{The Handmade Story} The Junquerie

Patricia is an inspiration, she always look for new and interesting jewelry challenges to stretch her imagination and creativity. We absolutely love her custom charms, how she mix and match them and her creativity in refashioning old jewelry into newly designed pieces.

Mixing pearls, vintage pieces, Czech glass and Swarovski crystal together create an amazing and unique style of design and this is what makes The Junquerie’s jewelry collection so special.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and The Junquerie. How do you get the name?

I am the stay at home mom to four rambuncious boys – I have been creating for as long as I can remember. I grew up as the only child of a single mom. I had quite a bit of time on my hands growing up and put it to good use. Painting, drawing, cross stitch and any craft I could get my hands on – always felt like magic to me. To make something out of nothing still makes my heart go pitter pat.

I made up “The Junquerie” after Googling what seemed like 4,362 names and they were all taken in some form or another. I imagined going to my favorite store and it would be a combination of something with a little bit of flea market, a little victorian sentiment, a little victorian door to door sales and a dash of gypsy caravan.

Then I went to The Urban Dictionary and found “junque” –
“Seemingly useless or out-of-date items with a certain “je ne sais quoi”. “I always find some neat junque when I go to the flea market.”"
I played with the name until I got something I liked.

2. What was your first creation and how did you get started in doing what you do?

In my teens I discovered premade ear wires and couldn’t believe you could make your own jewelry! I have been making jewelry on and off ever since. The sheer volume of supplies now available makes me giddy. After being at home for about 8-10 years I discovered Belle Armoire magazine and was astounded by the leap jewelry making had taken and jumped back in. I adore romantic sentimental Victorian jewelry, charm bracelets, colored pearls, birds, Czech glass, vintage hearts, padlocks and lockets. Originally most of my jewelry was made with sterling silver. I’ve now branched out and love brass and copper. I love creating jewelry to make you feel pretty and a little reminiscent of the past.

3. Where do you get your inspiration?

I have quite a few vintage jewelry books I will look through to get inspiration along with shelves of magazines – I am a complete junkie for a good magazine like Stringing, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Jewelry Affair, and Bead Style feed the jewelry junkie in me. I also love vintage style and decorating magazines – sometimes a color or visual can stimulate something completely different in a piece of jewelry! I love Country Living, Romantic Homes and any of the decorating/ special editon magazines. I have also become very addicted to the many jewelry challenges available through blogging and try to enter when I can. It stretches the imagination and encourages you to do and use things you may not have considered otherwise.

4. How do you find balance between your creative life and your family?

This is really the hardest thing for me and I am sure I am not the only one. I feel it is very important I am here to raise my boys – even more as they get older. I schedual my day around theirs. They are all old enough to be in school full day. I am up at about 6:00 am to start my day usually doing blog promo and checking email. I get the boys ready for school and on to their respective buses. I then catch up with the house. I try to concentrate while the house is quiet and rotate my days work – ie most blogging is done Sunday through Thursday – to get the most out of the time I have. I usually don’t get to bed until about midnight. It’s a work in progress I certainly haven’t perfected it yet!

5. Your crafting space is beautiful! Tell us about it. How do you get the inspiration for the makeover?

Thank You so much – I was stunned by the reaction to my space! What a thrill – we bought our home as a fixer upper. I took the room that no one else wanted. It was originally listed as a “sun room” but it had dark brown panelling with heavy window treatments. Oringinally it held my desk and a computer. Surrounded by all these boys I wanted something pretty and a bit girly for myself. Most of the house is very masculine. I took what I had left over around the house and spray painted everything to match. I love the amount of light and bright colors – everyone ends up in here from little boys to their guinea pigs and rabbit.

6. What is your favourite piece of jewelry?

My favorite piece of jewelry has an old Mother of pearl bird focal on a handmade sterling chain of aquamarine, pearl, mother of pearl, Czech glass and Swarovski crystal. It has a little bit of everything that I love. I love to use vintage pieces – some one some where must have loved them for them to survive and be used again.

7. What is your favourite pass time besides crafting?

I love doing things as a family – we have dinner together EVERY night, reading, decorating and taking care of our many pets! Most of all having a good laugh with a friend can make any day seem better. I pride myself on not taking life too seriously and being able to laugh at myself. I also have a wicked coffee and chocolate addiction!

More of The Junquerie’s creations:

Luulla store: http://www.luulla.com/store/thejunquerie

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MyLifeUndertheBus