Designer Spotlight: Melinda Orr

Each week, we are talking to jewelry designers and/or bead artists who enjoy incorporating leather, ribbon and cords into their work. We will get to know each designer, show off their jewelry creations and ask them their thoughts about using fibers in jewelry. 

Today we are talking with Melinda Orr

So, Melinda, tell us a little bit about yourself?

Creating is my world~ I specialize in handcrafted jewelry designs & components made from copper, brass, beads and leather. Peace Creek studio is located on our beautiful farm in the hills of Northern Central Pennsylvania. I'm forever searching for new design ideas through nature and life. I create what I love to make. My perfect is most others imperfect~ I currently have my designs available online through Etsy and at a few local Artisan Markets. You may contact me via: 

Email: Orrtectrade@yahoo.com

Blog: www.orrtec.blogspot.com

Etsy: www.orrtec.etsy.com

Facebook: Melinda Orr Designs

Twitter:  Melinda Orr

What's your favorite type of cording or fiber to work with in jewelry?

My favorite all out is leather.  I purchase many different Greek (leather) cord colors and scrap leather pieces in different textures that I can cut to fit my project.
  

Why do you like working with cords and fibers in your designs? What quality draws you to these materials?

 I love the feel, smell and look of leather.  I believe it adds warmth to each piece of metal....it balances it and creates a setting of rustic life, very much like my own.  

Melinda, I love your jewelry creations. Thank you for talking with us!

You can find more of Melinda at her blog: Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry

And

more of her jewelry at her Etsy Shop: Melinda Orr Designs 

Designer Spotlight: Cynthia Deis

Each week, we are talking to jewelry designers and/or bead artists who enjoy incorporating leather, ribbon and cords into their work. We will get to know each designer, show off their jewelry creations and ask them their thoughts about using fibers in jewelry.

Today we are talking with Cynthia Deis owner of Ornamentea.

So, Cynthia, tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am the owner and lead designer at Ornamentea.com. I publish 8-10 projects monthly on that website and in magazines and books when I am lucky. I also teach some classes at my store in Raleigh, NC. My favorite materials to work with are artist beads, mixed metals and (usually!) fibers and cording. You can see my work at Ornamentea.com or you can visit my personal blog, 365necklaces.com for flashbacks from my 17-year jewelry design career. 

Click the links below to go to Cynthia's project tutorials at Ornamentea.com!

1. A Frayed Heart Necklace 2. Palm Beach Bracelet & Earrings  3. Everyday Wrapped Bracelets

4. Exaltation of Larks Necklace  5. Atami Necklace  6. All My Loves Necklace

What's your favorite type of cording or fiber to work with in jewelry?

Oh! I have so much trouble picking a favorite! I love leather for the bright, graphic punch you can get with a grouping of leather cords in various hues. I love sewing and wrapping with waxed linen threads. I love ribbons, especially bias-cut silk duiponi for the fraying and aging that naturally takes place and I really love stitched tubular cording because I love to run wires inside it and create colorful, shaped fabric elements. We are importing some new hand painted rayon gemp from Germany that will be here soon and I will probably fall right in love with it as soon as it arrives.

Why do you like working with cords and fibers in your designs? What quality draws you to these materials?

Lately I have been doing a lot of experimenting with putting memory wires inside of tubular cording like kimono cords and I love the play of hard and soft that results. I am especially drawn to the idea of working with materials that are soft and flexible and I love the color and texture that cords and fibers add to designs. I also use a lot of art beads in my work and combining them with hand-dyed or craft-produced fibers seems a natural to me.

Cynthia, I love the creative, stylish jewelry you make. Thank you for talking with us!

You can find more of Cynthia at her blog: 365 Necklaces

And

also the blog for her store, Ornamentea: Shiny Little Things

 Visit Cynthia's online jewelry supply store: Ornamentea.com

Designer Spotlight: Jen Judd Velasquez

Each week, we are talking to jewelry designers and/or bead artists who enjoy incorporating leather, ribbon and cords into their work. We will get to know each designer, show off their jewelry creations  and ask them their thoughts about using fibers in jewelry.

