Inspired Beader: Catinalife Creations

One of the best ways to find inspiration and encouragement is to admire the work of our fellow artists. When we can see what others have learned to do, it can give us motivation to keep learning and trying new things.

It’s interesting to admire work that is so different from our own. Whenever I see the wire jewelry designs of Catinalife Creations, I am in awe of the quality and beauty in each piece. I can’t even imagine the skill and time it must take to mold metals into such delicate shapes.

Today, the artist behind these beauties, Joy, shares some of her inspirations.

Inspirational Beading: How did you first get into jewelry making?

Joy: I've been making jewelry of some type since I was about 8 years old, I received a Creepy Crawler set for Christmas that year, was making bug pins and selling them at school when I went back. Then went on to macramé jewelry as a teen. It has definitely evolved and improved over the years.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite material or color to work with?

Joy: Gemstones and wire, and usually anything with blue, green or pink. I notice a definite preference to blue jewelry.

Inspirational Beading: Where do you find the most inspiration?

Joy: Mother Nature always inspires me, gemstone hold such beauty to me, I've always enjoyed collecting rocks, shells, fossils, and love being able to turn them into wearable art.

Inspirational Beading: If you could master any new technique, what would it be?

Joy: Polymer clay. I have dabbled in it a bit, and would love to make my own beads.

Inspirational Beading: Do you remember your first jewelry project? Where is it today?

Joy: I made a beautiful cotton bib macramé necklace with wood beads, perfect fashion for then "back in the day", as my grown daughter would say. Lost over the years, I still have a fond memory of that accomplishment. I was surprised by my own result.

Inspirational Beading: Who do you hope to inspire with your work?

Joy: First bringing a bit more beauty into this world through jewelry, I would hope my work would inspire any one who wants to make jewelry to follow that desire.

More about Joy:

I am a BA/RFH, beadaholic, rock, fossil hound. I love the beauty that can be found in Mother Nature, always inspiring. Loving the ancient jewelry arts and techniques I'm finding and scratching my little niche in this big world of silver, gold, glass and stone. I've made this my full time occupation, coming out of the busy corporate world and finding my own passion for making beautiful jewelry and being able to let my creative self act out. I've found my inner child and she loves to play with anything sparkly and shiny.

I really do want to keep the ancient arts alive of Viking knit, chain maille and Egyptian coil techniques, used for thousands of years since the first simple stone or shell necklace was worn. I am always striving to incorporate these techniques with a modern day twist.

You can see more gorgeous jewelry designs like these at Catinalife Creations on ArtFire, and stay up to date with Joy’s newest works on Twitter.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
and Catinalife Creations
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