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Learning Library 
- JTV Experts
JTV Experts
JTV is proud to present our distinguished panel of experts. With decades of diverse experience in the jewelry, jewelry making, and gemstone markets, our experts are uniquely qualified as well-respected leaders in their industry. Take a few moments to get to know them better.
Brenda Abdoyan
Bajidoo Artist
Brenda worked as an artist whose heart began beating in the world of realism until she made an unplanned trip to the Middle East in 2000 - a trip that changed everything. On that trip she had her first henna tattoo experience. She was absolutely captivated by the intricate, beautiful henna designs and began to incorporate the "swirls, curves, and twisting lines of the traditional henna tattoo" into her art.
Her second epiphany was when she randomly ran across unfunished wood bangles and the rest is, as they say, history. Now Brenda's brand of art is on in the same with Bajidoo, a name often interchanged for her own.
Lauren Andersen
Chainmaille Designer
Lauren was born & raised in beautiful southern California. She was blessed with having an extremely talented & crafty mom. Her father was an equally talented Civil Engineer. She has a degree in Accounting, Paralegal Studies, & Pharmacy Technician, but loves learning and evolving. Most of her career was spent being “serious”. Now is the fun part of her life! She loves taking a raw material, like wire, and turning it into a gorgeous new creation. She also loves to bead, macramé, and do various forms of needlepoint. She is inspired by people and nature. She loves the simplicity and the complexity of nature. She also loves to see people's faces when she explains how her chainmaille is created. They always have wonderful suggestions for new creations! And of course her family always inspires and supports her.
Dale Armstrong
Wire Jewelry Designer
Dale "Cougar" Armstrong is a diehard rockhound, lapidary, and a full-time wire jewelry artist, instructor and author, with a background in cloisonné and repoussé prior to making wire jewelry. With more than 35 years of combined experience, Dale uses absolutely no solder or glue in her classic wire jewelry designs, and teaches how at national jewelry making events across the country. Author of the bestselling book, "Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping", she has also made several different series of instructional DVDs and has taught on national television. Dale works with nationally known jewelry supply companies and she is a member of the Beadalon Design Team. Her award winning work has appeared in many printed publications and is sold in galleries and gift shops. Dale's working studio 'Cougars Creations' is located in southeast Tennessee.
Lilla Balint
John Bead Marketing Coordinator
Lilla Balint is a marketing coordinator at John Bead Corporation. There she is able to exercise her creativity and schooling in various marketing functions such as; branding, advertising, jewelry making, public relations, blogging, and coordinating all facets of John Bead’s marketing department.
She is a graduate of Ryerson University with a 4 year Degree in Fashion Garment design. As a result of graduating from a highly intensive fashion design school and interning in Toronto and New York City, Lilla has the professional capability of designing through various mixed media jewelry and accessory creations such as; jewelry making, metal smithing, handbags, hairpieces, scarves, leather working, and whatever connects to the latest fashions.
Working at John Bead has given Lilla the resources to work with a large variety of different materials and components and has allowed her to express her inner creativity desires.
Mark Brown
Pearl Expert
Mark has an extensive career in the pearl industry that spans over 20 years, both in the United States and Asia. Mark is a familiar face in the home shopping industry and he has been associated with the JTV family for 15+ years. As a matter of fact, Mark is Tommy Brown’s brother, one of our favorite JTV gemstone hosts.
Mark has an incredible passion for pearls and specializes in Keshi, Biwa and Baroque pearls. He also loves the exotics like Scallop pearls, Natural pearls of all colors, Rainbow-lipped oyster pearls and American pearls, to name a few. Mark has worked closely with pearl farmers in Ago Bay Japan, which is where Mikimoto cultured the first Akoya pearl. Mark’s passion for pearls is evident as he is always anxious to share his knowledge and enthusiasm, along with some amazing stories!
Mark has been developing and designing pearl jewelry for literally tens of thousands of pearl collections. Mark prides his education and 20+ years experience, which have given him an extensive knowledge of pearls. Allow Mark Brown to cultivate your interest in pearls as he shares his wisdom for pearls.
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Barbara Carleton
Jewelry Design Software Expert
Barbara Carleton straddles the fence between the right and left brain; she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration majoring in Management Information Systems. She also creates inspired beaded jewelry designs. This blend of technology and artistic talent motivated her to create Jewelry Designer Manager, a software program designed for jewelry designers to help them cost, price and sell their jewelry.
