Joan Evelyn Farley-Gockel
Every morning, I wake excited, having drifted off to sleep the night before, designing necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. I can hardly wait to get started on my next piece. I am passionate about it. I know this, in itself, is a gift. How lucky am I, to have arrived at this destination? Well, it has been a long and winding road, to coin a phrase. Along the way, I stumbled upon other creative pursuits, such as photo art - mostly flowers, fashion design (for myself, also known as sewing), painting, etc. For awhile, I grew, dried and pressed flowers, using them in elaborate arrangements, under a glass and inside a frame. The finished product was a hand painted vase, full of flowers and leaves, that could last for years, out of direct sunlight. It was a joyous experience, making my "flower pictures", as I called them.
About 5 years ago, a family member gave me a handmade necklace for my birthday. It was beautiful! This same person encouraged me to try it myself. I did and the rest - as they say - is history.
People always ask what inspires me? The stones do. Whether I am working with pearls, semi-precious or precious gemstones, even ordinary Jaspers or Agate stones, they tell me what to do with them. At times, the combination of certain colors might prompt a design. My imagination has been sparked by a picture, which I might use as a jumping-off point. I have never made 2 of anything. Each piece is original. Even if I wanted to duplicate something, nature being what it is, would make that nearly impossible. Yes, I only use natural stones, no two alike.
My jewelry pieces are sold in local boutiques, from the Central Valley to the Bay Area of California. Hopefully, this website will reach far and wide.
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