About Monkeyshines
“Most Artists and Musicians will tell you their first memory was creating something. It’s quite Magical that feeling of making our own language with paint or sound. It’s like in Paulo Coehlo’s Alchemist, when we’re young we know what our job is on this Planet, and (blessing or curse) we remember and become it as we grow older.” — Chuck Lukacs, artist
This quote is so true. One of my earliest memories is making a necklace with plastic beads. I played “Cinderella” with it, and pretended that the step-sisters ripped it off of my neck. I should have known that I’d lose all of the beads, but somehow that never crossed my 3-year-old mind until the deed was done, and then I was heartbroken that my necklace was gone. I’ve been making jewelry ever since. Trying to recapture the magic of that first, lost, necklace?
I also have early memories of making books. My dad would staple little stacks of paper together, and I would make storybooks with drawings, before I could read and write. I grew up to become an author, newspaper reporter, columnist, and editor. The storyteller in me always sees a narrative in the jewelry I create. Every item I make has it’s own tale to tell. It might be a necklace that a fairy would wear to the May Day dance. A bracelet assembled by a selkie from bits of sunken ships and seashells. A sparkling pair of earrings inspired by the droplets of dew which remain on raspberry leaves after the rain.
Yes, all of the jewelry on this website is created by my own hands. I use an eclectic mix of items found in websites, bead stores, estate sales, flea markets, festivals, and gem shows, which come from places all over the world. I use real semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, Czech glass, Venetian millefiori, or Swarovski crystal, not Chinese knock-offs or plastic designed to look like these. I love working with ceramic or lampwork glass beads and pendants made by artists in the USA.
Most of my pieces are one-of-a-kind, or of a very limited number. I don’t have much time for making jewelry, and I prefer to use that time making new designs, or working on custom pieces, instead of just making the same thing over and over. And I often use vintage, unusual, or found items, or beads and pendants created by other artists, so it is impossible for me to make two of the same necklace, even if I wanted to.
I do not use instructions from bead magazines or craft books. My jewelry designs are entirely my own. My inspiration comes from history, art nouveau, mythology, and nature. Of course, I am influenced by the jewelry I see in stores, in history books, or on other people, but I never try to copy anyone else’s work — unless I’m doing it for costuming reasons, when I am trying to match a particular TV show or movie character. (They call it “cosplay” now — I was doing it back when it was just called “make believe”.)
So often, when I’m browsing boutiques or bead magazines, I see things that look lovely, complex, and terribly impressive, but where would I wear it? Or with what outfit? I’ve even purchased a few of these artsy type jewelry pieces, and they’ve ended up very uncomfortable to wear, or so easily broken! I do sometimes create complex and expensive pieces, but most of the time I try to make jewelry that is both affordable, wearable, and durable as possible.
I hope you enjoy wearing the jewelry as much as I enjoy creating it. Every piece is made with intense love and fearless creativity!
~*Jen*~
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)