With over twenty years of experience as a sytems analyst and software developer, Barbara has assisted corporations such as Corporate Software, CSX Technology and SAIC with application development, software/hardware implementation, troubleshooting, training and support. When the personal computer was a new and exciting concept, Barbara was configuring and installing microcomputer systems and software to integrate with minicomputers, mainframes and local area networks. As a software developer she focused on database applications using programs such as Paradox, dBase and Access.
This unique blend of core technology and artistic creativity places Barbara Carleton's abilities in a unique position within the jewelry industry, evidenced by the Jewelry Designer Manager software program, the culmination of many years of software development combined with a passion for jewelry design.
Carmi Cimicata
Artist
Carmi Cimicata is a full time artist who specialized in handmade greeting cards, altered books, resin embellishments and wearable art pieces. She hand makes over 2000 cards a year in order to meet her clients demands at the Toronto One of A Kind shows.
She attained a visual arts degree from Ryerson University that provided a formal foundation for her art pursuits. Upon graduating from Ryerson, Carmi founded a highly recognized charity for young Canadians where she was executive director for sixteen years. She credits the charity experience for inspiring her to be cost conscious and effective while still making items that are elegant and professional.
Carmi is a regular crafts presenter on The Shopping Channel in Canada. She is the on-air presenter for 3 Birds, a paper crafts company and The Crafters Companion.
Judy Crowell
Style and Trend Jewelry Expert
Judy Crowell is a pioneer in the television shopping industry. As a Program Host since the late 1980ʼs, she is also one of the most recognizable faces in the business of electronic retailing. Over the course of 25 years, Judy has traveled extensively attending numerous trade shows to include Vicenza, Basel, Hong Kong, Vegas, Tucson and New York. In addition to her credentials as a GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional, she has witnessed first-hand the gemstone mining operations in Brazil, Bolivia, Australia, China, Nevada and Arizona. As a Host, Judyʼs particular areas of expertise included Gemstones, Silver, Gold, Fashion, Beauty and Fitness. She became a Fashion Trend Forecaster in 2009 to begin incorporating as much style into her presentations as book-knowledge of jewelry and gemstones. Her relationship with the numerous vendors, designers and manufacturers sheʼs encountered over the years has given her the advantage of unrivaled respect and credibility in the industry.
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Shop the JTV Blooming Jewels Collection
Heather DeSimone
Jewelry Designer
Heather DeSimone has been co-owner of The Beadin' Path since 1993. The company specializes in vintage jewelry components & unique jewelry supplies. Heather holds a degree in Fine Arts & has been designing jewelry since she first re-created her grandmother's telephone wire necklace at age 5. Heather also owns a lucite jewelry company called Leetie Lovendale that uses repurposed, mod 60's-early 80's finds. She is a mom to 2 boys, Maximus and Alex, and is married to her sweetie Chris. Heather resides off the coast of Maine.
Anne Dilker
Jewelry Designer
Anne came to jewelry design via ceramics. A studio potter for 25 years, she started making porcelain beads and pendants in 2005 and has been making beads and designing jewelry ever since.
A need to showcase her beads and pendants in finished pieces inspired her to use kumihimo braiding in her pieces. The interplay between the soft textiles in the braids and the hard surface of the clay created a juxtaposition that she finds appealing.
Anne began teaching kumihimo in 2007 and realized that the answers to many questions from her students were unavailable in print form. This lead to the book Braiding for Beaders which has quickly become the definitive book for jewelry designers who want to use braids. It is a “how to” book for jewelry designers who are interested in learning how to incorporate braids into jewelry designs.
In 2011 she has been working on 2 new booklets for the BeadSmith, one about kumihimo and the other about working with anodized aluminum as well as consulting with them about products and projects specific to kumihimo.
Stephanie Eddy
Jewelry Designer
Stephanie Eddy, a jewelry designer for more than 40 years, is involved in all aspects of bead and jewelry design and creation, from teaching to creating designer quality jewelry kits and tools, featuring "Steps by Steph" instructions.
She has experience working with a variety of medium, from glass fusing and blowing, stained glass, pottery, wire work, welding, fibers, watercolor, floral design, enameling and sculpture, as well as costume and set design. Stephanie branched out into wirework design in 2009 following the creation of her patented Lazee Daizee Viking Knit all-in-one tool. Her freeform wire design, "One Man's Pond Scum", won the 2009 Popular Vote Category In an Internet-wide wire sculpture competition.
Stephanie has taught at bead shows, stores and for bead societies across the U.S., as well as internationally at the Kobe Japan Art Show. Her beadwork has been displayed at the Tokyo Art Metropolitan Museum's Zen Exhibition; she is a featured artist in "The Art of Beading Stitches", among other publications; she has appeared in televised episodes of "Beads, Baubles & Jewels," and will represent Idaho in the upcoming Kalmbach publication "Beading Across America".
