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Betsy Porter
Art and Iconography
JEWELRY BY BETSY PORTER
Art and Iconography
JEWELRY BY BETSY PORTER
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I've been making bead jewelry for many years. I love beads, enjoy handling them, like the way they
move on a string. There must be over a million beads in my closet!
When living in the Princeton, NJ area, I used to teach an evening course in "Easy Gemstone Bead
Jewelry" at the YWCA. Some of my students were able to start their own small jewelry businesses!
I sold my jewelry, as well as silk scarves and marbled fabric items, at gift shops and an occasional
craft fair. Since moving to the Bay Area, I do less beading, but still enjoy an occasional bead day
with my friends.
Recently, an old interest in metal jewelry has re-awakened in me. As with icons, the prospect of
making small precious objects attracts me; and I like learning ancient crafts. So I've been taking
classes and workshops, and joined the Metal Arts Guild.
move on a string. There must be over a million beads in my closet!
When living in the Princeton, NJ area, I used to teach an evening course in "Easy Gemstone Bead
Jewelry" at the YWCA. Some of my students were able to start their own small jewelry businesses!
I sold my jewelry, as well as silk scarves and marbled fabric items, at gift shops and an occasional
craft fair. Since moving to the Bay Area, I do less beading, but still enjoy an occasional bead day
with my friends.
Recently, an old interest in metal jewelry has re-awakened in me. As with icons, the prospect of
making small precious objects attracts me; and I like learning ancient crafts. So I've been taking
classes and workshops, and joined the Metal Arts Guild.
GEMSTONE BEAD JEWELRY - Semiprecious stones; some have ceramic or gemstone pendants
GLASS BEAD JEWELRY - Hand-knotting appeals to me, and it usually works
better with glass beads, because their holes don't vary much in size.
better with glass beads, because their holes don't vary much in size.
Glass artist Abram Yocum made the
spiral pendant at near left. These
unique beads are hand made in
India.
Other beads come from China,
Thailand, and the Czech Republic.
spiral pendant at near left. These
unique beads are hand made in
India.
Other beads come from China,
Thailand, and the Czech Republic.
Upper left; handmade braids were created on the maru dai, a
Japanese style braiding stand. The strands of yarn are weighted, and
the braid forms in a hole in the middle, as you move the strands over the
top in a special order - very meditative. The 4-strand braids with
pendants are dyed by hand. I knotted 8-strand braids into pins.
Upper right; Fimo beads - this is a colored clay which can be formed
into tiny designs and then sliced like a jelly roll and baked into beads.
Lower left; ceramic pendants and pins - it's fun to make these little
critters and shapes from colored clay with a clear glaze.
Japanese style braiding stand. The strands of yarn are weighted, and
the braid forms in a hole in the middle, as you move the strands over the
top in a special order - very meditative. The 4-strand braids with
pendants are dyed by hand. I knotted 8-strand braids into pins.
Upper right; Fimo beads - this is a colored clay which can be formed
into tiny designs and then sliced like a jelly roll and baked into beads.
Lower left; ceramic pendants and pins - it's fun to make these little
critters and shapes from colored clay with a clear glaze.
MORE
MATERIALS
FOR
JEWELRY
MATERIALS
FOR
JEWELRY
METAL JEWELRY - This is student level work, but I still feel mighty proud of it. I've been taking
occasional workshops at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, and weekly classes at the Scintillant Studio,
both in San Francisco.
occasional workshops at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, and weekly classes at the Scintillant Studio,
both in San Francisco.
Above; Metal clay kiln
fired pendants and a
torch fired ring; from a
weekend workshop
with Lorrene Davis.
Metal clay is messy and
rather expensive but fun
to work with. Setting
stones is much easier.
The resulting jewelry is
fine silver (100% silver).
fired pendants and a
torch fired ring; from a
weekend workshop
with Lorrene Davis.
Metal clay is messy and
rather expensive but fun
to work with. Setting
stones is much easier.
The resulting jewelry is
fine silver (100% silver).
Above left; sterling silver apple pin, copper and brass leaf pin, and 2 sterling silver
rings with bezel set stones. The apple pin was started back in the early 1970's in an
evening course at Michigan State University - and finally completed fall 2007.
Above center; forged metal work - a sterling silver bangle bracelet with hammered
texture, a small copper bowl, and a ring of fine silver (100% silver). Ear plugs are
required for this work; but I find it quite satisfying.
Above right; rings made at home from sterling silver wire. The "jewels" are glass
beads attached to the wire with 2-part epoxy glue.
rings with bezel set stones. The apple pin was started back in the early 1970's in an
evening course at Michigan State University - and finally completed fall 2007.
Above center; forged metal work - a sterling silver bangle bracelet with hammered
texture, a small copper bowl, and a ring of fine silver (100% silver). Ear plugs are
required for this work; but I find it quite satisfying.
Above right; rings made at home from sterling silver wire. The "jewels" are glass
beads attached to the wire with 2-part epoxy glue.
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Back to About Betsy
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Back to About Betsy
Zach Finley, a lay deacon at St. Gregory of Nyssa Church, wears a
necklace of brown and orange jade beads with silver cross pendant.
necklace of brown and orange jade beads with silver cross pendant.
I've also enjoyed workshops at the Mendocino Art Center with Diane Falkenhagen and
Nancy Hamilton.
Nancy Hamilton.
Left; a copper and silver "sampler" chain made
from class projects and demonstration pieces
made by my friend Kerry Bostrom; with a few
glass beads.
Upper right; a sheet copper pendant formed on
a hydraulic press, then punched and hammered.
Lower right; two sterling pendants with
bezel-set cabochon stones. The long oval
golden-brown monokaite from Australia,
and the tear-shaped nipomo marcasite,
were crafted by Artisan Stone Traders.
from class projects and demonstration pieces
made by my friend Kerry Bostrom; with a few
glass beads.
Upper right; a sheet copper pendant formed on
a hydraulic press, then punched and hammered.
Lower right; two sterling pendants with
bezel-set cabochon stones. The long oval
golden-brown monokaite from Australia,
and the tear-shaped nipomo marcasite,
were crafted by Artisan Stone Traders.