Let’s Go!

I love to travel.

I love taking in different cultures and customs, I love seeing new things before me and madly sketching half-ideas on slips of paper. New food and new beer. And I love the journey. I love how the road stretches out in front me, full of promise and new adventure.

My name is Anne Potter and I’m absolutely thrilled to join the Art Bead Scene team as a new contributor. It’s going to be a cool, creative journey and I can’t wait to hit the road with these girls!

A little about myself: I’ve been a maker for as long as I can remember. When I was in junior high, I began making jewelry with a few beads and broken bits to accessorize the clothes I was sewing for myself. Of all the things I do – knitting, sewing, painting, needlework – nothing compares to the satisfaction I get from jewelry-making, where I can create a little work of art to wear in an afternoon. I started making and designing jewelry professionally about ten years ago. In 2009 I opened my Etsy shop, Handmade by Anne Potter, started contributing regularly to Stringing Magazine, and in 2016, I wrote my book _Global Style Jewelry_ (Interweave 2016).

These days I keep busy both in and out of my studio.  I have five kids (and one new daughter-in-law!) so I go to a lot of sporting events, send a lot of encouraging texts throughout the school day, and listen to a lot of sound effects as my little ones draw and build Lego creations.  I run every day, enjoy cocktails with friends, and (hopelessly!) love garage sale season.  In the studio I design jewelry for beading classes that I teach out of my home, and through my local community college.  And my pride_and_joy is my own magazine that I put out, Travelogue Magazine.  This quarterly e-magazine is packed with original jewelry designs inspired by some cool destination on the globe: Morocco, Ireland, Japan, who knows?  (Subscribe here!)

My design style is pared-down and globally-inspired (check out a picture of my favorite spot in mi casa right now – that’s my vibe), so the pieces you’ll see from me will feature ethnic beads, and a strong global influence along with ART BEADS.  I also love to write on the creative process of translating inspiration into wearable jewelry.  I’m excited to hear your stories, and see how this artistic community embarks at one starting point to create in a thousand different directions.  I can’t wait!

I’m so looking forward to taking this journey with you!