Melissa Watson www.sidewaystree.etsy.com/
"For the last two years I lived in that small Caribbean village, surrounded by crystal blue waters, mountains of coffee, and sideways trees. I was working as a Peace Corps volunteer, and over the course of two challenging, amazing years I came to realize how fully the act of creating feeds my spirit—as well as the joy and empowerment that can come when others share in that creation. In the Caribbean I stuck mainly to supplies found in nature—smooth white beach stones, driftwood, seashells—but after being reunited with my tackle box of beading supplies (and moving inland a few hundred miles) I’ve turned my focus back to jewelry. It's a joy. I hope you enjoy exploring my etsy shop, and I also hope that every time you spot a sideways tree it brings a smile to your face!"
Kelda Martensen, http://keldamartensen.com/home.html
Kelda Martensen is a print, paper and book artist currently living in St. Louis, Missouri. Her work has been exhibited across the United States and in Germany, Korea, Lithuania and Denmark. "I explore a personal, political, and global narrative with use of symbolic pattern and irrational landscape. My prints carry an implied narrative of displacement and a quest to make one’s journey one’s home. Though personal in allegory, my work is essentially human as I interpret universal questions of individual and collective memory, cultural history, and natural wonder."
Kirsten Gunst, http://kirstengunst.com/
"In the 1980's my personal jewelry collection was a variety of outrageous neon baubles. In the 5th grade jewelry making became my new way to make money, which mostly consisted of attaching earring hooks to charms from my plastic charm necklace. As I grew older I taught myself how to make the jewelry I had seen in stores. I dabbled in Fimo clay, glass beads, macrame, and seed beads all before I was 14. My jewelry took a new turn after I landed a "dream job" in college at a bead store. Now, using semi-precious and precious stones with sterling silver and gold, I am excited to see the different stages my jewelry has gone through.
All of my stones are carefully chosen, and I consider the properties of the individual stone as well as its beauty when making a new piece. Many cultures believe that gemstones focus the earth's energies and have distinct healing properties. The traditional properties of the stones used are noted in the description of each piece.
Making jewelry, for me, is therapeutic and fun. I hope you find something you like!"
Liz Teich, http://etcmodernvintage.com/
"etc... is a unique line of modern-vintage jewelry by Liz & Kim Teich. The designers take vintage/antique pieces and update them with a modern twist, so every design is one-of-a-kind. Objects are recycled in new ways: watches on necklaces, cuff links as earrings, chandelier crystals and foreign coins no longer in circulation used as adornment, etc. Nothing is wasted...even old watch bands now become stylish bracelets. Everything is hand-made with restored and reconstructed pieces, which range from the 1800's to 1980's, including the chains."
