I am a jewelry maker and designer and live in the Chicago area. I began over 15 years ago making jewelry. I started with seed bead earrings, and after learning wire wrapping branched out to jewelry made from gemstone beads and precious metals. I have a background in art history, archaeology and museum work. I have been fortunate to see and touch some of the world’s most magnificent jewelry. I worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY and then for the Empress Farah Pahlavi in Iran before the revolution. I am passionate about the beauty of gems and stones. In my work I want to emphasize the beauty of the stones themselves. I look for unusual types of material to work with. I prefer to work with only natural materials but do use gems that are normally treated and enhanced in some way such as citrine, carnelian, aquamarine and blue topaz, or irradiated, dyed or stabilized materials such as freshwater pearl, coral and turquoise. However I choose colors that are natural, and stones whose appearance remains natural. I am more involved in creating timeless works to glorify the stones than I am to create pieces that are in style, but sometimes an idea will come that fits well into current fashion. About my name Deerwoman. It was given to me by my teacher Buster Yellow Kidney of the Blackfeet in Montana many years ago. It also expresses the closeness I feel to mother earth, and the love and appreciation I have for her and her gifts. All rights reserved.

Creative Process:
Each piece I create evolves as I work on it. I begin by choosing stones and combinations to enhance the beauty of each element. If I try to make a piece similar to one I have made, it always comes out different because I cannot resist trying new combinations and ideas. So if you buy my work it will be one of a kind. I use hand made beads from all over the world. I appreciate the size and shape irregularities of the beads and like the hand made look they give. I love using beads that are essentially the natural crystals turned into beads, inclusions and all. Prices reflect quality, workmanship and rarity of materials, as well as time required to make. In general I price my materials at lower prices than comparable pieces in the market. Also, I often will price a piece at a much lower price so that it will be much more affordable, and those who might not buy my higher priced items can still purchase something of a very good quality within their budget. Look for "Special Price" or other terms indicating good values.