BJ, jewelry artisan and owner of ETSY shop Adornments by BJ - http://adornmentsbybj.etsy.com is a young retiree, a boomer who has plunged into a new vein of creative expression after leaving the nine-to-five world. She describes her passion for creating unique, one-of-a-kind beautiful artisan jewelry as literally rejuvenating her life.
Her preference of materials leans toward natural elements as seen in "Nature's Best" pictured above, a simply elegant triple-strand necklace with heishi, wood, bone, Golden and Red Jasper, and Tibetan Turquoise beads.
BJ's most recent designs are her Chinese Knot series where stones are strung on silk and braided cord. The example here is "Rising Sun," where Jade, Jasper and stainless steel beads hang from a Chinese Button Knot attached to a Pan Chang Knot. In Chinese, the Pan Chang knot means endless and represents birth and death, and is considered a symbol that life can exist forever - one of the most basic concepts of Chinese Buddhism.
BJ believes that jewelry is selected subconsciously, reflecting the persona, or soul of the chooser. One can be drawn to a stone metaphysically and not understand the attraction.
On a final note, a sunset. Another piece with warm, simple, clarity titled, "Amber Has Sunset Colors."
BJ is a member of ETSY teams, AJC - www.artjewelrycollective.wordpress.com, JET - Jewelry on Etsy Team, and S.R.A.J.D. - Self Representing Artist Jewelry Designer #0517.
BJ is participating in the "90 Features in 90 Days Challenge." You can visit her blog at http://adornmentsbybj.blogspot.com.
