[hLeah]

Sheryl from the Jochris12 jewelry store on Etsy creates amazing glass pendants, earrings and more. As a kid she was quiet but very creative and it shows in her work. On any average day you’ll find her walking around in jeans and a sweatshirt, and of course, Jochris12 Jewelry.

How long have you been working with glass? How did you get started?
I guess I have always had a love affair with glass. I have collected glass since I was a small girl. I started fusing glass in 2000 and started making fused glass jewelry in 2002. I had watched a program on tv on fusing glass and instantly knew it would be a passion for me. I am completely self taught. I have read lots and lots of books and learned lots from my mistakes.

I love the Color Explosion pieces. How do you come up with the color combinations? How are they made?
The Color Explosion pieces are made in many different steps. All the little pieces in each piece are fused separately and after they are fused I put together the pendants. I just put them together in such a way that appeals to my eye and hopefully the customers eye too. After they are put together they will be fused again. Then cold worked to shape and then back in the kiln for a fire polish.

Where do you come up with your ideas for new pieces?
Ideas come to me no matter what I am doing. Sometimes shopping I will see color combinations and then sometimes I wake in the night and I have to write down a idea. My creative mind never sleeps.

How long does it take to make a piece? Can you explain the process in simple-ish terms?
The fusing process depends on what fusing technique you are doing. You might just be doing a tack fuse that will just take one fusing and grinding to shape and then another fire polishing. Some of the more advanced pieces will take a minimum of 4 firings and sometimes more. I can sometimes work on a piece for weeks and then sometimes everything will come together and not take very long. I just love every minute of this process. This is when I am at my happiest.

Is the process different for the pendants with butterflies, birds and flowers on them?
The fusing process for the pendants that you see the images on starts out the same as any other pendant. After that has been completed the image will be fused into the glass. The images are then a part of the glass.

Do you do any other types of crafts/art?
I have always had a project of some kind going. I love to crochet and knit; those are my favorites next to glass. I have probably tried everything from cake decorating to scrapbooking, but I am totally in love with glass.

Tell me more about you?
I don’t know if I have a favorite color, but I am sure you can tell I love color of all kind. I guess if I had to pick one it would be in the green family. I love my morning coffee. My favorite cereal is cheerios.