In January’s CrafterNews we brought you inside Sherri Haab’s studio and shared some of her ideas for creating a workspace that is inspiring, relaxing, productive, and full of personality. We had to know more, so we talked with Sherri about her new book Sherri Haab Jewelry Inspirations, asking her questions ranging from what it was like to write such a personal book to what surprising item you might find in her tool kit. Click through to read our interview with Sherri and to download the Lucite Flower Bracelet project.

CrafterNews: This book is so personal, filled with stories from your life and your family. Did you find it easier or more difficult to write a book so close to your heart?
Sherri Haab: Some parts of the book were easy and some more difficult.  The projects came easily as I let my personal experiences dictate the direction of the designs.  This part was more fun than I expected.  It was like making a personal history or scrapbook using jewelry instead of words to tell the story. The difficult part was writing the narrative about the history behind each idea in the book. It’s always hard to write about oneself.

CN: How has your family inspired your jewelry?
SH: My family was always busy making something.  My mother worked on various craft projects in my formative years, especially when I was in grade school.  I was drawn to anything handmade and formed a powerful association with happiness and crafting.  Making something equaled a great sense of accomplishment and happiness, and it still does to this day.

CN: Which piece in the book is the most special to you and why?
SH: The red “Fairy Tale Necklace” has an illustration from a favorite story book.  This piece brings so many memories back and evokes many emotions.  A close friend found a copy of this book for me a few years ago at a used book sale.  I had not seen the illustrations for years so when I opened the pages, it was like a flood of sheer glee to experience the joy that the pictures once brought.

CN: You cover so many materials in your book, from metal, resin, and clay to fiber and glass—which material is your favorite to work with and why?
SH: This is a hard question because I enjoy working with so many materials, but if I had to pick one it would be metal clay.  First of all, it is amazing that you can sculpt your own jewelry with precious metal.  I’m still in awe about the material and will probably always make jewelry with it without ever getting tired.

CN: Do you ever get a case of “crafter’s block”? If yes, what do you turn to for inspiration in those instances?
SH: Yes, especially when under pressure to get a project done, but pressure can go both ways and actually be a good thing.  With pressure, spontaneity is forced and sometimes the end result is surprisingly good.   Anything visual helps; I save old magazine clippings with design and color ideas that I love to look at.  I also like to read blogs for inspiration; usually I end up on baking blogs with beautiful photos of cupcakes and candies. The visual stimuli of pretty things (not just jewelry) usually excites me and fires up the part of my brain that is dying to make something.

CN: Does music inspire you? What do you listen to while you are working?
SH: I prefer to work in absolute silence when I am in the middle of a task, especially a difficult one.  But when I come up for a break or when work is more mundane, I love to listen to my iTunes collection, which includes a mix of 80’s (yes from HS) and alternative rock music—the stuff my kids listen to.

CN: What surprising or unexpected items are in your tool-kit?
A crochet hook!  For some odd reason almost every jewelry book or medium has a project involving crochet.  I have no idea why, but I’m sure it comes back from an early skill I learned as a child.

CN: What ordinary items that readers already own can be transformed into jewelry?
SH: Anything and everything!  I used be very afraid to make jewelry that was too “crafty” and not made of conventional or expensive jewelry worthy materials,  but there are so many examples of great pieces made of recycled or found objects by respected artists.  I think this has helped promote a category often referred to as “art jewelry.”   This is liberating to anyone who wants to make wearable art without worrying that it has to fit the definition of “jewelry”.  Probably the easiest and most rewarding way to get started is to take apart a broken piece of jewelry and restyle it by adding findings, beads or other objects to make it a new creation.

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• Download the Lucite Flower Bracelet Project

• Click here for pictures of Sherri at the Craft and Hobby Show: CHA Roundup

• Follow Sherri on Twitter: @SherriHaab

• Learn more about Sherri’s books and classes on her official website: SherriHaab.com

Categories: Jewelry |

Tags: fiber, glass, interview, Jewelry, metal, photos, resin, sherri haab

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