Who is a jewelry designer? Are we artists or craftsman? There has always been a debate in the industry. I have always felt I was a little of each .

I fall asleep at night and dream of designs - drawing it out on paper, erasing and erasing, jotting down which stones I want to incorporate into the design, what colors should I use to pull the piece together. What textures will make the final piece a standout. Sometimes, when it's a really wopper of a dream, I can see my hands moving the clay and the piece finished (that's rare). It always seems to be changing even up to the time the next day when I sit at my workspace and begin to recreate the piece I dreamed.

Some designers do not make technical drawings. They might say it gets in the way of the creative process. Others, it's essential. I do both depending on my mood. I am a regular at the library - they know me well. I scour art books, and even children's books to get ideas for motifs and subject matter.

As a jewelry designer, I want my pieces to be true to its source. If I am designing an African mask then I want it to be true to its original maker. It becomes a link to the past and respectful of the original designer who took the time to make a magnificent mask. I then use materials that are found in the area the mask maker might have lived. One of my research books, Beads, An Exploration of Bead Traditions Around the World. by Janet coles and Robert Budwig is a wonderful resource. The poor thing is dog-eared and worn thin, but only because it's an excelent guide for finding sources. Many times I will use a bead similar to the ones outlined in the book or use it as creative tool for designing one in Polymer clay or sterling silver. It's important to keep the piece a reflection and not a copy.

So, I like to think of myself as a touch of artist that delivers quality craftsmanship and designs with the customer in mind. That brings it together for me. As long as the dreams keep coming, I am delighted to keep doing what I love best - Creating!