SPOTLIGHT ON ... DESIGNER
February 2006

Our featured designer for this month is Annecatette Zeoli of Autdemna Jewelers.

Hello! I am Annecatette Zeoli. I have been creating unique handmade jewelry for over 12 years, using a variety of beading and wire-wrapping techniques. I work with an assortment of semi-precious gemstones, vintage glass and freshwater pearls to name a few things. I started out by repairing and restoring vintage beaded jewelry and accessories for auction houses and antique stores. That motivated me to create vintage-minded pieces of my own that I started selling for the first time at a craft show in October of 1995.

In spring of 2002, Autdemna Jewelers became a full-time business operation. I now participate in fifteen or more events every year. Many of these are multi-day shows ranging from two days to four weeks in length.

I believe in creating jewelry that is not only different from what the rest of the world has to offer, but unique from each other. I have never duplicated any of my designs. All sorts of things inspire me. My main inspiration is architecture. I collect pictures of buildings from all over the world and tape them on the wall! Its not that I make jewelry that resembles buildings, it's that I am inspired by the image and begin designing based on my creative view. Songs, anime, video games and books also inspire me. I know a lot of artists name their jewelry. I feel that by naming a piece it pins it to a certain expectation or title. I have only named a very few of my pieces. This is usually because I spent a lot of time with it while creating it and as I watched it become something, a name came with it.

I began working with Soft Flex® Wire years back. I found that after experimenting with other products, Soft Flex® Wire is the only beading wire that works for both everyday and complicated designs. Most of my jewelry is very labor intensive. I always thought that no matter how much work or fancy materials go into a piece, it is not worth it if the heart of the what holds it together is not the best. That's where Soft Flex® Wire comes in.

This year will be a real "break the mold" year for me. I plan to take on new and bigger shows as well as introducing more of my silver and gold casting into my beadwork. In the past I have only been able to do a small amount of metal smithing. In January, I hired a contractor to build a studio to house all my jewelry-making equipment. Now with a convenient place to call my own, I am ready to incorporate so much more of my own cast pieces into my jewelry. (and I have more wall space for pictures of buildings!)

Thanks for reading all about me. Take Care!