Big Thank You

We just wanted to send out a big thank you to all of our artists who participated in Sparkle! yesterday and all of our guests who came jewellery shopping!

We had a couple of new artists join us, AltraKarta and Judy Zawacki. It was great having you in our show and a pleasure to see your work!

AltraKarta makes fresh, bright, fun designs using découpage. Check out her Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AltraKarta .

Judy Zawacki creates beautiful unique designs using sterling silver. Her work has been displayed in the Members Showcase at the Art Gallery and is available at the Assiniboia Gallery: http://www.assiniboia.com/Artist-Detail.cfm?ArtistsID=722


Our Sparkle! 2012 Artists:

Surrayah's Jewels

Teresa Moxley

AltraKarta

EllJay Design

Joanne Pelletier

D.P. Creations

Judy Zawacki

joni originals

Prairie Sky Creations

Did-it Designs

Roxanne Brown Jewellery

Rock'n

Stonewench

Sparkle! - Thirteenth Artist is Roxanne Brown

Roxanne Brown was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and grew up in a family of creative people. Roxanne has been an accomplished seamstress for her adult life with an eye and enthusiasm for tasteful embellishment and accessories. Over the past 6 years Roxanne has also applied her accumulated skill and artistry to creating jewellery. Through artistically combining handcrafted Lampwork glass beads of other independent artists from around the world, semi-precious stones swarovski crystals and other high quality components; Roxanne creates original pieces that surprise and inspire. Roxanne also applies her skills to creating one-of-a-kind accent purses and scarves. Roxanne's creations come together under the label of Roxanne Brown Jewellery. 

Over the past 8 years she has worked as lead seamstress with Dean Renwick Design Studio and as of November 2012 she has left the Design Studio to further her jewellery business on a full-time basis. Roxanne will continue to refine her skills and look for new directions to express her imagination.

https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneBrownJewellery

Sparkle! - Twelfth Artist is Joanne Pelletier

Joanne has been an avid beader for over 30 years and started making jewelry after participating in a workshop on quill and seed bead earrings.  This inspired her to learn more about beaded jewelry and, using how-to-bead books, was soon was making necklaces, earrings and bracelets.  The first time she attended BeadExpo in Santa Fe, she was blown away by the sheer volume and variety of gemstone, pearl and designer beads.  She also discovered the benefits of on-line shopping, which makes the high end supplies that she uses in her jewelry readily available.  She has been selling to family, friends and colleagues for the past 25 years and plans on making her hobby a full time job, with retirement coming up in the next few months.  One of the things she enjoys most about designing and making jewelry is the excitement and joy of seeing the pieces come together, resulting in a wearable piece of art. Joanne says her jewelry is for that woman that truly enjoys a lot of bling!!

Sparkle! - Eleventh Artist is Prairie Sky Creations

Prairie Sky Creations
by Laurie Walton

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.

My jewellery can be purchased on-line at www.prairieskycreations.ca. 

Sparkle! - Tenth 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 a few 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.

Sparkle! - Ninth 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 two 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 recently begun teaching 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.