The next Jewelry and Trinkets Featured member is ~
Feast Your Eyes! Medley has been a member of Craftster since 2007 and is a frequent poster on the various Jewelry and Trinket boards. Not only does she make fabulous jewelry, but she does many other crafts and is a great swap partner!
These are a few of my favorite projects of Medley’s:
Jewelry inspired by Princess Bride:
Inconceivable
Some of her fabulous bead work!
Traditional Native America Beaded Hat Band
Yum!
Beer and Peanuts Cupcakes
A few words from Medley:
I am educated as an architect, but am not currently using my degree. I feel I am a born designer, though, and enjoy design at all scales, from something small and wearable (jewelry), to large (buildings), to digital (websites) and everything between; the same principles always apply. My other passion is animal welfare. I have 2 dogs I adopted from shelters, and live with my mom and her 2 pets, a foundling cat, and a dog someone wanted to re-home. I am currently fostering a dog that was formerly used in a research lab. I volunteer for an animal rescue and try to educate about spay/neuter, puppy mills, and other issues affecting companion animals.
Q: Why (and when) did you begin making Jewelry?
A: I started in middle school with bead weaving on a small wire loom, mostly because I was fascinated by Native American culture & arts & crafts. I got a couple of “Beads to Buckskin” books and some others about Native American crafts and taught myself bead weaving, brick stitch, appliqué, leather work, and even tried my hand at quill work. Then in high school, I took a class taught by Susan Thomas (who later authored Link It! Colorful Chain Mail Jewelry) and Rain from the local bead store and learned to make peyote stitch amulets. That really launched me into more modern & artistic beadwork. It was actually later that I began to enjoy the creative exercise and instant gratification of simple stringing and wire wrapping. I am in the process of learning more complicated wire wrapping now.
Q: What are your favorite materials to work with? Favorite tools?
A: For seed bead work, I really like Fireline. You can get it in the sporting goods stores, but bead stores are carrying it now, too. For wire work, I love German Silver wire. It has the strength and shine of sterling, but costs a lot less. My favorite tools are my beat up chain nose and round nose pliers and wire cutters.
Q: Besides some lovely pendants that I’ve drooled over, what other kinds of jewelry/trinkets do you make?
A: I have done lots of bead woven pieces. I enjoy right-angle weave and spiral stitch a lot, and have made some very successful pieces with them. I also like to make charm bracelets, earrings, and necklaces incorporating beads, charms, and chain.
Q: How did your first jewelry making project go for you?
A: It was a success at the time, but when I made others I, of course, saw lots of things I could have done better. It was a bracelet made with size 8 or 9 transparent green, purple, silver, and hematite seed beads and a diamond/chevron pattern. It had leather ties.
Q: Do you have any “Crafster Crushes” on other jewelry makers on the board? Who are they?
A:
Acidtrix inspired me to try some asymmetrical necklace styles. I really loved the pinup pendants by a Craftster formerly known as miserylovesme , now
UntamedMenagerie I wish I could do chain mail like
hawkwolf.
Beadsbeadingbeaded does some really nice work, too!
Q: Do you have any favorite techniques?
A: No, I have craft ADD. I like to jump back and forth.
Q: Are there any kinds of jewelry or techniques that you want to learn?
A: Yes! Lots! PMC, metal smithing, soldering, more chain mail (I know a little), more wire wrapping, glass fusing...
Q: Where do you get inspiration for your projects?
A: Either from the recipient (I do a lot of custom work, swaps, and make jewelry as gifts) or from the beads themselves. I can sit for hours with my bead boxes, sorting and grouping beads into combinations I think would look good.
Q: What other crafts do you do?
A: Sewing clothing and household items, quilting, painting objects (as opposed to canvases), decoupage, interior decorating, cooking, the list goes on... I love DIY and will try just about any craft.
Q: What is your favorite J &T project on Craftster that you posted?
A: I really loved the colors (greens, browns, coppers, black), the Kazuri beads are really beautiful and unique, and the spiral stitch and right angle weave (which I used for the circle) are fun to do. I love to watch the piece take shape.
Lariat
Q: What is your favorite J&T project on Craftster that someone else has posted?
A: Tough choice. It could be different on any given day. Today I picked this one because (a) it looks like something I'd actually wear, and (b) I find it impressive that Cayca figured out how to make it from looking at a picture.
Mistress of the Night by
Cayca 
Q: What is your favorite non-J&T project on Craftster that you have posted?
A: My current craft infatuation is quilting, so I'm going to choose my first Mini Art Quilt. It was just one of those projects that appeared in my mind fully completed. The challenge was figuring out how to make it come out like I envisioned, and I think I came pretty close.
Doomsday Book Mini Art Quilt
[since I am the proud owner of this lovely quilt, it’s one of my faves too! –MareMare]
Q: What is your favorite non-J&T project on Craftster that someone else has posted?
A: Because I want it. It's well made, and I love rockabilly style.
So Very Cherry by
Psycho Sue
Thanks so much for sharing with us Medley!
If you have a recommendation for a Featured Member, please send a pm my way!
