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.

     


Copyright 2008 Freshie & Zero.  All Rights Reserved.