What inspires you.....

My inspiration for my lastest line of necklaces comes from Maria's hand forged clasps atSunstones .  I would like you to meet her, a fellow artist.

The following is in her words:

I am of Sicilian descent(my family came through Ellis Island).  I have always been artistic and creative, even as a child.  I attended a two year dedicated program in Sign Painting(Butera School Of Art,Boston,Ma), graduating first in my class and had a very successful sign and vehicle lettering business for a number of years.  After moving to Arizona in 2002, I was unable to continue working due to chronic daily migraine.  Starting an entirely new career in jewelry design and fabrication was the BEST thing I ever did.  I began by beading, which was fun but not completely fulfilling.  There was a school not far from me that offered classes in metalsmithing, so I began taking classes  and doing studio time. After a year I decided that this was a true calling.  Learning the basics at school was necessary, but working on my own is quite rewarding.

My other passion in life is animal advocacy.  I have eight companion cats, all rescued from shelters, with focus on special needs.  I have three companion parrots, my precious Congo African grey, a wild caught peach faced lovebird and a scarlet macaw.  My animal soumate was a sun conure that I rescued from a terrible situation.  I gave her an incredible life in my home for five years before losing her in May 2011.  I volunteer, support three very special animal rescue/rehab/sanctuary organizations, each providing life giving and life saving opportunities.  I have empathy for all animal and insect life and feel that every single life is precious and important.

Inspiration for my work comes from numerous sources.   Just holding a sheet of copper is thrilling to me, knowing that there are so many possibilities for this material to be formed and changed into something that people wear.  I have also found that my own clientele offering their suggestions can be a driving force of creativity.  The beautiful Sonoran desert is a wonderful environment for me to derive inspiration from.    Gorgeous blue skies, gigantic spring blossoms from cacti, cactus wrens warbling and the smell of creosote bushes after the rain......this is truly heaven to a girl that comes from boston.
by: jewelry by kat