Tag: massachusetts

Rimma Zaika-Veksler Jewelry Artist

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Rimma is an artist and designer based out of Boston. Her vibrant, contemporary and one-of-a-kind garments and jewelry are intricately crafted. Her jewelry is mainly bold necklaces and earrings. Her knit-wear includes head warmers, shawls, scarves, as well as sweaters, coats, blouses, skirts and dresses.

Each piece has a whimsical charm that invokes the frolicsome spirit of boho chic, interlacing it with the opulence of the traditional garb of Russian royalty and Ukrainian colorful folk dress. They are reminiscent of fairy tales and flowers- full of history, playfulness and uniquely alive.

She strives to combine fashion with practicality. Creating unique, yet wearable, pieces to add to any woman’s wardrobe. She works with natural stones & fibers and, recycled materials because she likes to combine different colors, materials and techniques to fabricate each piece.

Trade Secrets July 2014

Pam Newman Jewelry Artist

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The Bead Lady, Andover MA
I started making jewelry over 15 years ago after I saw beaded bracelets at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  I thought, “I could make that”…and so it began. After a few attempts on my own, I took classes so they would look more professional. I took classes in stringing, finishing, bead weaving and bead making.  I keep looking for better quality gems and stones and my style keeps evolving over the years.  There is something for everyone’s taste.

Tami Rodrig Jewelry Artist

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Ever since a very early age, I have liked to create and discover the wonders of playing with materials. Being an artist became a way of life while every little mundane thing was absorbed and an inspiration. The change of seasons, the shape of a slice of bread, and the rhythm of a cat’s stealthy crawl; these are just a handful of things that inspire me. My many travels have had a big impact on my work and the urge to use plenty of colors. Humor in my art is often used as a reminder of our temporary place in the universe. Trained as a painter, the color sense can be seen in my mixed media and sterling jewelry. Having studied both art and silver smithing, I combine my metal smith techniques with paint and recycled objects to make jewelry.

The jewelry I create is crafted from a bezel made from silver, while inside, a little collage tells a story. A layer of clear resin is poured on top and smoothed to enhance and protect the piece.

Paula Gaete Jewelry Artist

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Drawing inspiration from Matisse and her many world travels, Paula Gaete jewelry is an expression of her joy and zest for life.

Paula Gaete graduated from University of Massachusetts with a degree in Anthropology/Sociology. Paula Gaete studied Art History, Jewelry Making and Weaving. She worked as a silversmith in Cambridge, Massachusetts shortly after college.

Working a full-time job and raising a son, Paula Gaete worked  in many aspects of the jewelry business, from sales at Bloomingdale’s to production work, finally establishing her own jewelry company 12 years ago.

“I have been very fortunate to travel to many parts of the world and have been greatly influenced by what I absorbed in the wonderful museums and the different cultures I have visited. I have a great love for ethnic jewelry and find much of my inspiration comes from the designs from Africa, Egypt, China and the American Southwest.”

Paula lives in Watertown, Massachusetts. Her 21-year-old son is currently living and studying in Vina del Mar, Chile. She is an avid salsa dancer and also enjoys the ocean and outdoors, sports and photography.

TRACY TERRELL JEWELRY ARTIST

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I grew up in a small suburb outside Boston, Massachusetts. My interest in Jewelry making started in High School where I spent a lot of time in the art department making jewelry out of copper and nickel silver. I enjoyed working with my hands designing and constructing wearable Art.

In the early 1990s I attended North Bennett Street School for jewelry construction and repair after graduating I worked as a bench jeweler in a “mom and Pop” shop. My next job was at a flute company polishing, assembling, silver and gold flutes.

In my spare time I made jewelry out of sterling silver, copper, brass, found objects, beads. I purchased scrape silver flute parts and created earrings from them. In my apartment I had a shop set up where I could solder and polish. I had a few shops where my jewelry was sold; Toucan in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA and Hoolamoola on Newbury Street in Boston. Later a small gift store and I participated in craft fairs.

