(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is the next installment in a series of articles highlighting local artists who create wearable art. These Fashion Friday features will be published each month on First Friday.)
Nothing warms the soul during these cold months like sparkle of a handcrafted pair of earrings or the feel of a soft hand knit scarf.
With the winter holidays right around the corner, it is the perfect time to buy gifts such as these created by local artisans.
This year, a selection of local jewelry designs, goldsmiths and fiber artists were interviewed by the Sun-Gazette in order to highlight their wearable art pieces.
Without further ado, here is a list of who they are, what they create and how to purchase their unique and wearable works of art.
January - Camille Orelli is a fiber artist who studied weaving and surface design at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. Orelli creates wearable fiber art including sewn skirts, knit hats, and woven shawls. She also is skilled in cross stitch, quilting, and a Japanese form of embroidery called shashiko. To purchase Orelli's work, visit Caleb Meyer Studio in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, or her Etsy site Trimbuktoo.
February - Beth Moser is a celebrated beadwork artist and instructor from Williamsport, who has been featured in a number of trade magazines. Her work has been worn by up and comer Raje Shwari in a music video filmed in New York. Moser uses cabochons, crystals, glass, stones and pearls as the focal points of her pieces, surrounding them with beadwork. Her designs are available at www.bethmoserdesigns .etsy.com or by calling 220-6248 to make an appointment to visit her studio or email her at cab moser@verizon.com.
March - Ruth Ann Miller is a fiber artist and textile instructor at Mansfield University. She specializes in scarves woven with fiber and seed beads and tie-dyed silk scarves. To contact Miller, email her at cot123@ epix.net, visit her Facebook page Miller's Store Blackwell or see her work at Miller's Store Blackwell, 730 Route 414, Morris.
April - Jennifer Engel is a jewelry designer who creates her pieces using mixed metals and colored pearls. What really set her designs apart are her necklaces, which all have front clasps. Engel also has an Autism Awareness line of jewelry. Her jewelry can be purchased at Jennifer Engel Designs, Flat Iron Salon Building, 901 Hepburn St. She can be reached at 322-2322 or through the Jennifer Engel Designs Facebook page.
May - Suzette Mason is a hammered sterling silver jewelry designer, owner of Simply Sterling Designs, and co-owner of Patinaz in Williamsport. Mason's most popular items are hammered sterling silver rings. To see more of her jewelry, go to simplysterlingdesigns .com, visit Simply Sterling Designs on Facebook, stop by Patinaz, 400 Pine St. or call 447-8959.
June - Martina Guerra is a goldsmith with a degree in fine metals and also has a gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America. She creates fine metal jewelry with sterling silver, 10K, 14K and 18K yellow and white gold. Her store, Martina Guerra Goldsmith, 1102 Allegheny St., Jersey Shore, is filled with Guerra's original jewelry designs. For more information about Guerra and her designs call 398-1833 or visit www.martinaguer ra.com.
July - Richelle Lee Walk is a jewelry designer from Montoursville with a degree in diamonds and colored gemstones from the Gemological Institute of America. She uses the wax cast process in her work and specializes in metalsmithing. Her retail jewelry store, Richelle Leigh Collection, is located in Harrisburg at 4812 Jonestown Road. To purchase jewelry from Richelle Leigh Collection visit the store, call 717-545-4511, or visit her website www.rlcollection .com.
August - Mary McMinn is a bead and jewelry maker whose work has been featured in Bead and Button Magazine. She specializes in lampwork or flamework beads using molten glass. Her designs can be purchased at Harvest Artisan Cooperative and Gallery, 46 1/2 W. Fourth St.; the Green Drake, 101 B. W. Main St., Millheim; and Peppers: the Artisans' Collective, 38 S. Market St., Selinsgrove.
September - Jackie Thomas is a Williamsport fiber artist whose work is on display in the Eagles Mere Art Gallery. She specializes in painted silk scarves, woven scarves, huipils (a garment worn by indigenous people in Central and South America) and more structural fiber art including baskets, weavings, dolls, wall hangings and sculptures. Patinaz Gallery, 400 Pine St., carries a selection of her painted silk scarves. Thomas can be contacted regarding her work by email at jthomas760@aol.com.
October - Jule Hanford is a clay bead sculptor and jewelry designer from Montoursville and co-owner of Patinaz in Williamsport.
See her work in the Jules Artwear kiosk this holiday season at the Lycoming Mall in the center court. Hanford also can be contacted by phone at 447-8959, in store at Patinaz, 400 Pine St., through Facebook at www.facebook.com/JulesArtwear or at any of the festivals listed on her website at www.julesart wear.com.
November - Nate Hennigan is a goldsmith who incorporates clients' ideas into his designs by using precious gems and metals. His fine jewelry pieces are on display at Jennifer Engel Designs, 901 Hepburn St. To set up an appointment to visit the shop he runs out of his home, customers can call 329-5131 or contact Hennigan and check his designs online at nate hennigangoldsmith.net.
McKinney may be reached at life@sun gazette.com.
To submit an artist for consideration, email dborick@sungazette.com or call 326-1551, ext. 3108.
