Name: Nataša Tesner
Website Link: www.nakit-ulmana.si
Where are you located? Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tell us a bit about yourself: I grew up in a charming rural environment. My parents were divorced when I was still young. I could describe my childhood as modest but happy and always joyful. I lived with my brother, my mother and grandfather, who was, in a way, my second father. When I turned 16, I met the love of my life. We have been happily married for some years now and have a son and a daughter. I finished high school, business and administration, but had to get a job immediately because of money. I work as a bank clerk. Designing jewelry is, for the time being, just a hobby. I am my happiest and most creative when surrounded by my family, listening to wicked dance or romantic ethnic music.
When and why did you begin creating your jewelry/art? I began designing in my mid twenties. At first, I did silk painting but later wires weaved their way into my fingers. It came very spontaneous. Ideas were being born and the first necklaces made on the spur of the moment and out of imagination. I have been designing for 15 years.
What do you make? I design necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Occasionally, I would do a brooch or something. I leave a piece of myself in every finished product.
What materials and methods do you use? When designing, I mostly use colored craft wire, polymer clay and other synthetic materials. Every now and then a pearl, a gemstone or glass or wooden beads are interwoven into the wires. Products don’t have to be expensive to be beautiful. I think it’s stupendous to be able to thread an astonishing design out of common wire that you can easily and without embarrassment wear on special even formal occasions.
Where do your design inspirations come from? Ideas come spontaneously, often in the still of the night over the city, when it’s off to dreamland. That’s the time to reflect on new projects. Sometimes, I’d make a draft sketch, so that it doesn’t slip my mind, but it only happens so often. Most of the time, though, I just let my imagination roam. An idea would cross my mind but then good music, a touch of inspiration and a combination of the right colors do their thing.
What is your best working environment/where is your studio? There is no particular place for designing that I would call my own. I tend to move around a lot; one time I’d work in the kitchen, the other in the living room. In the summer, I find it particularly snug to sit at the back of the house and design outside. Most of all, I consider good lighting to be very important, as the wire is very fine and the eyes suffer considerably.
Where can your products be seen? All products can be viewed at my online gallery, and some are featured on my Facebook profile Nataša Tesner Nakit Ulmana.
Upcoming events: None currently. Looking for opportunities.
Magazine articles or press: Over the past years I’ve entered two jewelry competitions for charity and have received positive reviews at both. I have been a finalist for the »Create for Life« competition for the first time. All proceeds from the sale of the jewelery from the finals went to the renovation of the Institute for Oncology Ljubljana, under auspices of Europa Donna, the European Breast Cancer Coalition, and for my second finals placement at the »Create for Fight Against Violence« competition, I received a special prize from the BELI OBROC Society (Fight Against Violence Society) for jewelry with a message.
Last year, I was honored to host at my home Ms Lorella Flego, a renowned Slovenian fashion expert, who did a piece on my work for Glitter, a fashion program hosted by Slovenia’s national television.
Who are you a fan of? I am fascinated by the work of Ms Tanja Curin, an established Croatian jewelry designer. I find her jewelry exceptionally feminine..
Price range: My products are valued at $15 up to $400.
Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations: One piece from my collection is particularly striking; it’s a necklace, a black beauty, fit for the evening, formal occasions. It’s made of fine threads, intertwined in a labyrinth of thicker wire; I designed it in the moment’s inspiration, without a draft sketch or a preconceived idea and it gives the piece the appearance of intricate lacework. More than 100 hours of work went into the piece and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
Anything else you wish to add: I assuage the stress of the hustle and bustle with my hobby, which is slowly growing into something more, fueling my desire to own a small shop in the old city center, where my products could bring joy to admirers of unique pieces of jewelry.
My motto is ” Full of inspiration, accompanied by the three persons, dearest to my heart, I pursue my dreams” ULMANA
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Where do your design inspirations come from? Like all designers (interior, fashion & jewelry), I am inspired by everything! A garden of delicate flowers, beautiful artwork, a fabulous pair of shoes or stunning interior design can become a point of inspiration. I believe that my experiences as an interior designer have greatly influenced my style as a jewelry designer and, as a matter of fact, I have devoted an entire blog to that idea. Additionally, my southern roots have clearly had a great influence on my “feminine” style both as an interior designer and as a jewelry designer – something I am completely oblivious to!
When and why did you begin creating your jewelry/art? I was caught by the bead virus in summer 2004. I saw some lampwork beads in a shop window and that same day spent hours investigating, surfing the Internet and reading all about lampwork beading. One week later, I sat at the torch by myself and tried the first beads.
Tell us a bit about yourself: I’m a full time mixed media artist/wearable art/jewelry designer. I was born and raised in Zagreb, Croatia. I studied furniture design at University of Zagreb. In 1992, I moved to USA with my husband (who is also an artist), where our three children were born.
Tell us a bit about yourself: After 18 years of being a lawyer I have started beading as a hobby 5 years ago and I have been trained as a traditional jeweler for the last 3 years. Right now I continue my works with silver, gold and semi precious stones. I live in Istanbul with my husband, son and my cat.
What is your best working environment/where is your studio? My studio is where my old office used to be. But inspiration might come anywhere that’s why I have my sketch book with me all the time. I sketch anything that comes up to my mind.
Tell us a bit about yourself: I used to work as a computer programmer and database designer. After being stationed abroad for 12 years and returning to the states a year ago my husband encouraged me to pursue jewelry design as a business. So now I work from home and take care of our very spoiled dog and cat.
Upcoming events: Silent auction at Widener University School of Law
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.
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.
Where can your products be seen?
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.
Tell us a bit about yourself: I work as a bead artist from my home studio in Manhattan which is a treasure trove of beautiful beads to inspire me. I am married and have two children and four grandchildren
Where do your design inspirations come from? Everywhere I look
Tell us a bit about yourself: I was born in Pasadena, California where I lived in the same house for 18 years until my family moved to the San Francisco bay area. For as long as I remember I have had very busy hands. As a kid I used to draw so much my mother would go to the local newspaper and get the ends of the rolls of newsprint so I could have drawing paper. There was always some sort of craft project I was involved in. I would draw and paint for hours, disappear in my dad’s workshop to make candles, wire mobiles, resin flowers and too many things to even remember. I could totally entertain myself with projects and my parents were very patient! I have traveled all over the west and have lived in several interesting environments. I made a life change when I turned 30 and abandoned the world of food service, moved to the mountains and became a certified cross country ski instructor in the winter and a bicycle mechanic in the summer. I opened my own card, gift and bookstore in the ski resort village of Bear Valley, California which I operated for 10 years until I closed it and moved to Mountain Ranch. When I am not beading I work full time at our retail nursery and volunteer a day a week as a dog evaluator at our county animal shelter. I guess it would be more accurate to say when I am not working or volunteering I find the time to bead!
What is your best working environment/where is your studio? I have a small spot cleared out on a make-shift desk comprised of an old door set on two file cabinets in the home office for our business. I clear out a space among the stacks of paper work and bills. All my beads are stored in two large tackle boxes, which are stacked by the door in the bedroom. Since our house is only 800 square feet my beading can’t take up too much room. When I create a piece I select all the beads I will need and put everything else away. All the items I use can be neatly set aside so my work space can become a desk once again. I would love to have a studio or even my very own work table! I usually work with total silence, sometimes I’ll listen to music.
World Artisan Gems 
