Featured Artist Of The Month

This month's featured artist is Nona of Utah, United States. I got a chance to interview her about her collection of lovely jewelry! Here is what she had to say...

What type of artwork do you do?
Well, here’s the place for my standard introduction! When introducing myself to a group of people one time, I was asked to name my hobbies - tell them what I do. I promptly informed them that it would be quicker to tell them what I DON'T do! I love all things creative, even the ones I can't do - yet!

How long have you been creating?
I have been creating as long as I can remember. Seriously, one of my earliest memories is of my mother teaching me cross stitch on some over-sized pattern cards! I started making simple bracelets when I was about eight, and my grandma taught me to crochet when I was nine, and it’s just progressed from there!

How much time do you spend working on your craft?
When you consider that my crafting includes many more than you will ever see in my Etsy or Artfire shops, I usually spend several hours every day crafting. Well, that depends. Most days I look on cooking as a wonderful craft, but some days it’s just putting food on the table.

What inspires you to create?
Everything inspires me to create! I find a lot of creative thought comes from nature, my family, music, art and the like, but sometimes something as odd as a smell will cause a random thought cascade ending with some wonderful creation! Of course, there’s always the grand mother of invention – necessity! Because my younger son has an inseam of 36” and a waist of 29”, I have become very very good at making pants!

Do you have a designing process?
Hmmm. Not really. I just decide what I want as an end result and figure out how to get there. For my bead crochet, I usually envision a pattern, deconstruct it, write it down, string a test piece, work it up, decide if it looks good, and then make a completed jewelry piece from it. I have skipped all but the first and last steps more than once, though. It’s always a relief when it turns out!

Where do you do your creating?
Literally everywhere except the shower. I am always working on at least three different projects, and I always have at least one going that I can take with me anywhere I go. I am so used to waiting for the boys at karate, saxophone lesson, car pool pickup, soccer games, and on and on, that I began to carry small projects with me wherever I go. Now everyone always expects to see me whip out a ReCycladelic bracelet or bead crochet rope almost every time I sit down. They all know I don’t carry a purse – that’s my work bag!

Have you always been artsy?
I literally do not remember a time where I have not wanted to create. I was a total tomboy growing up, I mean I played tackle football with my brothers and their friends – my brothers are 5 and 8 years older than me! But still, I would come in from that and sit down at the sewing machine or pick up the crochet hooks or head for the kitchen. I have always loved to create and I always will.

Do you have another job?
Unfortunately, no. I have a degree in computer programming, but with my sons in school my husband and I decided it would be better for me to work part time. Unfortunately, I have had two separate jobs outsourced to India and with the economy, no one is hiring part time right now. I would love to go back to it in the near future, but that wouldn’t mean I wouldn’t still do everything else as well! One of the reasons I love programming is that it is actually very creative. A truly good program is as much art as it is science!

Where do you sell your pieces?
I actually sell most of my pieces as direct commission. I also have my etsy shop and my artfire shop, plus I commission in a couple of local stores and participate in some art fairs and farmer’s markets. Each one has its benefits and I enjoy them all.

Do you enjoy what you do?
I love what I do! If I don’t, why bother?

Do you have a favorite piece in your shop?
I would never put anything in my shop that I wouldn’t be delighted to wear or use myself, but the one that really stands out for me is the Black Diamonds bead crochet necklace. I truly consider it a stunningly beautiful piece of jewelry, and every time I wear mine I have at least one person stopping me to ask me about it.

Do you have a blog or website setup?
I do! I have a blog. It is fairly new and I don’t have a lot of posts yet, but it’s there. It’s not really a business blog, although there will be business stuff on there. So far I have posted about my garden, a short vacation and the U2 concert. I’m having fun with it – I hope my followers are too! If you’re interested you can find it at www.lanmomoriginals.blogspot.com