Name: Lidija Maric Fairbanks
Website Link: www.lidijafairbanks.net
Where are you located? Loveland, Colorado
Tell us a bit about yourself: I grew up in Yugoslavia in a very artistic family. I spent my days in museums, galleries, and concert halls learning to appreciate the wonderful world of art. My childhood was affected by the communistic and socialistic regimes and art was my escape into a more wonderful and friendly world. I took many art classes like painting and ceramic sculpture. I received a diploma in leather accessory design. Currently, I am attending a school for interior design. I met my husband, Adam, in England. We fell in love and got married in Germany. It was quite an unusual love story, but it worked out for us and we were blessed with two wonderful boys that joined our family. Art was always a part of my life. All of life is art. For me, I’m doing art when I’m cooking, decorating my house, applying makeup in the morning, painting, and when I’m making dolls and jewelry. When art becomes a part of your soul, then everything you do in life is radiated in a beautifully creative light… Life becomes magical for you and everyone around you is affected. Creating an enchanted atmosphere is more than arranging furniture and cooking food, it is a reflection of who you have become. I would like to look back one day at my life and see it as one big art masterpiece combining these smaller pieces I do every day. We live in Northern Colorado. After years of searching, we moved here a couple years ago from California and we are finally home.
When and why did you begin creating your jewelry/art? I always loved very unique things and jewelry was my passion for many years before I actually started making it myself. I would always imagine some unusual and unique forms that I could be wearing around my neck or hand. I didn’t know how to make it, but I knew how it was supposed to look. One day, many years ago, I met someone who gave me a lesson in free form Peyote and everything started from there. I love watching the expressions on people’s faces when I wear a piece of jewelry that no one has ever seen before. I feel that it is very special and unique, just as we all are.
What do you make? I make jewelry, ceramics, and art dolls. I also sell kits for art dolls so people can make their own unique creations. By helping people express themselves, I feel that I am helping them further develop their own creative soul.
What materials and methods do you use? My favorite thing to make is a free form piece. You start with a single bead and then the whole piece creates itself in front of your eyes. In this way, you are surprised with the result as much as others are. Every time you create a new piece, it has its own new life. There are no mistakes in free form art, no limitations, its absolute freedom. For materials, I use different kinds of beads, cabs, antique buttons, crystals, ceramic faces, and so on. Anything that grabs my eye will end up on my neck!
Where do your design inspirations come from? Inspiration comes from dreams, nature, and unexpected places. I keep a journal by my bed, so that when I dream up a piece of jewelry, I can quickly sketch out the idea before I forget it. Most of the time I just start a piece and then inspiration comes during the creation. I think this is important for people to understand that you don’t need inspiration to start a project, that inspiration is the project.
What is your best working environment/where is your studio? I have a large studio in my house. I have 10 different projects that I am concurrently working on at all times. I like beading outdoors in the summer.
Where can your products be seen?
www.lidijafairbanks.com and my blog
Magazine articles or press: Doll crafter and Costuming magazine August 2008; Doll Crafter and Costuming –March 2007; Dolls United- “Tropical” issue; Contemporary Doll Collector-June/July 2007; Soft Dolls and Animals- May 2007; Dolls United published “The Elect”; August 2006 – Dolls United Magazine, Fairytale Issue, pages 29-36;
July/August 2006 – Belle Armoire, Salon, page 67…
Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: One of my favorite creations is my beaded doll that won the “All Dolled Up” competition a few years ago. I had big offers from a doll collector who wanted to purchase this doll but unfortunately… I do not sell my dolls. They are promised to stay in our family.
Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a full time glass bead designer living in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. I live with my very supportive boyfriend, 3 dogs and my rather pugnacious cat!
Bead and Button Show June 4-7
When and why did you begin creating your jewelry/art? It began when I was a very young girl drawing paper dolls with pages and pages of “outfits” including every possible accessory imaginable. I came from a very artistic family and we were always doing something creative. After high school I started painting in oils and still love to paint to this day. I learned to sew at a young age and when our youngest daughter married I made her wedding dress with over 80 yards of lace sewn on. I started beading back in the 80’s making the seed bead chandelier earrings that were so popular, then didn’t go any further with it until about 8 years ago. The beading world was really starting to evolve again and I fell in love with designing and making jewelry. It was like having a whole new type of canvas to work with and beading truly is an art form.
What materials and methods do you use? I love working with the gorgeous handmade lampwork beads that are available, there are some incredibly talented artists out there. All of the jewelry I make now is made with Sterling Silver, 14k gold filled or Vermeil components. I have recently started doing freeform peyote jewelry and it is fast becoming a favorite because it allows me to use my artistic abilities in the design and creation of a piece. I am always excited to learn new techniques and my jewelry designing is always evolving. I use a wide range of materials from crystal, glass, gemstones, pearls, lucite, whatever the design or the piece calls for.
Where can your products be seen? My most current work is on my 
