If you're a member of our Beaded Jewelry Facebook group, I'm sure you've seen Jasmine Hicks' gorgeous jewelry. She makes necklaces with colorful sari silk tassels and layered bead caps, she's a master of linked necklaces, and makes jewelry for women as well as oh-so-cute pieces for kids!
I'm so excited to introduce Jasmine Hicks as June's Spotlight Designer! Let's learn a little more about this chef turned jewelry designer!
When did you first start beading & what drew you to beading in the first place?
I was a sous chef at the Prestigious Peabody hotel in Memphis. A manager let her friend sell her handmade jewelry to us. I was in awe and wanted to learn! I later bought a $100 box of beads. I was hooked! I taught myself and I was soon whipping up earrings.
Beading was a great outlet to my stressful job. I would come home and "de-stress" with beads. I was in heaven. As of right now, I have been beading for 11 years!
What is your favorite project that you’ve finished recently, and why is it your favorite?
My favorite just finished project would have to be the my hand chained boho mixed Czech cross silk tassel necklace. I don’t usually do to many crazy color schemes but this color combo came out great! The Czech beads dance together in perfect harmony! (See image to right & click to shop.)
Another one of my favorites are my glass tile pendants. They are simple and help me through my dry spells when I get crafters block. I often jump around with mixed jewelry mediums and techniques.
Do you have a jewelry business?
Yes, I have a shop on Etsy: Bella Stone Boutique.
You can also find me on FB and follow me on Instagram (Bellastoneboutique) and Pinterest (Jculinary). Just click to see my Pins!
When I first started beading, I brought my creations in to the kitchen, and my crew wanted to buy them. So, in a way, I came home with a second paycheck, LOL!
I spent my money on beads and would hoard them in hopes that I could be a SAHM and that I would be able to have my beads to fall back on one day.
After years of infertility and being a sous chef and chef de cuisine for 11 yrs, we were blessed with a little boy. I left the culinary world to raise my family, and we were soon blessed with two more: a girl and another boy!
When I opened my Etsy shop in 2014, I started with children's jewelry. Last fall I added women’s jewelry to my shop, and it is doing really well! :)
What are your favorite beading techniques and materials?
I love to make handmade beaded chain. It’s so therapeutic, and the possibilities are endless! My favorite materials are wire, patina paints, liver of sulfur, and leather.
What techniques would you like to learn?
I would love to learn metal smithing and how to make glass beads .I have the glass-making kit but haven’t the found the time.
What are some of your favorite beads or components on the HalcraftCollection.com website?
I love that Halcraft offers an array of beads, but my favorites are the Czech glass and the charms. So many to choose from and great prices as well!
Where do you get your beading inspiration? What most inspires you?
I let the beads tell me what to do with them!
Most times I’m working on 2 or 3 projects at once. My projects don’t often go as planned because my beads from one project most always end up in one of the other projects I’m working on! I enjoy looking at other artists' creations and drawing inspiration from textures and colors.
If you had room for only two tools in your bead kit, what would they be?
I could NOT live without my round nose pliers or flush cutters. I have three sets of each. LOL!
What jewelry trends are you excited to incorporate into your beadwork?
I would love to incorporate some crochet into my projects. I love to crochet, so I’m hoping it will be easy and fun!
Jasmine is originally from California, but calls Memphis, Tennessee, home.
She's a stay-at-home mother of three who says "beading keeps me sane," and she loves to cook and bake.
Jasmine loves to crochet in the winter, but can only make hats & blankets. She also loves sewing and vinyling shirts for her kids.
Her kids think she's super crafty and that she can make anything, and she lets them think that. :)
She also enjoys selling her jewelry at festivals throughout the year and meeting new fans of her jewelry.
Are you interested in being in our Designer Spotlight?
Join our Beaded Jewelry Facebook group today!
We choose a new designer to spotlight each month and would love to celebrate you!
Molly Schaller loves beading, knitting, gardening, bookbinding, and being with her family and pets. She’s always on the lookout for new ways to express her creativity and help others learn ways to tap into their creativity as well!
