Featured Artist: Melissa Williams Netherton, Zedena Designs

So, what’s your story? Ever since I was a young girl, my love for jewelry was apparent. My grandmother Zedena and I used to play Home Shopping Network together which consisted of me raiding her jewelry box and then “selling” her my favorite pieces. My designing days began when my grandmother, Barbara brought home some multi-colored telephone wire, which I used to wrap into rings and bracelets. My designs have evolved since then to include enamel, copper, sterling and fine silver, genuine Swarovski crystals, and semi-precious stones. I also do custom designs for stores or individuals and have a line of Bridal Jewelry and Accessories.

How did you get started creating your artwork? Enameling for me began with a basic class and then I was hooked. I took lessons with various teachers, but a lot of what I do came about through countless hours of experimentation. I have been able to achieve some awesome results through experiments, but there has been the occasional kiln fire and explosion, which keep things exciting of course!

Where does your inspiration come from? So many things inspire me. I love nature and the colors found in flowers, leaves, birds, butterfly wings, etc. I am constantly trying to find ways to recreate these colors with my enameling. I am also a romantic at heart and so a lot of my inspiration comes from that too!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still enameling! Where do you sell your work? My work is currently sold throughout San Diego County and online and various festivals and shows.

Who is your favorite artist? This is way too hard to narrow down to just one artist! I love Calder’s work with wire, the glass & enamel work of Rene Lalique, and I love Monet’s paintings. I am also a big fan of all the local artists that I meet at shows and festivals. It is amazing to see how much talent is out there!

What is your favorite song and by whom? Again, a very hard question! In addition to a jewelry artist, I am also a classically trained singer and songwriter, so I have a huge interest in music, especially song lyrics. My favorite song seriously changes on a daily basis! I love pretty much anything from opera to rock. If you are interested in hearing my music, you can check it out at www.myspace.com/lissawilliams

If you were stranded on a deserted island, with your family, what 5 things would want to have with you?
I would say my kiln, but then what about electricity right?? Ha-ha seriously I would bring:
1. My Bible
2. A Journal
3. Pictures
4. Jewelry wire and tools
5. Flares to signal rescue workers!!!

Why do you think people should buy handmade? I love buying handmade, and of course, as a handmade artist I cannot recommend it enough! With all the cheap items that show up in our stores these days, it hard for the consumer to understand why handmade items are the better choice. There are a million reasons to buy handmade, but a few that come to mind are:
QUALITY! – If you want a lifetime piece that is not going to fall apart after you receive it then go handmade! Uniqueness of the products- nothing mass-produced ever has the quality, charm, innovativeness that something handmade will have! Also, by supporting handmade artists, you are helping real people like you, not large corporations, and you can be sure that each handmade piece you purchase was thought out, cared for, and brought to life by the artist, just for you!

Is there anything else you would like to share? I love designing and working on new pieces and am open to collaborations with other artists. I hope that this interview has been interesting for all the readers out there and I would love to hear from all of you!