Today’s mini interview is with lampwork artist Jennifer Cameron. Her business name is “Glass Addictions” and you will easily understand why when you see her work!
How did you start doing jewelry/beadmaking as a business?
My obsession with glass started with a simple class making a stained glass panel. I was immediately fell in love with glass and was compelled to start taking as many classes as I possibly could and planning vacations around what glass related places we could visit.
Within 3 years of that first class, I got my first kiln and started fusing. I desperately wanted to make lampwork beads too, but resisted…an entire YEAR of resisting! Now I have 4 kilns (one of which only anneals beads) and haven’t made a stained glass panel in 5 or 6 years.
Making jewelry out of my beads was a natural and unplanned progression. I was completely surprised by how much I enjoy creating jewelry and sometimes prefer making jewelry to making beads. I go through different creative phases like many other artisans.
Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
It was probably a macaroni necklace for my mom! However, the first “serious” attempt at jewelry was probably one of my first fused dichroic cabs that I then wire wrapped into a bracelet using instructions from Jayne Persico’s book. I don’t really care for that style of wire wrapping now, but I still have that bracelet.
You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things to make
jewelry with-what would you take?
Are you kidding me? Is it possible to only have five? I like to have every tool known to man at
my disposal! OK, I would definitely need my Lindstrom RX Pliers: Flatnose, Chainnose,
Roundnose, and Wire Cutters; and lots of wire.
What material would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn
that you haven?t yet?
I am really wanting to try some mixed media and collage, incorporating it into my jewelry and my home. There just aren’t enough hours in the day!
Luxury time is spent reading or taking classes for learning new techniques to incorporate into my work. Goofing off time is spent on twitter, facebook, and other social networking activites. I also homeschool my children, and work as the primary chauffer, secretary, accountant, maid, chef, and all the other mom stuff.
What do you do when you aren’t making jewelry?
Upcoming Show:Indiana Art Fair at the Indiana State Museum Feb. 21-22
Glass Addictions Links: website: http://www.glassaddictions.com/
blog: http://www.glassaddictions.blogspot.com
etsy: http://www.glassaddictions.etsy.com
1000 markets: http://www.glassaddictions.1000markets.com
twitter: http://twitter.com/GlassAddictions
Facebook: a really long link! Search for Glass Addictions on facebook or there are links on
my website and blog.
Go Jennifer! What an awesome day you are having! Congrats on the recognition! You so deserve it!
As a UK-based luxury jewelry fan, I found your blog on google and read a few of your other jewelry posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Can you provide more information on this for the rest of us luxury jewelry fans?