New Contributors – Dawn Horner and Judy Larson

by Judy Ellis, Wirejewelry.com

WireJewelry Tip for October 5th, 2015

New Contributors – Dawn Horner and Judy Larson

Dawn Horner:

Dawn Horner entered the world of jewelry design in 2010 after being challenged by a friend to be “on the other side of the table” at the art shows she loved to attend. Having relocated to Alaska for the second time in her life with her husband, she went on to the challenge of reinventing herself from nurse to artist. Dawn’s favorite mediums are wire and stones. She loves the challenge of capturing unique shapes and strives to create everyday designs that can stand up to the wear and tear of life, but still capture a little wild spirit.

Since that fateful day in 2010, Dawn’s projects have been published in multiple issues of Wirework magazine, and she’s taught in various locations in Alaska and the “Lower 48.” She has a unique teaching style which she draws from her experiences as a nurse and triages quickly what each individual student’s needs and strengths are. Dawn looks forward to writing the wire design book that’s swimming in her head very soon while enjoying the comfort of a fire on dark and snowy Alaskan night.

Exhibitions and Festivals
Anchorage Saturday/Sunday Market- 2011-to present
Juried Member, Girdwood Center for Visual Arts Gallery Co-Op – 2011 to present
Various other yearly shows with an average of 60 retail setting days per year

Teaching Activity
Instructor, Alaska Bead Company, Anchorage, Alaska – 2013 to present
Instructor, Aurora Bead and Craft, Wasilla, Alaska – 2011 to 2012
Fundraiser Instructor, “Paint and Port” to Benefit GCVA, 2012

Published Projects
Crazy Eight Celtic Ring, Wirework Magazine Spring 2013
Viking Knit Beaded Core Bracelet, Wirework Magazine, Fall 2013
Flower Mandala Pendant and Bracelet set, Wirework Magazine Fall 2014

Follow Dawn online at www.northernadornments.com

Dawn’s Gallery of Work:

Judy Larson:

My philosophy has always been “I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!” So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving.I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a “we can do it, we can make it” attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING!When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker!While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can’t get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the “monster” in you, too!

Judy’s Gallery of Work:

We are so thrilled to have these two fine jewelry artists and instructors as part of our new contributing staff. Stay tuned this week to see some of their latest tips and techniques and don’t miss next week’s announcement of our next two instructors!

Happy Wrapping!

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One Comment

1. 

   Brenda

   October 5, 2015 at 5:44 pm

   I am in awe of these ladies. Their work is truly amazing and inspiring. Thank for their introduction.