Carri Rowley

Midnight Romance

Midnight Romance
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2013 featuring Crystal
Finalist
Category: Necklace

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
I live in Aurora, Colorado, suburb to Denver, where we say, "Wait a minute the weather will change." Blizzard one minute, sunny the next. Love the mountains.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Being a graphic designer, I have found inspiration in things I never would have if I had not gone to college. This has me look to nature, photography, typography, architecture, paintings just to name a few. My 2nd oldest daughter's mother-in-law makes jewelry. I liked her pieces and so I asked her if she would show me how to string some beads together. She had me pick out the beads I liked (there were so many). She shows me and of course I messed up the first one cutting off the string at the end before putting on the clasp, yes, I learned and haven't done it again. So I got two sets of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. To boot, this woman knows little English, fortunately I know some Spanish, together we made beautiful pieces, and she also taught me how to make tamales.

I started thinking, I really like making jewelry, but since I had just graduated I didn't know what to do; so I did some work with graphic design, but my heart was with jewelry. One day my 3rd daughter said she was wanting to make jewelry, boom, that's all it took to change my mind from pursuing graphic design, but little did I know that I have been using my degree for my own company. So, we are a very new company and new artists and are glad that we are doing what we love to do. I did tell my husband that I really don't care about "selling" a lot of jewelry, I just want to make it. I know I have to sell some so I can make more. I am honored to be in the second round of the crystal contest.

What medium do you work with mostly?
Just starting to make jewelry I found myself in love with gemstones, then my partner (daughter) suggested we try crystal. I have to be honest, I did not like the crystal when I saw them online but, when I saw them I fell in love. I have used crystal a lot with my gemstones, giving each piece the right sparkle. I now find myself wanting to learn wire-work and metal-work. There is no limit to what we can do, just what our imagination limits us to, so I continue to learn what I can, sometimes I feel I can't learn fast enough. I am working so hard to develop logos and taglines and everything that goes with making your own business.

Where and How do you sell your jewelry?
Right now with small shows. We have been trying to read as much information and as fast as we can to find what will work for us. Etsy and a boutique that we have had our eye on are next on the agenda. We have also given some as gifts to spread the word.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Midnight Romance

What inspired this design?
I found a picture of a pearl choker Princess Di was wearing and thought about the dark focal stone with the white elements surrounding it.

How did it come together?
Drawing it out, I had an oval shape for the focal, but as I was searching for the focal gem I found the rectangle shape and liked it better. It took a few times using practice string and problem solving, like which string to use. The wire I had was not letting the clarity of the clear elements shine the way I wanted it to, so I used a clear string, perfect. The headpin spear shape I feel gives the piece some danger to the night. I did struggle with the strands, wanting them to stay together but not that stuck look, I wanted it to flow, so I made my own spacer with the thinnest hardest wire I had and strategically placed them so it still seems there is movement.