[Welcome] New Members for October 29, 2008

Please welcome our newest members!

Emily A Berg
Casting House
Chicago, IL. USA

Graduated from Northern illinois University with my B.F.A. in
metalwork and jewelry. I then went on to GIA to take the Graduate
Jeweler program, upon completion I returned home and spent some time
doing sales for a chain jewelry store. Not to long after I began
working for Casting House. I love jewelry and being at a bench. It’s
overwhelming to see a finished piece after so much thought and labor
(tears and sweat depending on the day) go into it. I like mokume,
fabrication, casting etc.

Abbie Louise Handford
Glen allen, Virginia. USA

Former bench jeweler looking to become independent jeweler

Mickey Kapoor
Kapoor Jewelers
Racine, WI. USA

I do repair and design work.

Jessica Loguidice
Austin, TX. USA

My interest in jewelry-making began 8 years ago when I started
creating beaded jewelry. Two years ago, I moved from north Texas to
Austin and began taking jewelry classes in metal fabrication at the
local community college. I’m currently working towards setting up my
own studio at home and my goalis to sell jewelry at craft shows and
online. I have a lot to learn, everything from registering my
business name to creating the best display setup for my booth at
shows, not to mention all the technical knowledge on making jewelry.
I’m really excited that I found Ganoksin and look forward to lear
ning things from other jewelers that I might not pick up on in the
classroom! What a great resource:)

julie ashton
Lexington, Georgia, USA

I’ve been making jewelry for about 10 years but haven’t advanced
much technically within that time. I am currently experimenting with
PMC and would like to venture into casting. I sell my wares on Etsy
and have had moderate success in that arena.

Deborah D Pipes
Debbie Pipes Designs
Dallas, TX. USA

I have been designing jewelry for 6 years. As with most people, my
business began as a hobby. As time went on, there was a natural
progression to my hobby becoming my passionate profession.

By training, I am a Certified Public Accountant, and former Chief
Financial Officer. I made bracelets to wear with my suits, as an
expression of “color” and “personality”. These bracelets became in
great demand - through absolutely no effort on my part!
Consequently, I established the structure of the business as a way to
handle this “juggernaut” that enveloped me. Never would I have
dreamed that this would someday be my full time profession.

God works in mysterious ways. I had been approached by a major
airport in the United States to become their Chief Financial Officer.
It was a very prestigious position, and I was at the peak of my
professional career. However, God had other plans for me. I had a
life altering accident and was to never “work” in my former
profession again.

Hence, I took one day at a time to explore my talent as a “mental
health business”. So, 6 years later, here I am.

Dicki Arn
Oddspots Studio
Birmingham, AL. USA

Having happily taught art at Highlands Day School (PS-8)for forty
years, I am now retired and finally doing my own art. I am a
certified instructor in PMC and currently working with the new bronze
clay. I work in many mediums, lampworking, stained glass, jewelry
using semiprecious stones with PMC, and am currently working with
found object sculptures (primarily natural things from the woods). I
like the variety, and like to constantly learn something new to try.
I look forward to learning from and sharing with other artists.

Tara Hutchinson
Peg Leg Productions
San Antonio, TX. USA

I am an amputee and a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in
recovery, my therapist challenged me to find something to do in my
spare time that would bring back the function of my hands, which was
damaged by the brain injury that I sustained when I lost my leg to a
roadside bomb. So, I decided to try metalsmithing. I have been
hooked ever since.

Going from a Military Police Officer to a metalsmith has been quite
a change and has required quite alot of patience. I am currently
working almost exclkusively with sterling, but I also have acquired
some copper and brass to try and join to my jewelry with solder.

If I had to define my style, it would be playful and whimsical. I
have always been drawn to bright color, and have enjoyed working
with gemstones such as turquoise, chrysoprase and opal. I am not too
big on found objects, only because my brain hasn’t figured out how
to make them pretty.

I look forward to meeting other artists to network and ask
questions. As I am just starting out, I have quite a few. Please
feel free to contact me if only to say hi!