Hello.
I am Beth, a.k.a. "Freshie". I wish there was an exciting
story about how I got my nickname, but there isn't really. A
few years ago, my manager at work just thought it rhymed with "Bethie"
so she started calling me that and it wasn't long before my coworkers
and friends adopted my new name as well. Zero is my Jack
Russell Terrier and yes, he's totally nuts. I started making
jewelry when I was about 10 or 11 - I used "friendly
plastic," a very popular crafting material of the 80's,
and made earrings which I peddled up and down my street out of my
caboodle for $3-$5 a pair. I even sold my jewelry to a local boutique!
I studied art in
college and upon graduating, I thought the only way to make a living
off of art was to paint, and I just didn't have the passion for
painting. I worked in art galleries and tried being a sales rep for a
couple of years. I started making jewelry again on the side for extra
money when I was especially poor in 2001, and about two years ago, I
decided there was no time like the present to take my jewelry-making
hobby to the next level. I applied to craft shows, developed a web
site, and rigorously worked to improve my jewelry. By listening to what
customers liked and disliked at craft shows, I was really able to tweak
my line and make it better. Fast forward a year and half later, I've done
over 20 craft shows, opened up new wholesale accounts, traveled across
the country selling my wares, got married, and am loving every minute!
I strive to create jewelry that is pretty,
modern, and classic. I mostly use simple geometric shapes and
I constantly push myself to create new ways of making a feminine piece
of jewelry out of these simple forms. Each piece is handcrafted using a
hammer and wire and the end result is a mix of delicate sophistication
and bold elegance, from the dainty wire outlines to the more solid
silver hammered discs. Occasionally I add touches of semi-precious
gemstones or pearls, and have started doing more wire wrapping lately
to add to the delicate and edgy irregularity that I love. |