Today, we are talking with Jen Judd Velasquez.

So, Jen, tell us a little bit about yourself?

 I have a unique balance in life because my weekdays are spent in uniform as an officer in the Air Force working in an environment where conformity is key but then on my own time, I'm focused on using my creative energy to make fun, unique things. I started beading in 2007 while trying to find something to do aside from dating in D.C. I was not having much luck finding a man but I found a ton of good beads. Once I gave up the hunt for a mate and started focusing on my crafty self, I ended up meeting a wonderful guy and now we're married! He's tremendously supportive so I still devote lots of energy to learning new techniques, practicing with different components and tools, and continuing my exploration of various creative outlets. Jewelry is still my main interest but I find myself working more on creating my own wire components, working with fire to change up metal and beads, and all-around figuring out how to really make my pieces represent me! I truly appreciate the art-bead-jewelry-creative blogging community that has become a part of my daily life. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to share!

What's your favorite type of cording or fiber to work with in jewelry?

I've been so inspired by luscious suede cording lately that my designs have been growing from there almost on their own!

Why do you like working with cords and fibers in your designs? What quality draws you to these materials?

I'm first drawn to color but then texture...the soft and supple feel of the suede is fun to juxtapose against the hardness of steel wire. That's my favorite combination of materials right now. Plus I like that you can "finish" this suede in so many different ways--a glued or crimped end, a gathering of wire, or just a simple knot!

 Jen, I really enjoyed getting to know you a bit better. Thank you for talking with us!

Find Jen at her blog: Jen Judd Rocks 

And

Find more of Jen's creations in her Etsy shop: Jen Judd Rocks 

Designer Spotlight: Malin de Koning

Each week, we are talking to jewelry designers and/or bead artists who enjoy incorporating leather, ribbon and cords into their work. We will get to know each designer, show off their jewelry creations  and ask them their thoughts about using fibers in jewelry.

Today, we are talking with Malin de Koning.

So, Malin, tell us a little bit about yourself?

 Hi, I am Malin. I am Swedish and live in a small house in the countryside just outside Stockholm, the Capitol of Sweden, together with my English husband, our two children and two ginger cats. I have a background in, and a formal training in design and art. Used to work as a graphic/industrial/web designer. Unfortunately I can no longer work professionally due to MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Instead I got into jewelry making in 2008. I quickly got hooked, and after a while I developed a passion for art beads and working with a variety of materials and techniques. I love the fact that there are always new things to explore in the universe of beading. In 2010 I started a blog, after having been recommended to do so by my dear husband. I am so very happy for the internet existing, and for being able to be inspired by the particular branch of the international beading community that are into the same kind of jewelry as I am. www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

What's your favorite type of cording or fiber to work with in jewelry?

Hmm...difficult question. I'd say to be able to vary which materials and methods I work with is a key element for me, if you understand what I mean. Some months ago I could have answered dupioni silk, today I might say waxed linen cord. I've just ordered my first silk cord (a few in different sizes and colors), and really look forward to trying that. Deer skin leather is fantastic ... It is what I look for in the expression and feel of the piece that decides which material I use. Not so much that I favor any one material in itself. They all have their own qualities.

Why do you like working with cords and fibers in your designs? What quality draws you to these materials?

Oh, you make me all excited now ... I think I could go on for hours about this topic ... I'll try to keep it short though. :-) I recently came to think it is a bit like Feng Shui. Different material qualities are needed for balance. At least for the kind of jewelry I make. (I do love a beautiful plain smooth silver ring, but that's not what I do.) The textile element could be there to balance for instance, a rustic quality in a ceramic component, or the shininess of glass beads. The stretched out elongated line-like quality of a cord creates an interesting conversation with a chain of circular links. This is why I love to use cords and fibers in my designs. Because it is so exciting to explore what happens when they meet the other materials.

 

Great answers, Malin. Thank you for talking with us!

You can find Malin at her blog: Beading by Malin de Koning

And

more of her jewelry in her Esty shop: Jewelry by Malin de Koning