For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by accessories, particularly jewelry. My passions for accessories, art, and jewelry have served me well throughout my life, from creating pins and bracelets with vintage button pins to silversmithing, designing and exhibiting sterling silver pins in galleries and boutiques, to the gemstone creations I design today. I’ve made jewelry for many years in many varieties. I have used gemstones in my designs for nearly five years.
Most recently, I’ve become inspired by nature. Nature’s stones, the “bones of Mother Earth”, have been used as ornament and currency for over 5000 years and my jewelry features a myriad of genuine natural gemstones and semi precious beads from Mother Nature’s brilliant palette -- rich, radiant, spectacular, luscious. I get mesmerized by the unique colors and shapes.
Beyond their obvious beauty, each stone generates an energy and power of its own and I find that I become very relaxed and mellow while working with them. Each new creation becomes my favorite…until the next!
I believe that while creativity can certainly be learned, it is something I was born with. I believe it to be hereditary, as my dad was a wonderful craftsman and my children, nieces and nephews are all innately creative, many working in the arts.
How I got started.. I studied crystals and gemstones for their unique energy and powers and became so intrigued and and inspired by them that I just naturally began using natural gemstones in my jewelry designs.
My creative process is 99% inspiration, 1% perspiration. I start by randomly selecting a variety of stones and charms and pendants, and then the inspiration starts to take on a life of its own. The gemstones “sing” to me. Each stone has a color story, and like music, I start with one note, add a few more, build in some harmony, and voila. The necklace or bracelet is a beautiful composition. I write up the meaning of the gemstones used in the necklace, and this completes the process.
Like many artisans, creating beautiful gifts was the impetus to selling my art. From gifts to fulfilling personal requests with custom designs, and at the urging of friends and co-workers, I began selling my jewelry at local boutiques and galleries and online.
I particularly love helping to make people feel beautiful – inside and out. The right piece of jewelry can dress up any outfit, day or night, and there’s none more beautiful and magical than those created using natural gemstones. Not only are they beautiful to wear, but their unique energies can be healing and bring love, harmony, and joy to the wearer’s life.
My jewelry design business is called OHnaturElle, Natural Gemstone Jewelry designs by Ellen Jacob (with a little help from Mother Nature) because of the combination of several elements:
- OH = OHIO as well as the statement of joy, "Oh!"
- Nature = of course
- Elle = my name is Ellen
Plus, au naturelle in French means "naturally" (It also means naked, and if you wish to be well-dressed, you nead wear nothing more than one of my spectacular necklaces!)
Meet Colette Patty from Wolfcreek Creations...
My name is Colette Patty and I’m a retired buyer/dental
technician. I’ve been married to
my husband, Doug, for 25 wonderful years. We have a 21 year old daughter, Renee, who goes to The University of
Toledo. I love to craft and design
necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more!
I started making jewelry when I was very young. When I started working, my hobby was put on hold until I retired a few years ago.
We live on a farm that has been in our family for 70 years. In my free time aside from jewelry making, I have a very large garden that I grow
lots of vegetables and herbs. I
take the herbs from my garden and make different seasonings. I also enjoy canning different fruits
and vegetables from our farm. We have trails in our woods that we like to ride our golf carts on. After a long day out in the woods I
like to cook different cuisines for my family.
My creativity comes from all things beautiful. When I see something truly beautiful it
inspires me to create.
After I retired I found myself with a lot of time. Instead of buying gifts for people’s
birthdays or Christmas I would make them. So many of my friends ranted and raved about how great my jewelry was. Everyone told me I should sell all the
wonderful things I had been making, so I did!
When I go bead shopping I pick the beads that inspire me the
most. When I sit down to make a
piece of jewelry I have no plan. I
let the beauty of the beads dictate how the jewelry will turn out.
My goal is to one day have my jewelry featured in magazines, sold
in New York boutiques, and worn by celebrities. The message behind my work is that beautiful jewelry can be
affordable and unique.
Meet Stephanie Edinger from Precious Pretties...
First and foremost, I am wife to a wonderful man named Derrick and mother of three beautiful, awesome girls. My oldest daughter is 10 and my identical twins are 5. All are the light of my life! I am currently pursuing a college degree in early childhood education. I am close to obtaining my associate's degree and from there I plan to get my bachelor's degree.
I am not sure where I get my creativity from, I just know I love to create! A lot of my inspiration comes from my daughters.
While I have a fondness for all things I create, I would have to say that the korker bows are my favorite. They are what I started my business on and the main accessory I wanted my daughters to have. They are really cute and add a little something special to every outfit. I've been creating for over three years.
Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 West Side Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 170 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the Cleveland Animal Protective League, for animal rescue.
