World Artisan Gems

Name: Christina Neit

Website Link: http://goodquillhunting.com & http://wenchwares.com

Where are you located? Limerick, Maine

Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a 45 year old mother of 4, ranging in ages from 8-25.  When I was 6 years old, I started learning needlework and have done mayny types of needlework over my lifetime.  I have a wonderful and supportive partner, Dave, who is really the reason for my being able to pursue this at all.

When and why did you begin designing jewelry/art? I started beading jewelry 3 years ago. I have been working towards self employment for the last 15 years and one day I acquired some porcupine quills. I remembered as a child having some quill earrings and thought I would make a pair. Needless to say, I ventured off from there. I had played with a small loom when I was very very young, loved it then and now wonder why I never did it again until a few years ago and also have to wonder where I would be now if I had stayed with it.

Summer Moon earrings

What do you make? My specialties are seed bead, quill and horsehair jewelry.  I also design patterns and assemble kits and I am working on getting those on my website, although I do sell them at my shows.  In addition, I also make all my own jewelry displays and my websites.

What materials and methods do you use? I like lots of different materials.  As you can see from my work, I use everything from seed beads to horsehair, quills,  claws, & feathers. I love doing all types of beadwork, from bead weaving, looming and bead embroidery. I mix it up to keep me inspired. 

Where do your design inspirations come from? My inspiration is very vast! I design my own websites, make my own displays, take my own photos, add to that all the jewelry I have made, so I have a constant eye open looking for inspiration for all those things and trust me, I see it everywhere I look!

What is your best working environment/where is your studio? I work in my living room primarily, or at my computer. I can really work anywhere and often have a project going, be it in the car or on the street when I am being a ‘street vendor.’

Royalty

Where can your products be seen? I teach and am a vendor at beadfiesta.com. I can also be seen in the Old Port in Portland, Maine as a street vendor and I am working on getting into some Renaissance Faires in my area and of course, my work can be seen and purchased on my websites.

Earth

Upcoming events:
Bead Fiesta (vendor & classes)
The Beadin’ Path (classes)
Beads on The Kennebec (classes)

Magazine articles or press:
BEAD TRENDS Magazine Premier Issue Nov/Dec ‘07 (pg 24)
Online Broadcast/Interview May 11, 2008 with The Jewelry Connection.

Who are you a fan of? I have a very long list of those I admire on my blog.

Price range: $5.00-$2500.00

Tell us  a little about one of your favorite creations: Dragonheart is my favorite and most current bead embroidery. I love this piece because I really love the colors and the way it ended up being finished.  It thoroughly pleases my eyes and I have gotten many kind words for this piece! It was also a Daily Deviation in Deviant Art.

Dragonheart