Jim Fiebig
Global Sales Director Zultanite Gems, LLC
Jim conveys his gemstone passion through his teachings and shared personal experiences. He is the president of Gemstone Adventures, a Madagascar tour agency, and serves as a motivational speaker for AGTA Tuscon and JCK Las Vegas gem and jewelry shows. Jim is an international gemstone buyer with over 30 years experience.
Kathy Fox
Venetian Beader
Kathy began her professional career with Eastman Kodak Company as a sales account executive. After working with Kodak for almost 10 years she retired from corporate life to stay home and raise her two children, Allison and Andrew. When her youngest was in school full time, she wanted to pursue a career that would give her the flexibility to be there for her children and in 2002, Kathy and her husband David opened The Place to Bead in Naperville Illinois, the first full service bead store in the area. During her search for unique and eye-catching beads for the store, Kathy developed a passion for Venetian beads, their history, and the Venetian culture. In 2004, Kathy and her husband expanded the business with the addition of Bella Venetian Beads and are now the largest importers of genuine Venetian beads in the country.
Kathy wants to help maintain the integrity and history of Venetian beads and has been a guest speaker at NAJA National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (Tuscon show, Feb. 2009) and, Gemological Institute of America Alumni Manhattan Chapter, spring 2009, to share this information. She continues to manage and teach classes at The Place to Bead and also is the show promoter for the bi-annual Suburban Bead Encounter. Kathy enjoys traveling to Europe and in 2008 organized a Mediterranean Bead Cruise with land excursions to Venice, Murano, Torcello, and Burano. Kathy resides in Naperville with her husband David, their children, and Sparky and Buster her two dogs. In her spare time Kathy enjoys attending her daughter’s soccer games in Florida, her son’s baseball games and tournaments, volunteers at ADOPT (Animals Deserving Of Proper Treatment) and is planning another bead cruise.
Green Girl Studios
Jewelry Studio led by Cynthia Thornton
Cynthia Thornton attended the Columbus College of Art and Design and spent the next several years as a freelance artist, haunted house mask maker, and a garden art sculptor to fund her dream business, Green Girl Studios. The business consists of carving and casting her designs in fine pewter and silver and selling them at shows around the country. In 2002 she moved the operation to California where she reconnected with Greg Ogden, college friend, musician, and artist. They relocated to Asheville, North Caroline with their daughter Azalea and their son Max. Green Girl Studios attends 35 shows a year and their work can be found in shops across the country and all over Europe and Japan.
Sherri Haab
Jewelry Designer
Sherri Haab is a creative force in the jewelry-making industry. She teaches classes all over the world, writes best-selling how-to books, creates new craft products under her own label and runs Sherri Haab Designs. All of this stems from a childhood in Seattle where Sherri spent many rainy afternoons letting her creative energy run wild, crafting from salt dough, her mother’s fabric remnants and repurposed household items. She channeled these happy memories into her first best-selling craft books for kids. After discovering a knack for sharing her ideas through books, she went on to write many more, eventually settling into jewelry-making techniques. She was a pioneer in introducing Metal Clay to the American public when it first became available in 1996. Sherri became in-demand as a teacher with the introduction of her book The Art of Metal Clay. Her fascination with this revolutionary product led her to develop new techniques, and she found herself developing products when she couldn’t find what she needed. Sherri and her engineer husband Dan, now have several patents on their cutting-edge products such as the E3 Etch and E3 Electroform and her ITS image transfer products.
Sherri’s award-winning books include: The Incredible Clay Book (Klutz), The Art of Metal Clay, Metal Clay and Mixed Media Jewelry, The Art of Resin Jewelry, Beaded Macramé Jewelry and Designer Style Jewelry (Watson Guptill). Publishing honors include Craftrends 2006 & 2007 Best General Craft Book Award, Publisher's Weekly Cuffie Award, and Oppenheim's Toy Portfolio Gold Award. She has recently released how-to DVDs on Metal Clay and Resin Jewelry (CCP videos). Television appearances include: The Carol Duvall Show (HGTV), Jewelry Making (DIY), Good Things Utah (ABC) and Beads, Baubles and Jewels (PBS).
Katie Hacker
Beadalon Design Team Member
Katie Hacker has written or co-authored more than 20 books about beading and crafts, including Katie's Beading Secrets (Hot Off The Press 2009) and Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed (F+W Pubs 2009). She also presents "Beading Lessons" on each episode of the public television show Beads, Baubles & Jewels, which has been on the air since 2004.
