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ann chavez
08-04-2007, 10:03 AM
on one hand, i'm pretty sure i don't belong on this forum, as the work i've seen here is marvelous and very professional-looking, and my own is primitive and funky; on the other hand, this is what i do, for better or for worse, and some of it is "southwest"-themed (all of it is southwest-inspired, as that's my environment and my in-vironment). so--i'm here.

i'm ann, 57 years old, mother and grandmother. i live in a rural part of northwestern new mexico with the prince of my dreams and numerous pets, most of which are rescues. i was a professional archaeologist in the west and southwest for 25 years, the last five of which were as the head of my own archaeology company. i retired in 2002 to pursue a jewelry-making career, which so far has barely paid enough to keep me in supplies.

i painted as a hobby all of my able life, and decided in 2004 to combine my love of making pictures with my love of stringing beads, and my "jackalart" was born. because i'm very much a DIY kinda person (i want to be able to do as much as possible by my own hand), i have been making the ceramic pendant blanks and beads and glass beads that i use in my jackalart necklaces. i've also made a few sterling bezels for my ceramic art pendants, but that is definitely a process-in-progress (i.e. i'm not very good at it yet).

i'm on extremely slow rural dial-up (which often pops off entirely at random moments), so my internet visits are usually relatively brief (i don't scroll a lot or post a lot). when i get a chance, i'll post pics of my (remember--i'm nowhere near as accomplished as you-all are!) southwest-themed pieces.

excited to see this forum! thanks, guys!

Diane Cutter
08-04-2007, 11:05 AM
Ann!!! Yes, you do belong here... Personally I love primitive and funky! I look forward to seeing your pieces, hopefully your dial-up will cooperate. I really enjoyed your website!

Diane

sassybird
08-04-2007, 01:48 PM
Ann, you must show some of your work over in the Wearables forum also if you haven't already. These are great pieces. I love your ceramic pendants, and your necklaces are beautiful. Do you make some of the beads for your earrings too? What size are your bracelets?

Mikki Petersen
08-04-2007, 03:30 PM
Okay Anne...show us your stuff! Of course you belong here. Jewelry is an art form, too. Funny story...on our first trip to Arizona, I bought jewelry everywhere we stopped. I was so fascinated by the colorfly combinations of beads and sliver and natural stones. I came home to Sacramento, CA with a whole box full, all enthused by the great accessorizing I would be doing with my work outfits. Oops! What looks so very beautiful in the Southwestern areas does not quite work with the power dressing work wardrobe. But they made great gifts that Christmas to all my staff and family!

Mikki

Old Tex
08-06-2007, 10:10 PM
Anne, your jewelry is absolutely beautiful. The necklaces are gorgeous.

ann chavez
08-09-2007, 09:37 AM
thank you all very much!

(thanks for taking the time to look at our website pending my getting pics formatted to post here).

Charissa--yes, i've been an infrequent poster on the wearable art forum since i joined wc.

glad to be here, and am greatly enjoying all the beeooteeful art on this forum! thanks, everyone, for sharing!

Hoss_Lass
08-09-2007, 08:22 PM
Oh, man, excuse me, I seemed to have drooled over my keyboard while looking at your website Ann!:lol: LOVE your jewelry pieces, gonna be tough deciding on something! I even get most of the titles of them, some gave me a good laugh (the "abducted" bracelet for example :cool: ). Yes, please post your pieces! I agree that your work would fit in here very well!

:clap: :clap: