Jewelry artist: Joan Lukehart

Artist: Joan Lukehart

I am a 75 year old ‘girl’ who started beading 10 years ago after retiring.  I was reading Peggy Sue Henry’s “beads to buckskins” and thought “I can do that.”  I had never done any jewelry making before.  I cut up the first several attempts, but finally got it right.  I’m very proud of my split loom necklaces and have had some success in selling them at local craft fairs.  I graph the designs first and select the most pleasing combination of colors.  I use mostly size 11 and 15 seed beads and work semi precious stones into the mix when I can.  I recently started working on copper, these pieces which I call “copper splash” are refuse at the copper mines which I obtained at the gem and mineral show.  They have been fired to obtain a beautiful patina and I select complimentary bead colors to encircle and enhance them.  I make a chain of matching beads using the tubular peyote stitch.  They are one of a kind, since no two splashes are alike.  I hope you like the photos I’m submitting.

A bit of background,  I was an office manager most of my working career.  My husband of 57 years has retired after serving 20 years in the US Air Force and we retired here in Arizona where we’ve lived for the past 44 years. Our children and grandchildren also live here.  I find that most of my free time is spent doing or planning beadwork.  My husband says I am obsessed with it and I believe he is right.  It is a very satisfying hobby.

Beadingly yours,
Joan Lukehart