Katie contributes how-to beading projects to a variety of publications and is a columnist for Beadwork magazine. You will find her teaching classes at the Bead & Button Show, BeadFest, the Craft & Hobby Association tradeshows, and the annual Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements Event in Tucson.
Favorite Beading Technique: Katie's favorite beading technique right now is taking traditional stitching techniques like right angle weave and figuring out how to do them with beading wire. Her favorite projects are the ones that look complicated but are actually easy to make.
What inspires Katie to make jewelry? Katie loves making jewelry because it is satisfying to be able to make something in an evening and wear it the next day. She enjoys showing people how simple it is to create their own fabulous accessories.
When not making jewelry... Katie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, crafting, taking pictures, traveling, hanging out with friends, keeping honeybees, and helping on the family farm."
Julianna Hudgins
Jewelry Designer
Julianna Hudgins is a well-known International Spokesperson, TV personality, author and jewelry designer. Julianna is often referred to in the craft industry as the "Fire Behind the Wire" because she was one of the first artists to see the possibilities of wire as a craft trend and to develop products and projects to bring wire to the craft consumer. Julianna has made numerous appearances on National Television including HGTV, PBS, HSN, and QVC, and was elected by the Craft & Hobby Association to present the latest trends and wire working techniques at the Japan Hobby show in Tokyo. She has penned four insightful books on beading and wire working and was Owner of JewelCraft, an importing company of beads, crystals and jewelry findings.
What inspires you: "I am most inspired by the sounds of the ocean. I love color and start most of my jewelry projects by falling in love with a bead, gemstone or pendant that catches my eye."
What is your greatest accomplishment as a jewelry designer: "I am most proud of helping to bring the Artistic Wire Brand to life within the Craft & Hobby Industry and inspiring people around the world to use wire in all of their creative endeavors."
What do you enjoy most about your work: "I truly enjoy inspiring and teaching people through out the world how to connect with their inner creative spirit."
What is your favorite jewelry making technique: "I truly love working on a Beading Loom and incorporating my passion for wire working in all of my jewelry pieces."
Debbie Kearnes
Founder and Owner of Azotic Coating Technology
Debbie was born and raised in a small coal mining town in Virginia where as a child she relied on her imagination and her love of the outdoors for entertainment. She attended Northern Virginia Community College where she began her career as an administrative assistant to a soil scientist. She was then promoted to Engineering Assistant then Project Control Officer and soon followed her entreprenural spirit to develop specialty treatments for gemstones. 20 years later, Debbie has created countless colors for gemstones and continues her passion for jewelry that was desired as a young child. She loves to create that "bling" for women and loves to see the smile that her creative and innovative colors put on thier faces.
Cindy Lichfield
Jewelry Photography Innovator
Cindy was raised in Boulder, Colorado and Christchurch, New Zealand. Daughter of a scientist and inventor, Cindy has always been an entrepreneur and curious about how things worked. Trained as a goldsmith and holding a degree in business marketing, she established her own line of silver and gold jewelry and ran a factory in the Philippines for three years designing and marketing her own line.
Always an innovator, Cindy knew the potential of selling jewelry online but needed an affordable way to photograph her pieces without spending a fortune to hire a professional photographer. Frustrated by hot spots, shadows and inconsistent lighting, Cindy developed the Cloud Dome for her own use and has shared it with artists worldwide. The Cloud Dome is the perfect accessory for any photographer of any skill level aiming to achieve the highest quality digital photographs.
Janice Mae
Paper Bead Princess
Janice Mae is a self-proclaimed Paper Bead Princess and has a collection of Paper Bead Tiaras to prove it. She is passionate about recycling magazines into paper beads and making them into elegant wearable jewelry. She blogs about paper beads and currently took on the challenge of creating one piece of paper bead jewelry every single day for 365 days, needless to say she sleeps and wakes up thinking about paper beads. This very engaging hobby has become quite addicting to her in a good way.
She started a company with her sister Joann, her sister's husband Jun and her son Marc to help Philippine women augment their income by making paper beads, and a portion of their profit is allocated to buy school supplies for underprivileged Filipino kids. They are on their third year inspiring others to start making their own beads and providing the tools for them to start a new hobby. Recycling magazines and catalogs may not solve our problem of polluting the earth but it will help us be conscious of doing one little thing towards helping the environment.
