StudioSeven

• Tell me a bit about yourself

My name is Chris and I live just outside Springfield, IL.
I also operate “CCSynopticvisions” here on Etsy, where you can find my jewelry pieces for every day wear.
“StudioSeven” offers special occasion creations with high end materials.
In addition to the E-Stores I am in many physical store locations:
Divernon, Il. Chatham, Il., El Paso, Il. Rock Island, Il., Springfield, Il., Hannibal, Mo., and soon to be in Coralville, Ia. by the end of this month.
I teach metal (hot and cold connect) classes here locally.
I am a mom to 6 beautiful children ages 20, 18, 13, 13, 11 and 11. (no, not 2 sets of twins). This is always asked. We have 3 birth children and adopted the others. My husband and I are respite care – emergency care providers and foster parents. Our house is always filled with little smiles.

• Please describe your creative process

I love working with glass, semi-precious gems, precious gems and metals. Sterling has become my personal favorite. I usually work while my kids are at school or at night while they are sleeping.

• What inspires you?

I have spools of different shaped wire to start with and begin with the idea. Using a variety of tools and my torch it begins to come to what I see in my mind.
All of my creations tend to have either layers of different materials such as a mix of metals with the gems. I love the abstract and the flow of lines that compliment the wearer. I try to draw upon the technique of having the jewelry pieces be beautiful on their own but bringing you back to the most important thing, the customers face.
This pendant as an example, I wanted the eye to follow the flow of the piece but then have a bounce, then the eye would follow back to the top.
I have several stations within the studio. I have a area where I work with the raw metals, I some times move from this to the glass station. I make lampwork beads & pendants with glass rods using a Map torch. It is a bit different from the propane.

(Dichoric glass would be my favorite). The different colors produced, depth, shades and hues are amazing! Then, a assembly station where it all comes together, polished and shined.

• How did you get into your craft?

My dad, who has passed was and is my inspiration. He owned a auto body shop and this is where I grew up. My dad taught me about tools, welding, body shaping of the car’s with the sheet metals and painting the cars. He would talk to me about lines, flow and the beauty of the automobile when it was finished.
He would tell me, Close your eyes, he would describe what it was that he knew we had to do in customizing the car and would walk me through his visual image an process to achieve the desired end look until I saw just what he saw. Then we would do it!
I am 40 years old now and I still close my eyes for a minute to see what I am picturing in my head and how to achieve it before touching anything. In all my artwork I see the lines, the flow and the finished piece because some times I hear him telling me this is how you do it!
When he passed I did not walk into my studio for 2 years. I couldn’t do it! He was my best friend, I needed him to walk me through with his words of encouragement. I had no creative thoughts or desires.
I just recently came back to my studio, now housing my dads tools.
The above mentioned pendant is one of the first pieces where I listened with my eyes closed.
I believe I do this because it is a part of me. As mentioned above, my dad always had me making – creating – seeing.

I have always had art in my life growing up. My mom is a painter, designer and seamstress. She should be credited as well because she taught me a lot also. I have been very blessed with them as my parents.

• Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I otherwise stay busy with my boys, they wrestle, the 3 who wrestled this season all went to state this year and placed. This keeps us very busy. “Join wrestling an see the world” comment is very true!
They also play football so, we attend all their games. Some times my husband is at one game, I am at another and we meet at the third if the schedule permits. Then we rotate through.
My daughter is a singer and plays the guitar. I love her concerts and never miss one.
I try to be involved in my children’s activities because I believe it is important for them to know that we support them.
On Mon., Wed. and Sat. I teach classes. I always schedule classes around my kid’s sports schedules. The groups are aware of this and they support the schedule I have.

• How do you promote your work?

I guess some would call getting out and blogging or hitting the forums would be advertising. But, honestly if I get out into those area’s I just enjoy learning from others and talking with others. I have not ever met anyone who wasn’t friendly here on Etsy, Ever!

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