal, sterling silver and semi-precious stones. Debb firmly believes in the holistic properties that stones possess lending not only to their natural beauty, but also to their properties that lend to healthier lifestyles. Ms. Parent’s D & D Treasures: Jewellery line can be found at her BeadsPlus location, or by contacting Debb personally. 


D & D Treasures: Jewellery can be viewed at


http://www.beadplus.ca/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=1&Itemid=23

Buds of May - Seventh Artist is Did-it Designs

Cheryl Krett

Did-it Designs

In early school report cards, teachers would write, “Encourage her in art; she shows great potential.” Thankfully, I have been able to enjoy a lifetime of creating art and crafts of all sorts, which have sold in local stores and the McKenzie Art Gallery. I am a relative newcomer to the art of jewellery-making, having received instruction on bracelet-making from a co-worker in the past couple of years. My husband is pretty happy with my new venture, as jewellery-making takes up way less room in our home than my Christmas craft supplies! 

Since making my first bracelet, I have added earrings and necklaces to my repertoire. I am fascinated by the ability to put together one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces using glass, semi-precious stones, wood and metal. Colour and texture inspire my creations and I would define my style as “eclectic.”  As I experiment with new materials and techniques, I find my work is evolving to new levels. My desire is to create pieces that evoke a positive emotional response from every wearer. I hope you will find as much joy in wearing my jewellery as I do in making it. 

Buds of May - Sixth Artist is Trixy Links Chainwear

Trixy Links Chainwear specializes in creating unique chainmail bracelets, necklaces, earrings and pendants using metal jump rings of all sizes.   Metals such as sterling silver, stainless steel, copper, blackened stainless steel and brass are used.  Chainmail is an art from the Renaissance period, first used to make knight’s armour and then adapted to make jewellery.  Using a pair of pliers, each ring is opened and closed carefully and woven together into time-honoured patterns such as helm chain (pictured), byzantine, persian and inverted round.  Some of the pieces feature beadwork but most show off the beautiful shine of the metal.

Trixy Links Chainwear was founded in 2010 by Joelle McCall and Mary Gorrill after taking a class at the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre.  Both artists are life-long residents of Regina.

More information and our online store may be viewed at the website: www.trixylinks.com.

Buds of May - Fifth Artist is Teresa Moxley

I have been creating things since I was a teenager when I knit my first sweater. I have done macramé (that’s dating me), pottery, painting in oils, acrylics and water colour, sewing and making teddy bears from old fur coats. I was introduced to silver clay a few years ago and fell in love with the possibilities this medium has to offer.

I find silver clay challenging and very enjoyable to work in. I have been making fine silver jewellery for about 7 years now and I am still discovering new methods to incorporate.

Teresa Moxley

Buds of May - Fourth Artist is joni originals

Joan Pederson

Owner, joni originals--Creative Jewellery

Regina, Saskatchewan

I’ve always loved stones and used to collect them as a child.  I started designing jewellery as a therapy about five years ago after my parents had passed away.  Through self-teaching and help from friends I learned more about semi-precious stones and sterling silver.  After I lost my job, I started spending more time on my jewellery, attending Bead Shows for wholesalers in Tucson, Arizona, and looking for opportunities to sell-- beyond my network of friends and relatives! 

I’m always looking for unique stones, different colors and shapes. I also look for other metals as an alternative to sterling silver.  My goal is to make each jewellery piece unique … no two the same.  I may use similar stones but the designs are all different. I look for stones that are not common to Saskatchewan.  Although I use semi-precious stones, I strive to keep my costs down and my prices reasonable so that they are affordable for everyone.