Tony Malvagna
Park Avenue Collection Creator
Tony Malvagna is just a guy from Brooklyn, New York and is fortunate to travel around the world. He is a lifetime New Yorker and no matter where he goes, his heart will always remain somewhere between Brooklyn and Park Avenue. After graduating from St. Johns University with degrees in Marketing and Accounting, a curious sequence of events landed his first job in the jewelry industry. Working for a New York based company he traveled the road for ten years selling jewelry to major retailers. In fact, it was during this time on the road that he learned “the business”. He developed a keen understanding of merchandising, styling, and trends that enabled him to move on in 1994 and create The Park Avenue Collection. The Park Avenue Collection has been seen around the world and now is available on Jewelry Television. This is such a wonderful opportunity to offer this fantastic collection to all of Park Avenue loyal followers, and at the same time introduce it to the many, many fans of Jewelry Television.
Shop the Park Avenue Collection
Shop the Off Park Collection
Antoinette Matlins
Pearls Graduate, Jewelry and Gemstone Expert
Antoinette Matlins, P.G., is an internationally respected gem and jewelry expert, author and lecturer. Recently honored with the international Accredited Gemologist Association’s highest award for Excellence in Gemology, Ms. Matlins is the author of many books that are widely used throughout the world by consumers and professionals in the gem and jewelry field.
Former Gemology Editor of National Jeweler magazine for almost a decade, her articles and comments on buying and selling gems and jewelry, and on gem investment, have appeared in many national and international consumer and trade publications. She is also the author of the “Gemstones” chapter in the Encyclopedia of Investments.
Ms. Matlins has gained wide recognition as a dedicated consumer advocate. She has spearheaded the Accredited Gemologists Association’s nationwide campaign against gemstone investment telemarketing scams. A popular media guest, she has been seen on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, educating consumers about gems and jewelry and exposing fraud.
Shop all Pearls and Pearl Jewelry
Read pearl articles by Antoinette
Jill McKay
Jewelry Designer
Jill MacKay is an accomplished designer, author and consultant. Her name is synonymous with innovation and she is known for her genuine enthusiasm, love of nature and boundless spirit. Combined with over twenty-five years of creative work experience, Jill is one of the most skilled and sought after designers in our country today. This self-taught artist had humble beginnings, learning basic silversmithing in high school where she fell in love with jewelry design. Her romance with ornament, form and function never ceased and her own sterling silver line marketed under Jill MacKay continues to evolve and charm the industry’s jewelry makers and buyers. Jill licenses her jewelry designs to large chain stores and manufacturers as well as developing and manufacturing her own lines. Her prolific ability for design innovation keeps her busy. Jill MacKay products currently sell in over 2000 stores internationally.
In addition to being a celebrated teacher, author and lecturer, Jill’s work has appeared on stage and screen and she has won numerous national and international awards. Jill is perhaps best known for having been the jewelry designer for the daytime drama The Guiding Light, and for her work on Paramount Studio’s Star Trek: The Next Generation. Inspired by the beauty and wonder of the natural world, Jill’s style has been described as "provocative organic abstraction combined with romantic ornamental sensibility."
Seriously committed to giving back through the arts, Jill has won many national awards for her gifts of time and talent to those less fortunate and solving social issues through the arts. In her own words - “Creativity is more about making a life than making a living. It’s a bridge that gives us all a way to make beauty in the present.” Jill is on the National Trend Team forecasting jewelry trends for the creative industries. A prolific designer, Jill is consistently pushing the boundaries of design and originality. She lives and works from her studios in Gibsonia, PA.
Dale Nicholson
Jewelry Designer
An avid crafter and passionate lover of all things colorful and expressive, Dale found her true creative calling when she entered into the beading and jewelry-making world in 1999. The interplay of colors and style combinations won her over completely. She loves to explore the huge range of new bead styles and the many techniques possible. At her core is being able to express and interpret the variety of jewelry-making options and best of all she savors the process of creating and giving one-of-a-kind jewelry and fashion accessories to family and friends.
Dale has had the sincere pleasure of working with many reputable companies within the craft industry, including B Blumenthal & Co., Simplicity Patterns, and Offray Ribbon. In the culmination of a blessed career path, Dale is now the Business Lead for the Fashion Arts division at EK Success Brands. She enjoys collaborating with her team in the development of many unique jewelry-making and fashion components in addition to representing the sparkly products within the Create Your Style with Swarovski Elements brand.
Maureen Oliveto
Easy Knotter® Inventor
Maureen Oliveto, known to her friends as Reenie, has for a long time been an avid crafter devoting her creative energies to countless artistic projects. In recent years, she has developed a strong passion for creating beaded jewelry, turning what was once a hobby into a full-fledged business. She loves designing her signature line of necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and earrings, but the creation she is most proud of is the Easy Knotter®.
I love the look of knotted jewelry, but it was very time consuming to complete one necklace and it wasn't very evenly spaced. I was looking for a better way to knot and that is how I came up with the Easy Knotter®. I love finding the best beads possible and creating my line of wearable art. The Easy Knotter® is also great for scrapbooking.
