INCrowd Interview, 2/25/08 - BelladDio

• Where you are from in Indiana

I am from Fishers, Indiana. I have lived here for 10 years, with 4 years in Anderson and 1 in Muncie.

• What is your craft?

I make jewelry. Right now, my passion is wirewrapped jewelry. I do make some of my own beads out of polymer clay. I have been working on a new line of broken china jewelry. And, I have dabbled in resin.

• Tell us a little bit about how you got started in your craft?

I am a Jill of many trades, not a master in any of them. I started beading about 7 years ago. A friend and I thought it would be a fun hobby to do when we met up for play dates. I eventually decided that I needed to expand my horizons and started playing with polymer clay. Teaching myself from books and tuts on the internet. I took one workshop on PMC and loved it. Unfortunately, it was to big of an investment at the time, so I went back to pc. But I have not ruled this out as a future endeavor. I became interested in wire work techniques on day when I came across Eni Oken's website. I was blown away with her work and new that I had to try this out. I am a long way from being in her class, but I am having a lot of fun trying. As far as broken china jewelry, this something that pulls at my heart strings. My Nana loved china and had a beautiful teapot and teacup collection. Since her passing, I can't look at a set of china and not think of her. So, to me, when I work on these pieces I have a bit of her with me. I know that sounds a bit mushy, but, hey, I am a hopeless romantic and grandma's girl.

• Show us some of your featured items in your shop:

Waves of the Ocean Earrings:

Handpainted hear and wire bail necklace:

Pink and White Cherry Blossom Pendant:

Wired Flower:

Kaleidoscope Pendant:

• Is there anything else you'd like us to know?

I am truly looking forward to meeting and befriending fellow Indiana artisans. I find that when I surround myself with people who have similar interests it not only calms my spirit and gets my creative juices flowing. You can find my pieces in The Ruby Pear tearoom in Noblesville and Arts A Poppin' down on Mass Avenue in Indy.