Meet Jorie Browder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jorie Browder.

Hi Jorie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I laughingly call myself a serial crafter. Even as a child, I was obsessed with making things.

My grandmother was an accomplished seamstress, quilter, and needleworker, so I willingly sat at her feet and learned to sew and quilt and crochet and cross stitch.

As an adult, I continued to pursue my love of making things. I still do all the things my grandmother taught me as a child, plus some painting and paper crafting.

It was when I discovered making jewelry, however, that I found my big love. Like many jewelry artists, I got my start with beading. Beads are plentiful and easy to learn without any tools needed. But I yearned to create the silver pieces with wirework and set stones that I admired online. I was able to take a class in 2010 at John C. Campbell in wire working that jumpstarted my work with metal.

I discovered the art of wire weaving, where you weave very fine wire into patterns similar to basket weaving, which continues to fascinate me. Then I discovered fold forming and metal forming, which require lots of hammering and a strong arm. I took my first metalsmithing class in 2015 and I’ve never looked back.

I love hand-fabrication, taking a piece of metal or wire and forming it through various processes to create a singularly unique piece of art jewelry.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My continuous struggle is time and energy. I work full-time as a special education teacher, which takes a great deal of energy. I also have some chronic health conditions, including fibromyalgia and an auto-immune disorder, that cause flares of pain and fatigue that get in the way of working.

Recently, I have been dealing with caring for my elderly parents, which resulted in moving my mother to a memory care facility and moving in with my father to take care of him. There were several months this year when I didn’t touch a piece of metal. I was so glad when I finally could get a studio space partially set up so I could start creating again.

Over the years, of course, there have been the typical struggles of getting the needed tools and materials, having the space to work, finding classes or books to help me learn what I wanted to learn, and figuring out new ways to create the things I have in my head.

But I’ve learned that if there is a need to create in your soul, you will find ways to feed it because it is as important a need as water or air or food.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a metalsmith, specializing in jewelry. I use sterling silver, along with some copper and brass, to create one-of-a-kind artisan pieces. I also use semi-precious stones and handmade glass created by other artisans.

I use hand-fabrication to create my work, which means I start off with plain sheets and wire and build each piece part by part. I believe in texture and intricate detail, which I form using a variety of techniques, including hammering, wire weaving, fold forming, hand stamping, roll embossing, and pressing in a hydraulic press.

I am most proud of the pieces I have designed that incorporate several techniques in one cohesive whole. My focus in recent years has been working on ways to integrate delicate wire weaving with metalsmithing and stone setting.

I try to do everything with Meraki, which is the idea that everything should be done with creativity and love so that it leaves a little piece of your essence or soul in your work.

What are your plans for the future?
I am currently working on a new collection called “Stitched,” which is based on the quote from Augusten Burroughs, “I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.”

I am very excited by the designs in this collection, which will be making its debut soon. I recently was able to purchase a kiln and I plan to start experimenting with making glass cabochons to use in my jewelry. I am always looking for interesting classes and new challenges, so who knows what might be ahead?

To me, one of the best parts of creating is being able to design something that is new and interesting to me, something that grabs my attention in a different way, something that shows a unique part of my soul to the world.

Pricing:

• Prices range from $25-$500.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jbjdesignsartisanjewelry.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/joriejbjdesigns
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jbjdesignsartisanjewelry

Image Credits
Javan Browder and Jorie Browder