A little bit more about me: I am married with two children, my daytime job is at the Cornwall Public Library in Cornwall, New York as a bookkeeper. I also give classes in jewelry making and jewelry design.
A little bit about the Easy Knotter®: The Easy Knotter® has been marketed for about two years and the response is overwhelming. People love it and tell me it's the best tool yet. What's great about the Easy Knotter® is that you don't need a lot of beads to make a beautiful necklace. It is perfect for all of your leftover beads. The Easy Knotter® has been featured in several crafting publications.
Lisa Pavelka
Mixed Media & Polymer Clay Artist
Lisa Pavelka, began her career as an artist after retiring from television production. It all started with a hand-sculpted line of polymer clay miniatures she made from her home studio. Over the years and as her children grew, she expanded to teaching, demonstrating, writing, television appearances and her own line of signature creative products (manufactured and distributed by JHB International, www.buttons.com). Lisa has made dozens of TV appearances on networks including HGTV, PBS, and the Discovery Channel. To date, she has authored four books and two DVD’s on polymer clay art; including the now best-selling book “The Complete Book of Polymer Clay.”
Lisa is highly regarded throughout the world as a mixed-media artist. Now that her four children are grown, she devotes her full attention to helping others “discover their inner artist.” She is also known internationally for her workshops, creative cruises, and “artrepreneurial lectures.” In spite of her busy schedule, she still finds time to mentor aspiring artists and volunteer her creative talents to schools and groups.
Lisa’s work with crystals came to the attention of the prestigious Swarovski Crystal company over six years ago. She has been designing and teaching for them ever since and is now an official Ambassador for CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements.
As one of the world’s foremost authorities on the medium of polymer clay and an award-winning artist, Lisa also known for her designs with precious metal clays, wire, crystal, and resin. For more information about Lisa Pavelka and her product line please visit www.lisapavelka.com.
Anie Piliguian
Jooltool® Developer
Anie's passion for perfection grew since her early teens as a bench jeweler for her father's renowned business. Having to combine work with homework, she constantly searched for quicker, better and safer ways to get excellent results. Anie's philosophy eventually led to the development of the most innovative polishing and finishing system: The JOOLTOOL®.
The JOOLTOOL® uses its own patented see-through disks to make polishing & finishing easy, fast and safe. Partnering with abrasive giant 3M, the JOOLTOOL® achieves oustanding quality finishes that would satisfy the most discerning jewelry experts. In fact, world famous designers consult with Anie for manufacturing ultra-high-end jewelry lines. Their best kept secret, the JOOLTOOL®, is now available for all artists to enjoy.
Margot Potter
JTV’s Jewelry Making Expert
Margot Potter is Jewelry Television’s resident Jewelry Making Expert hosting DVDs, online videos, creating projects for the Jewel School blog, appearing on the live show and sharing her true passion for creativity with our Jewel School customers. Margot has written six books on jewelry making and design. She has designed and consulted for some of the biggest names in the Jewelry Making and Craft industries. She is one of a handful of designers worldwide selected to be an Ambassador for Create Your Style with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. Margot approaches everything with her signature sense of humor, boundless curiosity and copious amounts of joie de vivre because she feels that if it’s not fun, it’s simply not worth doing. She invites people to not only think outside of the box, but to tear it up, repurpose it into something fabulous and stand on it to reach for the stars. Equally comfortable at the writer’s desk, in the design studio, onstage or in front of the camera, Margot has creativity, moxie and chutzpah to spare.
Paula Radke
Glass Bead Designer
Ever since she was a child, Morro Bay, California resident Paula Radke knew she was going to make her living as an artist. After dabbling in a wide variety of artistic mediums, including printmaking, silver casting and pottery, she discovered that glasswork was her passion. Utilizing a "Dichroic" process, she is able to create remarkable glass beads that change colors when viewed from different angles. "Dichroic glass is just a very special material, the way it changes with the light and it's just flashy and pretty," she says, "it's unique and beautiful." Radke now has her products in nearly 1,000 outlets, including jewelry designers, craft stores such as A.C. Moores and Michaels, and just recently sent some glass pieces to a glass museum in Kobe, Japan.
Renato
Jewelry Designer
Born in Manila, Renato was exposed from an early age to the Phillipines' rich culture of art, craftsmanship and the South Sea pearl trade. He developed a passion for drafting and design, but also a love of business and finance.
After graduating from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Economics, Renato moved to New York, dreaming of a career that would fulfill his many interests. As luck would have it, his first job was working for a fine jewelry company, where he had the opportunity to learn the business of jewelry making, as well as the craft. His days were filled with diamond pricing, trend spotting and jewelry marketing. In the evenings, he would spend time with skilled designers and jewelers, learning the trade hands on.
