SPOTLIGHT ON ... DESIGNER
April 2007

Our featured designer for this month is Tammy Powley

After graduating with my M.A. in English, I worked for eight years as a technical writer in the defense and aerospace industries. During this time, I also taught English part-time at various community colleges. Looking for a change, I permanently left the technical world and continued to teach English part-time while I began my career as a freelance writer. Today, I write for print and digital media as well as provide private editing and consulting services.

In 2002, I began working towards a Ph.D. in Text and Technology, a program housed in the English Department at the University of Central Florida. My focus in the program dealt with the integration of art and digital text. I recently graduated this past December and now I'm teaching part-time again at both a local junior college and private university.

My passion for creating jewelry started back in 1989, when I attended a rock show in a quest for holiday gifts. Many of the vendors at the show were selling stone jewelry. Since I had made jewelry during the 70s, I had some understanding of basic jewelry techniques. I bought some stone beads and findings at the next rock show, did a little research, and made some jewelry items for gifts. After showing a few pieces to friends and co-workers, they started asking me to buy my jewelry. A week later, I had sold all my gifts and was in the jewelry business. It felt wonderful, and I knew I had begun an exciting, creative journey.

Designs shown above:

Leafy Pearl Bracelet

Onyx Hoop Earrings

Nursing Necklace

While I continued my jewelry making efforts, I began to study my craft more seriously by taking jewelry making classes. This included taking classes for a year at an adult education program in Winter Park, Florida, which covered all aspects of jewelry from design to creation including fabrication, soldering, wire work, casting, enameling, and bead knotting. I still continue to take classes whenever possible and also teach bead and wire classes on occasion.

For about the first eight years, I sold my jewelry mainly through art and craft show circuits in central and south Florida. Today, I sell my art work primarily through special commissions and concentrate more on writing.

You may visit my web site at www.tammypowley.com