Artist Spotlight: Part Seventy-Seven

This artist is new to this blog, the force behind Nancy's Wild Wire Art.  Hailing from southern Illinois, she's passionate about copper, sterling silver, and gemstones... and it shows.  This chick's got an enviable style that's all her own, and I'm not surprised that the pieces are conceived in her dreams. What does surprise me is that she makes them in a tiny basement studio with a minimum of equipment.  The heart she throws into every piece is wholly evident.

Oh, and by the way?  She does custom work too!

Artist Spotlight: Part Seventy-Two

You've met this artist on this blog back in October, but she's definitely worth another look.  I'm talking about Colette, of Colette's Boutique.

So... let's see what she's been doing since the fall...

Artist Spotlight: Part Sixty-Five

You've met Tammy of TamsJewelry here before.  Remember the biker chick who makes pretty jewelry?  That's her!

Born in Ohio and living in Texas, Tam's married with two daughters.  Although she's enjoyed many crafts over the years, none has addicted her like jewelry making has.

A look:

For more, check out her Handmade Artists' Shop.

Artist Spotlight: Part Sixty-Four

Today, I'd like you to meet John Atwell Rasmussen, who hails from Easley, South Carolina.

A retired paramedic, he was educated in geology at Rensslaer Polytechnic Institute in NY, obtaining his Bachelors and Masters, and then teaching geology.  He was educated further at the International Gem Society, the Gemological Institute of America, and Penn Foster Career School.

He pursues his love of rocks, minerals, and gems as the lapidary and jeweler at Rasmussen Gems & Jewelry.

His wife Debora assists the business by doing bead design and making all of the beaded pieces in the shop.

Together, the talent is mind-blowing.  I'll let their pieces speak for themselves, except to suggest you learn more about them on his blog.

Artist Spotlight: Part Fifty-Three

I have someone new for you to meet, Lisa, the force behind Speranza Jewelry.

Living in Annapolis, MD, this part time jewelry maker, full time employee of a DC news agency still finds time to stock both an Etsy shop and an Artfire shop.

A believer in Pablo Picasso's ideals, she believes that "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls."

And when she's immersed in color in form in her little jewelry studio, she's found a refuge from the digital images and rhetoric of Washington politics.

Everyone in DC should be so lucky.

I've been to DC to visit, and I really love it there, but I imagine living there could get to a person after a while. I imagine, surrounded by politicians, wheeling and dealing, and especially working for an agency that reports on all the misery and corruption, that it's not easy to maintain hope.

Lisa does it anyway, even naming her jewelry business after the concept.  Speranza means "hope" in Italian.

To learn more about her, be sure to check out her blog.