Eventually Renato landed in the heart of New York's jewelry district, creating his own line of fine diamond jewelry. He travels extensively, working with jewelers in Thailand, Hong Kong and India, bringing cutting edge technologies, unique stones and new ideas back to New York. Renato has been in the jewelry industry for 20 years and draws his inspiration from the many cities he has visited around the world.
"Every place I go to, everywhere in the world, has it's own individual character. The art, the architecture, the culture...the "heartbeat" of each city is unique, special and unforgettable. This is the feeling I try to recreate in each piece I design. I want the woman who wears one of my jewels it to feel just as unique, special and unforgettable."
Shop the Andalusia Diamond Collection
Leslie Rogalski
Jewelry Making Expert
Leslie Rogalski is an artist, editor, teacher, and media personality with a passion for creating jewelry. As a CREATE YOUR STYLE WITH SWAROVSKi ambassador and a design team member for Beadalon, she travels around the country spreading the joys of making jewelry. The former editor in chief of a national bead magazine, author of the blog Sleepless Beader and many You Tube videos, her designs and articles have been and continue to be widely published in books and magazines from all the jewelry industry leaders. She is widely recognized as the creator of her acclaimed DoodleBeads DVDs, as well as from Jewelry Television and the PBS TV series Beads, Baubles, and Jewels.
Christiane Ross
Jewel School Product and Brand Coordinator
After gaining 20 years of experience in the home shopping field, Christiane Ross joined the Jewel School team as Product and Brand Coordinator. She is a GIA certified AJP (Accredited Jewelry Professional), a Level One Certified Art Clay Instructor and a degreed video production specialist.
Christiane's passion revolves around her many hobbies. She is an accomplished seamstress & jewelry maker. She also enjoys beading, wire-wrapping and chainmaille. “I am continually delighted to learn from every expert I meet through Jewel School!"
Fernando da Silva
Beadalon Design Team Member
Fernando Dasilva is a designer whose work levitates around 3 elements: simplicity, texture and style. He is constantly looking for the inner beauty of anything in the world.
In 2005, Women’s Wear Daily highlighted Fernando as a designer to watch. He has contributed to several beading magazines and jewelry design inspirational books and is the only male Ambassador for Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED Swarovski Elements. His first book “Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed” was co-authored with fellow Beadalon design team members Katie Hacker and Margot Potter.
His work can be seen at www.dasilvajewelry.com and tracked on his lifestyle blog www.daliciuus.blogspot.com.
Favorite Beading Technique: "All the basic techniques are my favorites. My design approach is not defined by my technique but by my innate gift of seeing beyond the obvious and my sense of color and style."
What inspires you to make jewelry? "My inspiration comes from the desire of support myself through my creations. Some days I get inspiration from my spirituality, some days from my culture, other days from my dreams and some days I have no inspiration whatsoever. Sometimes even when I don’t feel inspired and I have a request for a new design, I start manipulating components and something uniquely fresh comes, and then in those days I am just lucky."
When not making jewelry... "I am cleaning and rearranging my house, cooking, listening to music, reading pop magazines, catching a movie, visiting an art exhibition or daydreaming about [the] future."
Joe Silvera
Metalsmith, Wax Carver and Jewelry Teacher
Joe Silvera graduated with a BFA in Metalsmithing with honors from California State University at Long Beach in 1991 and then apprenticed as a goldsmith. His favorite technique is lost wax casting with which he likes to carve detailed sculptures of animals and more. Joe is a popular metals teacher who teaches classes in the Bay Area at Baubles and Beads in Berkeley and San Rafael, and at his studio classroom in Berkeley. He also teaches nationally at festivals like the Bead & Button Show and Bead Fest. His classes provide a foundation in the fundamentals of jewelry making mixed with laughter and creativity.
Debbi Simon
Swarovski Elements Ambassador
Exclusively Debbi has been working with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS for about 5 years. She has used most bead shapes, flatback and hotfix, a variety of fancy stones, sew on stones, pendants, pearls and is starting to work with round/chaton stones and resin.
She has been teaching a variety of art workshops for both adults and children for about 10 years. She started teaching using SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS about 5 years ago. Her Brilliant Bangle made with Swarovski Elements was featured in the April 2007 issue of Bead&Button Magazine.
Jerry Sisk
Graduate Gemologist, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Jewelry Television®
Jerry Sisk, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Jewelry Television®, has traveled to over 40 countries worldwide, has a deep appreciation for many cultures, and is well versed in the challenges of gemstone mining and jewelry manufacturing.
