Presents

Featured Jewelry Designer

LISA VASQUEZ

BY SHRUTI DEV

“ Working with silver is definitely my passion; and incorporating lampwork beads into the designs is the icing on the cake.”

Orion ~ Lampwork Artist: Amber Ballard  

Lisa Vasquez started making jewelry about a year and a half ago after seeing some lampwork beads and jewelry locally, as well as on the net.  A stay at home mom of 2 boys, a Military wife of 16 years, a former Dental Assistant, and a newly enrolled College student; Lisa remains very active in the self-representing artist community as moderator of TMB, and Co-Founding member of SRAJD.

Bloom ~ Lampwork Artist: Serena Thomas

Lisa is no stranger to crafting; having done cross-stitch and cake decorating, she says “they have both taken a back seat to making jewelry!”   She hasn't taken any classes yet, but would love to do that someday.   A self taught jewelry designer, her guides are the few books that she has learned various techniques from.  Her favorite tools and equipment are her stainless steel shot for polishing silver, and her soldering equipment.

Garnet Bloom ~ Lampwork Artist: Brendan Blake

Lisa graduated quickly from stringing beads, into wire-wrapping and working with sterling silver. It is interesting to learn that her experience working with wire and all of the pliers, drills, and tools at the dental office has helped her the most. “Those are the skills that I use when I work with wire, and they have made the transition into jewelry seem very natural to me.  I had experience with wire from working as a Dental Assistant making Orthodontic retainers and appliances.  Who knew that those skills would come in handy in this newfound passion?”

Butterfly ~ Lampwork Artist: Valentin & Patricia

Lisa has just recently taught herself to solder, and that has opened up many more possibilities for her. “Working with Silver is definitely my passion; and incorporating lampwork beads into the designs is the icing on the cake.” 

Cap Core Beads ~Lampwork Artist: Tillerman Beads

With lampworking on her wish list, Lisa’s designs incorporate lampwork, Bali beads, and Hill Tribe beads.  She also makes some of her own beads from sterling and copper sheet, using riveting & dapping techniques. “Next on the menu will be my own beads using my new soldering skills!" she announces.

Tidepool ~ Lampwork Artist: Jayne LeRette

Delilah ~ Lampwork Artist: Gina Beardsley

Juicy ~ Lampwork Artist: Anita Pepper

Lisa looks at colors, shapes, and most importantly, precision in the details, and “their absolute artistry in making them,” when looking at other artists’ work.   Some of her favorite artists, whose beads she uses in her jewelry, are; Anita Pepper, Amber Ballard, Jayne LeRette, Alexandra Spinglaschell, Gina DeStevens, Brendan Blake, Serena Thomas, Sabrina Koebel to name a few.

Champagne ~ Lampwork Artist: Valentin & Patricia

When asked about a favorite artist, she emphatically names Laura Bracken.  Lisa attributes her awareness of using the best quality materials for her jewelry, the importance of wanting to move forward and learning new things, and the importance of good photography skills to Laura.

GazingBall ~ Lampwork Artist: Gina M. DeStevens

Describing her own work, Lisa says she likes clean, modern designs that are simple, yet effective.  “I've always been a white T-shirt and trendy jeans kinda girl, and I think that's how I want my jewelry to be, too.  Something that can be worn daily, whether it's dressed up or down, and something that will be bold enough to be noticed, yet not overly done.”

Floating Hearts ~ Lampwork Artist: Gina M. DeStevens

Lisa takes everything into consideration when making her pieces; the size and placement of the bead holes, any minor imperfections that might make a bead sit wrong, choosing accent beads that coordinate with the colors, size ratios of all of the components and how they work together.  When making earrings, she often makes her own ear wires to get the perfect overall balance of the designs!  With her new silver soldering skills, you’ll find that Lisa now makes most of her own components.

LoopedBoro ~ Lampwork Artist: Brendan Blake

Lisa tells us, “I am not afraid to modify anything, to make it suit what I need, adding, “whether it's enlarging a hole with a dremel, cutting off parts of findings that I don't want, or just making my own clasps and findings from scratch.  Getting all of the little details right is just part of the fun!”   She likes being able to actually create something that others will treasure.  Hearing positive feedback from people who receive her jewelry gives her the most satisfaction.

Majestic ~ Lampwork Artist: Brendan Blake

One particular piece that Lisa is really proud to have created is her newest bracelet titled “Midnight Elegance.”  She bezel set a Kalera shaped Boro bead (from Atlantis Glass & Bead), and used that as the focal.   Lisa goes on to explain, “I then hand cut heavy gauge rings and formed a twist design chain, which I finished off with 4 custom made end caps.  For the finishing touch, I handcrafted a toggle, and made a butterfly out of Sterling Silver sheet.  It was the most work I think I've ever done on one piece, but I had a lot of fun making it!”

Lisa hopes to sell her jewelry to high-end boutiques & galleries in time.  She is enthusiastic about her work and is always trying to come up with new and better techniques.  She believes it is important to keep moving ahead in one’s designs, learning and growing.  She says, “It keeps your jewelry fresh and exciting, and makes the whole designing aspect much more fun!”

Butterfly ~ Lampwork Artist: Valentin & Patricia

“I plan to learn as much as I can in the area of silversmithing, and hope to use more gemstones in the future as well,” says Lisa, adding, “Maybe I will even learn to cut gemstones.   I'm just taking it one step at a time, but I can't wait to see what the future holds!” A