Before the birth of my first daughter I moved to another town and packed my jewelry equipment away in boxes. I started creating jewelry using beads wire appliques and epoxy. As time went by I had another daughter and was not creating much jewelry.

Recent Projects

In the last few years I have gotten out my boxes of beads and findings and have started designing earrings, necklaces. My passion is to create beautiful color combinations and unique pieces. What inspires me is nature, fashion trends, interior design. Some time in the future I would love to set up my equipment and continue creating with silver and other metals.

CAROL SWOYER JEWELRY ARTIST

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I grew up in Michigan, graduated college from University of Massachusetts with double majors in Biology and Psychology. After graduation I worked as a marine ecologist sampling inter-tidal zones and writing environmental impact statements for the EPA.

Part of the job involved SCUBA diving in shallow marine environments. I’ve become an avid diver and spend as many vacations as possible exploring coral reefs. In addition, traveling in our western States, I discovered the awesome beauty of desert landscapes, and have spent many months camping in the wilds of Utah.

I’ve been interested in crafts since childhood, although I have no formal training. While in school, I sold gemstone and macramé bracelets of my designs in Harvard Square. Now a recent retiree, I work mainly with seed beads and stained glass. I try to capture nature’s beauty by weaving intricate patterns with these miniature glass beads, a time consuming process. A simple bracelet may take 4 to 6 hours to complete. A recent miniature took 40 hours!

Carol Swoyer’s Jewelry Inspiration

The inspiration for my jewelry comes from nature; an orange, apple, and mango in a fruit bowl; the tail of a parrot fish off the coast of Bonaire; the woven leaves of a climbing vine! The purple, green, blue, and turquoise of shallow seas and the red, rust, and orange of desert canyons are colors I am most drawn to. You’ll see these colors repeated in my work as I try to imitate the splendor of this beautiful planet.

MARTHA SEELY JEWELRY ARTIST

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Martha Seely was born in Syracuse New York, but has been a New England resident since early childhood living outside of Boston for the last 25 years. She lived abroad for a number of years and travels whenever possible – bringing back ideas to use in her life and art.

For much of her career life, Ms Seely was a costume designer and a stylist in the television and film business. A graduate of the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, Seely has now applied her talents to jewelry making and fiber art. “Making art and creating beauty have been my life and they continue to move me forward,” Seely said. Color, light, energy, and subtle grace mark the quality of her creations.

Martha Seely Artist Statement

Art comes not from my brain, but from my heart.

And much of my heart and soul is filled with color, texture, style and beauty.

Creating jewelry allows me to play and experiment. It makes me happy. I use the style and fashion sense I developed over the many years I spent as a costume designer and stylist to create jewelry that is feminine and wearable.

In creating jewelry, there is a wonderful combination of design and process.

With each new piece I begin with metal and gemstones. The colors and energy of the gemstones are what capture me initially. They can be intense or soft; they are made by nature, but like flowers, many of their colors seem not to be from the earth at all.

I confess, what really inspires me is their sparkle. It is the sparkle that brings out the girly-girl inside me. When I was in graduate school we had a saying – “in the heart of every (costume) designer, there is a sequin.” I don’t use sequins in my jewelry, but I think that the underlying feeling still holds true for me and is what keeps me enthralled with my chosen materials.

PETYA MADZHAROVA JEWELRY ARTIST

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I was born on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, but moved to the United States over a decade ago. My background is in science, but I have creative side. I am constantly looking for ways to nurture and explore different avenues. I started jewelry making about five years ago I mostly work with semi-precious stones and beads. My curiosity for new techniques lead me to take metalsmithing about two years ago. I adore the wonderful world of mixed metals!

Petya Madzharova’s Love of Jewelry

I love to design jewelry that is elegant and complimenting. My goal is to emphasize the feminine side to make women who wear my jewelry feel good. I want my jewelry to show the beauty of simplicity and minimalism. My inspiration comes from nature, the diversity of metals and stones, and many different cultures.