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"I
base the majority of my pieces around Lampwork Beads.”
Katie Gerner
has been designing Jewelry for about 10 years now. As a child,
Jewelry Design never struck her as her future career. She idolized
Julia Childs and wanted to own and operate her own restaurant. This
dream was taken over by one to get a dog to win County and State
Fair. Since 1997, many titles have been awarded to her dogs.
Aside from her
jewelry designing, both
her dogs and dog training are an integral part of her life.
An Elegant Affair -
Bead Artist, Candice Mathewson
Although completely
self-taught in jewelry design, throughout
Grade School, Katie always took every Art class offered, including
after school Art programs.
A
friend introduced her to the world of making beaded ornaments. For
many years, her friends and family always received a new ornament
each Christmas. She has developed many of her own designs and has
completed hundreds of very intricate, detailed ornaments.
Katie
also
does pencil
drawings from time to time. Her early exposure to art does play a
part in how she designs her jewelry.
Black Tie Affair -
Bead Artist, Amy Cornett
Katie
appreciates the support her family and friends have always extended
to her, stating, “If it wasn't for their encouragement I do not
believe I would still be designing. My parents have been the most
supportive. Since I started my jewelry business in 2004, they have
supported me both financially and emotionally.”
Iced Gardens, Bead
Artist, Lish Diffendarfer
”My friends or
family members would see my designs and would always love them,”
says Katie, adding, “In the beginning, most of my designs were given
as gifts or bought by friends and family for gifts.” Soon she
started receiving custom orders from people who had received her
pieces. She couldn't believe it. “Now after many years of
designing, I am starting to see my talent,” she says.
Lilly Ponds, Bead Artist,
Gina Jeans
Talking about
the beads she uses in her designs, Katie says, “I base
the
majority of my
pieces around Lampwork Beads. I strive to use the highest quality
beads in all of my pieces. I also use Sterling Silver, Bali Silver,
Thai Silver, Gemstones, and pressed glass beads in my work.”
Currently she does not make her own beads, but hopes to get into
Lampworking by fall of 2007.
Her
favorite bead artist is Gina Jeans.
"I
own a ton of her gorgeous beads.” Katie appreciates the hours and
hours Gina has spent going through basics of Lampworking with her.
Some
other artists she loves are Jena Fulcher, Melanie Egan, Candice
Mathewson, Lish Diffendarfer,
Deborah Burch,
and recently she discovered
the beads of
Kathryn Greer, an up and coming Bead Artist from France. It is the
impeccable, flawless designs of the beads that draw her to other
artists’ work. Each
of them has their own unique style of bead making as well.
Antique Luster -
Bead Artist, Deborah Burch
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Asked about
whether the design or the elements strike first, Katie says she
sometimes plans her design first, and at other times, it comes
later but, they
are always original.
Each piece that Katie designs has to be
practical. She
says, “If
it
is uncomfortable to wear, why make it? Each piece that I create
is also strength tested, so that has to play into my final
design. I try to create pieces that are very versatile.
Everything about the design has to flow. It all has to become
one fluid design. My favorite style to create has to be
anything with charms and dangles. I love creating pieces with
lots of dangles.”
Geisha - Bead Artist, Gina
Jeans
Katie finds
inspiration everywhere,
“I always have a note pad or paper with me; you never know when
you may get inspired! I try to look at everything around me; the
birds, trees, flowers, people, anything. I seem to look at
everything as a piece of art,” Katie says.
Summer Splash - Bead Artist,
Deborah Burch
When asked
what about making jewelry gives her the most satisfaction, Katie
says, “I love the whole process; it thrills me to search and
find all of the unique beads & findings that I will use in my
designs. I also love being able to put those beads & findings
together to create little works of art. The best part is getting
the emails, cards, or phone calls from customers who are
thrilled with their pieces.”
Mardi Gras - Bead Artist,
Avaline Pierson
Katie’s
favorite piece is a Necklace titled “Kona Dreams.”
(photo below). This Necklace
was inspired by Lampwork beads by Melanie Egan.
“I
loved the Aqua and Chocolate color combo combined within a
lentil shape. I found awesome brown shell coins that pulled in
the lentil shape from the beads as well as
the
color;
these also feel very smooth against the skin. I also found
really neat Turquoise Jade rounds that pulled in the aqua blue
color from the beads.
The
focal part of the Necklace is very dramatic with lots of
dangles, while the rest of the Necklace is very simple and
straightforward. Everything
about the design just blossomed and developed into a stunning
piece.”
Kona Dreams - Bead Artist,
Melanie Egan
Currently,
Katie has a website with an online catalog. She also sells with
an online Gallery, and occasionally on auction sites. “Earrings
will generally
run
between $25-50, Bracelets $60-150, Necklaces $60-200.
She
also sells
handmade wire clasps
which
range from $6-12.”
Bead Artist, Kathryn Greer
One of the
strongest recommendations Katie offers to anyone interested in
getting into jewelry designing is to have storage, storage,
storage! She says, “As a Jewelry Designer you will always have
beads all around, but I find you will be much more productive if
you have proper storage. If you need something you know right
where to go.”
Contessa, Bead Artist, Deborah
Burch
“My
ultimate goal is to make Jewelry Design and Lampworking my full
time job.” She would also like to work a lot more with Silver
PMC and
publish a few more tutorials and
projects.
A
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Please join us in the forum to
congratulate Katie, ask her questions, or just say
hello!
Click here to go directly to the thread.
You can see more
of Katie's work at:
www.katiegerner.com
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