Mr. Sisk received his Graduate Gemologist diploma from the Gemological Institute of America, is a member of the International Colored Gemstone Association, served as a Gemstone Industry & Laboratory Conferece committee member, and has been a guest speaker for many organizations. In addition, he has received an international award from the Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association.
Federico Terenzoni
Italian Gold Expert
Federico Terenzoni was born in Arezzo, Italy. Later he studied communications in Siena, a beautiful medieval town between Florence and Arezzo. The town has always been an inspiration to Federico. After living in the United Kingdom, Brazil and the United States, he returned to Italy to develop a line of jewelry along with designers and artisans who are the heart and soul of Splendido Oro. Meaning glittering or shimmering in Italian, Splendido Oro is a line of handcrafted Italian gold, all designed in Tuscany, Italy.
Federico’s motto is: "If it is not comfortable, it is not modern: but beside comfort it is about women feeling good and when they feel good, they look good; so Splendido wishes to be tuned to what they need and what they would love to have. This is what makes the product different and emotional: emotions are very important for Splendido."
Federico is married with two children. He loves spending time with his family traveling around the Tuscan hills surrounding themselves with nature.
Shop all Splendido Oro Jewelry
Laura Timmons
Jewelry Designer
Laura Ripley Timmons, Owner of Vintage Moon, has designed her entire life and created jewelry professionally for the past 10 years, selling her unique designs across the nation. Her passion for color and design is obvious in each of her unusual creations. Vintage Moon Creations is a mix of old and new, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind.
In most recent years though, Laura has developed a new passion that feeds her soul: teaching, incorporating both her love for people and design. Laura is an Ambassador for Create Your Style with Crystallized Swarovski Elements™, and travels the world teaching her unique creations and techniques. Teaching in such faraway places such as Bangkok, Toronto, or her own backyard, Laura incorporates both her love of people and her love for the industry. Laura is a published designer as well– look for her “Fashion 411” segment in “Bead Unique”, your 911 to the 411. Please visit www. vintagemoon.net for more information about Laura.
Jackie Truty
Clay Expert
Jackie Truty left a career as a surgical nurse to become a true Renaissance artisan. She has studied for years to acquire extensive knowledge and background in a myriad of mediums including fused, dichroic, slumped glass, wire art, and lapidary arts in addition to being one of the premier Metal Clay experts and instructors in the world today! As a certified Master instructor and CEO of Art Clay World, USA; Jackie has shared her knowledge throughout the world in classes, a DVD, magazines, and books.
Stephanie Wells
Jewelry Designer
Years ago, Stephanie Wells began making jewelry out of her garage inspired by her travels abroad. People immediately began buying the jewelry right off of her body, and what began as a fun hobby turned into a well organized corporation catering to today's most popular celebrities.
Double Happiness jewelry has now been featured in several top fashion magazines and is carried in luxury specialty department stores and boutiques throughout the world. In 2010, Stephanie's DIY book The Earring Style Book was released and instantly became a top seller.
Shop Double Happiness™ Jewelry
Wyatt White
Beadalon Design Team Member
With twenty five years of experience in the jewelry industry, Wyatt White is a widely respected industry expert. He is the product manager for Beadalon. He has a particularly strong knowledge of jewelry making components including findings, gemstones, jewelry displays and packaging. His experience from retail gives him a strong understanding of the needs of the consumer in combination with his insight into the diverse needs of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. An expert in the area of product research and development, he is also an excellent jewelry maker in his own right. Wyatt has a particular gift for the techniques involved in Pearl Knotting, as well as, being extremely knowledgeable in most of the techniques involved in bead stringing and jewelry construction.
Charles Winston
Jewelry Designer
At the age of 17, Charles was brought into the jewelry industry via the family business. He developed a keen eye for quality and style and thought about how nice it would be if all women could afford to wear elegant creations of fine jewelry. Charles Winston then formed his own jewelry manufacturing company creating fabulous jewelry utilizing sterling silver or gold. He incorporated cubic zirconia in lieu of diamonds and used lab-created (synthetic) gemstones rather than their natural counterparts. After the success of his CZ jewelry collection, Charles recognized the need for a line of jewelry that was a step up from CZ yet still affordable. He solved that problem by partnering with Charles & Colvard, the sole source for the most beautifully created gemstone in the world, Moissanite®.
Charles Winston is internationally recognized as a leading jewelry designer of diamond jewelry, Moissanite® jewelry and CZ jewelry. His focus on cutting edge design, high quality and value has been the key to his success. He can be seen on television shopping networks worldwide.
