Authentic Arts by Jenny Hoople

You’re missing out if you’re not perusing the submissions over in the Gallery — look who else I found!

Jenny Hoople: Bienvenidos! I grew up on a farm, graduated from college with a bachelor of arts in fine arts and now I work part-time on an organic farm and in a library. My life ethic is one of authenticity, because a more authentic life is a more meaningful one, and, for me, an authentic life is a handmade one.

My good friend has told for years that I should sell some of the crafts that I am compelled to make. When I started making this jewelry and couldn’t stop, I figured I’d better start selling them! The best part is, I grew the grey Job’s Tears beads right in my own backyard!

I choose knotted silk because I like its history, it’s more romantic! I choose “natural” materials (stone, bone, wood, shell, silk) because even when altered by human hands and arranged and strung by them, the beauty of the processes that formed them breaks through and dazzles me. Really, this jewelry is so wonderful because it’s so much more meaningful than something that was mass-produced. Everything is designed and crafted by yours truly from start to finish.