Interview with:Lexi Butler [beadedjewels]
DESIGN
 | What is your specialty? My specialty and also passion is in jewelry design and in handcrafting my designs into unique and one of a kind affordable wearable art. |
| Where can we view your portfolio online? |
| What made you interested in design? I grew up in my fathers jewlery business in Germany. From the time I was four years old I was sitting at my fathers side watching him design jewelry. Just a year later I had my own little work place next to my dad and I was proud owner of a coping saw and some files. After I completed 10th grade in germany I began a dual apprentice ship as a goldsmith and jewelry designer. When I was not learning in my fathers and other companies I went to profession school to learn all the practical and theoretical aspects of beomming a goldsmith and designer. I was working in my fathers company for ten years, and designed quiete a few jewelry lines. My fathers jewelry was unique in design and one of a kind, he only worked with 18ct rosegold and platinum with diamonds and superfine gemstones. His jewelry was very expensive! I knew then that if I wanted to continue in this business I would have to find my niche. |
| What has been your professional career path? I went to profession shool for 3 1/2 years for two days in the week to learn all practical and theoretical aspects of becomming a goldsmith and jewelry designer. The school was part of a dual apprenticeship in Germany. The rest of the work week I learned how to become a goldsmith and designer in my fathers company and also others companies. I was certified in 1986 as a goldsmith and jewelry designer.
I worked 10 years with my father I designed a few jewelry lines for him and also made jewelry for him.
In 1994 I left the work force to be a dedicated mom to my and my husbands son. When we immigrated to the USA in 1996 I brought all my tools with me, not knowing if I would ever use them again. I was a devoted mom to our daughter as well until she became 6 years old and went to school full time. That was in the year 2004 .
A Valentines Day Gift Card actually is what got my business started. I went to a craftstore near by and after prayer of where to be directed to, I found myself in the beading section. I picked up some books and some supplies and went home. The same year I started to sell my creations on craft shows. Over the years my designs became unique like jewelry I use to design for my father. People were starting to notice the difference in my beaded jewels compared to other beaded jewelry. Lots of people also noticed the the high quality of my jewelry and accessories. In 2008 Beaded Jewels was born and the website www.beadedjewels.biz which I designed as well was launched on Jan23rd 2008.
Beaded Jewels has been growing eversince.
Recently Beaded Jewels became pround partner of LACO-Laugh At Cancer Organization ( Nonprofit). I designed a cancer awareness bracelet line for them which is called "Bracelets Of Hope". Beaded Jewels is also the only provider of LACO of the "Bracelet Of Hope" Line. The bracelets are custom designed and can only be purchased here at http://www.beadedjewels.biz/laco_bracelets.html
Beaded Jewels also have available several ready made "Bracelets Of Hope" in different colours and different options. Here at http://www.beadedjewels.biz/laco_bracelets_2.html |
| Have you received any awards for your work in the field of design? Not as of yet. |
| What is your motivation? What makes you get up in the mornings? The freedom to do want I want to do, because I get to do what I love and love the things I get to do. |
| How would you define your design style? My design style is exquiste, unique and one of its kind. |
| How do you promote and move your work? |
| In which new areas would you like to experiment? I would like to experiment in making my own dichroic beads. |
| Shapes, color, concept: where do you usually begin when conceiving a design? Most of the times, I either dream about it, or look at the beads and the design is already in my head. I have a colour wheel which helps me to find new colour cominations. Thats how i designed the Fall/Winter Bracelet Only line at http://www.beadedjewels.biz/just_bracelets.html If the design is for a customer, then I have to draw it out as a visual for the customer. I do not need any visuals. When I bead I just clip a piece of wire get some beads and my colour wheel and start. |
| What are your sources for documentation and to generate ideas? I have a wide arrange of beading books. Which I go through from time to time and then the designs form in my head, and I sit down and make them. I also always have a pad and an pen with me incase I get an idea and are away from home. Then I draw the design so I won't forget. |
| Which festivals or awards in your field do you find most interesting? Awards for wearable art and uniqueness |
| What is your favourite type of customer? The one that pays at the end and since I am always looking for a challenge the customer with unique ideas. |
| To a certain point, is copying justifiable? No absolutely not. I tell this my customers as well, as a designer myself I value someone elses design and do not copy it. However I can integrate certain aspects of someones design and still create something totally different and unique in it self, for my customer. |
| List some things you dislike seeing in design. Colours that do not go together,
I don't like stiff designs.
There are some cool designs out there, but you can not wear them for whatever reason.
Overpriced design work is a turn off for me. |
| Do you believe the newer generations are better at designing? I believe That it is very important to let the younger generation shine, because they are bringing new designs in the mix. I do not believe they are better at it just different. |
| With which type of client would you decline in working for? A client who does not want to pay the 40% non refundable deposit of the toal estimate before I start to work for them. |
| How do you calculate budgets for a design project? For all designs I make I charge $12.00 an hour, the cost of materials plus 80% profit. |
| Which professionals in your field -contemporary or past- do you most admire? My Father |
| Which software applications do you most utilize in your work? Well I build my website with WYSIWYG 6 and I work a lot with it and Piacasa 3 |
| Up to what point do your designs reflect your personality? I create my designs with great passion and love, and with the colours and materials I like. |
| How do you distinguish passing fads from mainstays in new trends? When the items do not sell, I move them into the Closeout Section, and replace them with other designs. |
| If you weren't a designer, what would you be doing? Probably compose music |
| At this moment, what would be your dream job or project? To sell lots of the "Bracelets Of Hope" and be able to donate a big chunk to LACO-Laugh At Cancer Org to raise Cancer Awareness all over. |
| Can you see yourself in this field twenty years from now? Yes, so God will, I still will be designing and handcrafting beaded, woven and wire-wreapped jewelry 20 years from now. |
| Which design resources online do you frequently visit? I visit other beaded jewelry website to see whats in and whats out. |
| 
820 visits Whohub
Lexi Butler
Missoula United States
|
95592 interviews created
![[beadedjewels] Lexi Butler](http://www.whohub.com/_pics/21724.png?1337206762)
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS