This is my first piece of jewelry i made. it is a rare purple & green snakeskin jasper. I made this piece almost 4 years ago. my art has changed and improved as i am continually learning and discovering new skills. I am happy to see, that the joy and beauty of my first piece, has continued to appear in all my pieces.
august 2013
I had a grandfather that taught me and encouraged me to find my inner artist. I love helping kids and adults find out that they too are artist. i want to share the beauty that can only be found when you are creating something that comes from with in. two years ago, i met a young man who was interested in how to make jewelry. he came to my farmer's market booth every week, during the summer, where we talked about jewelry and stones. this year, we shared a booth at the farmer's market, where we both have had a successful summer selling our own jewelry. ronan is now 14 and is well on his way to becoming a famous artist or at least an artist that is happy. (which is more important) I hope everyone takes time to share their talents with someone. encourage someone, especially someone younger, to find something within themselves that they never knew was there.
July 2013
what's HOT, HOT, HOT? Utah is experiencing a heat wave of 100+ degree weather. It's too hot to go out, it's too hot to stay in. there is no escaping the heat! so, it's the perfect time to share my Mojave turquoise necklace. Mojave turquoise is found in the very hot Mojave desert. it is very fragile. so, to protect it from breaking, I wire wrapped the stone onto a piece of copper. I have also used moonstone and labradorite.
June 2013
It's cowboy time. Many young boy and girl have been practicing their riding, roping and jumping skills for the summer rodeo schedule. There are horse camps, parades, and Queens to be crowned. I have family and friends that spend a lot of their time making the dreams of the children come true. the dream of becoming better horse riders, and and in some cases, queen of their town. so if you're a 5 year old girl in the little town of Corrine or an 80 year old lady from London that has traveled the world, you have a desire to be noticed. from the tip of your toes to the bling on your hat. let Jackson Hole hat company and myself help you with your goal. my custom hatbands can be ordered from here or travel to jackson hole, wy. they will also be available soon at http://www.jhhatco.com/.
may 2013
Wyoming - here I come! I'm going to yellowstone and jackson hole to find more retailer's that will carry my jewelry. i would like to expand where my jewelry can be seen and sold. they will continue to be signed originals, made by me. (i don't believe it should be any other way) I wont be making a greater number of pieces, but i hope more people will be able to see and enjoy my art. i have received many comments from people who have purchased one or more of my original pieces in snowbird, utah. i love hearing from all of you. One lady was sweet enough to say that she had bought her first signed piece of mary johnson jewelry and wanted to know where she could buy more. what a wonderful compliment. as an artist, it can't get much better.
April 2013
i want to take just a minute and thank crista (former store manager of marco polo in snowbird) for helping me move into the resort boutique level of jewelry sells. I was staying at snowbird, making jewelry for the Davis County art center. when I walked into Marco Polo. Crista fell in love with a pair of earrings i had made that day and asked if I had more she could look at. oh did i ever. over the last 18 months i have been lucky to sell her a couple hundred pieces. I heard today that she is no longer working there. I will miss her and I hope that she has an amazing future. she encouraged me to travel on my own path! thank you! picture from http://www.snowbird.com/shop/marcopolo/
march 2013
The Gem faire is coming to town. I love going to the gem faire. it isn't as good as going to the tucson gem and mineral show in arazona, but it's the closest I will get to it this year. It's a great place to buy a specialty stone and find out info about the stones from the vendor. (at least the vendors I have come to know as reliable) The Nevada Turquoise Company is wonderful and so is The baltic amber couple. Last year I found a beautiful strand of rare Peruvian blue opal. I'm hoping for another fantastic find!!
February 2013
LOVE LIFE, LOVE NATURE, LOVE BEAUTY:
i love my life. yes, even the hard times.
i have learned that my favorite pieces of jewelry are made during the painful days.
I am drawn to the beauty of natural stones. The strength, colors and spirit of the stones comfort me and distract me from the aches.
On the good days, i am drawn to my great friends and my wonderful family.
I hope you are able to find love. love yourself, love your life and love your surroundings! -during the good and bad days- (the picture is one I drew of my best friend and myself in the future. we are looking forward to the fun to come)
January 2013
a couple months ago i jokingly put off a question i get asked all the time, "where do you get your inspiration from?" I thought i would share my latest piece and the inspiration behind it.
I went to the movie "the hobbit" in december. i noticed how beautiful the queen's crown was and made a quick drawing of it as soon as the movie was over and then quickly forgot all about it. a couple weeks later I was talking to a friend about the movie (while fighting with some beads I was trying to make a bracelet with) all of the sudden I have a picture in my mind, i jumped up looking for a hammer and copper wire and started pounding this out. this piece flew together in very little time. I saw it in my mind and felt it in my bones. all i do is copy the image that appears. I know, it's not fair.
december 2012
diy jewelry Is your holiday money running out but you still have gifts to get? I understand!
and have a great suggestion for you! Yes I would love you to be able to purchase jewelry from me, but I understand that money is tight and that the economy is not improving for most of us, and buying a signature piece of jewelry may not be in your budget. my suggestion is that you can make it yourself! yes you can! I feel that my talents are meant to be shared, so let me share a secret with you. most of us have old jewelry setting around. Take that jewelry, take it apart and create something new and wonderful. Eclectic and bohemian looks are very popular today. you can't go wrong with this style because there is no wrong. it's adding things together that may or may not match. it's made up of things that you love and things that were thrown away. just add pieces to a chain and thread it through a stretchy cord, tighten, and tie off. (like the bracelet on the left) or thread beads onto memory wire and make a layered bracelet with as many rows as you like. (like the one on the right) don't say you can't do it and remember "there is no wrong in art"!!
Novenber 2012
Where does the inspiration come from?
I get asked this a lot, but I'll have to get back with you on that because the answer hasn't come to me yet. With art, it shows up on it's own terms.
October 2012
Yes there are sheep on my site, but when your name is Mary - You have every right to have sheep in your life. The sheep in the picture may all be average sheep, that do average sheep things, but not only do they look different, they are different. My question to you is - "What kind of lamb are you?" I feel most comfortable with the "brown sheep" of the world. . The ones that aren't stuck in the whoa is me, I'm a "black sheep", I am not liked, poor little me. The "white sheep" isn't me either. I feel that they are always trying to be perfect.ly like everyone else. Never wanting to get dirty, never wanting to admit weaknesses. (but I never stop trying to help them see the world from my viewpoint.) The "brown sheep" of the world like to go their own way, they don't worry to much about "suppose to's" That is who I am and that is who my customer usually is. She loves something because it speaks to her, not because everyone else says it's popular. She is someone that appreciates beauty where every it is found. She doesn't follow the crowd, and doesn't want anyone to mistakenly think she is. She is true to herself, she sees her own beauty, and is secure enough to help other women find their beauty. ( Really women, it doesn't make you any less important if the people around you feel important too. Stop destroying others to raise yourself up!) Being yourself is your strength That is what makes you strong, that is what draws people to you and most important, that is what makes you happy! (this theory is not backed by any study, University or great philosopher. It is just how I see the world , as it relates to sheep.)
September 2012
Taking a vacation and spending time with friends. That is what this gypsy needs! I'm heading up to Snowbird Utah to play and renew the creative juices that runs through me. There is no greater beauty then nature and the love of great friends.
August 2012
It doesn't matter if you're a school teacher, bank teller, owner of your own business or a stay at home crafter, when you get up in the morning, one of our first thoughts we have is, "why do I look like this?". I know we all do it, "which shirt hides my belly?", "do I look shorter with my hair up?"and my favorite, "if I just loose a few more pounds I would be happier?". That's why I turned to jewelry. It can be beautiful, non-judgmental, and it can distract the eye away from my flaws. The problem was that I couldn't find beautiful, quality pieces without spending a fortune and even then, they were plain looking. No matter where I go, I put on a piece of jewelry that makes me feel great and looks fabulous. I drew up my caravan picture and I'm putting it on t-shirts to remind us all that looking good improves how we feel!, (I'm not encouraging people to damage themselves to look good, or that appearance is the most important attribute, but it does help) Beauty is in the Heart and Mind of the Woman!!!
July 2012
How do colors make you feel?. Can they change your outlook? 100% YES! I found the perfect scarf the other day and although I was uncomfortably hot, this scarf seamed to take all the misery away. I walked out of the store feeling sooo much better about myself. (top color palette, minus the tangerine.) Ever since my head injury, I have told people that the biggest change for me is that I no longer just see color, I feel color. I feel what color something wants to be. A little crazy, yeah, but I'd hate to be known as normal. If you need help finding your colors, I have found a wonderful web site that might help you. Tryhttp://design-seeds.com/index.php/search . You can choose any color and it will help you find the best color matches for how ever you want to feel!
June 2012
What's coming our way this month. Can we say "Outdoor Markets"? Get out and enjoy the wonderful weather with friends. Take the time to find a Farmers Market, Craft Show or Festival. Most cities offer some kind of outdoor market. You'll find fresh fruits and veggies, the latest craft or an almost lost art of quilting. I love the fresh honey, the music and the people. I will be in Bountiful's Farmers Market, Huntsville Independence Celebration, and Octoberfest. And maybe a few others..
May 2012
A Mother's Tree is a wonderful way to show your mom how much you appreciate her and all she does for you. The leaves are made up with the birthstones of the kids. Add a heart, swing, bird or something special to it that reminds you of your mom..
April 2012
Many of the big gem & mineral shows take place this time of year. I didn't make it to Quartzsite, AZ, like I wanted to, but I have found some local shows to go to. It is amazing that inside a rock, that some step over with no interest, you can find bright, brilliant colors and patterns that are unbelievable. And then someone with skill and imagination, takes the stone and makes a beautiful, polishes stone that can be made into a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. I am sooooo glad I tripped over one of those stones.
March 2012
March started out with a great bang, but where did Febuary go? Jewelry Convention, March 2-3, in Layton. I had an amazing time teaching a marketing class. Everyone in the class seemed to enjoy it and left with a lot of info and a lot of excitement about selling their jewelry. I left the weekend feeling no disappointment in myself. I wouldn't change anything. That is rare. I also started designing business cards for other jewelers. I keep redoing my cards, I might as well do it for someone else.
January 2012
Never discard the good from our past while we move on with the future: At the beginning of the year, most of us make plans to improve our lives. May I suggest one goal for each of us? Don't forget that some of our past has been wonderful and we should take a moment to acknowledge the blessings, beauty, and happiness that we have enjoyed. We should focus on the good in our lives. Not everything needs a total re-make. This months featured jewelry are made from vintage Sarah Coventry jewelry. I have taken pieces from earrings, necklaces and pins from the past (1960's) and made a beautiful set for the present time.
Click to set custom HTML
December
My favorite things about 2011
- Hanging out with Jeannie in her bead shop. it's wonderful to find a place where you belong.
- Starting your own business. In June, gypsies & butterflies officially opened for business.
- Meeting new people
- Finding the most beautiful piece of Baltic Amber, Making myself an amazing tourmaline necklace, & discovering tortoise turquoise.
November
While shopping at Snowbird, the manager/buyer of "Marco Polo Gallery" asks me about the earrings I was wearring. I tell her that I made them. She loves them and wants to see more of my art. Next thing I know, she buys most of what I have and has me make a whole lot more. My pieces are being sold as signature pieces along side of Michael Michaud's jewelry. (top 2 are mine & bottom one is Michael Michaud) I've been up working night and day all week to get them all finished. When your ship comes in, that's when the real hard work starts!!
October
This is the time of year to layer your clothes for warmth and cuddle with a loved one for security. I think this must be influencing my art. Many of my new pieces have multiple strands of beads layer on top of each other. There is a warmth to each one.
September
This month brings with it a lot of changes. Every family has them and figures out a way to adapt. Eventhough this month has been crazy, I know one thing hasn't changed and that is that I have a wonderful family. Peach Days, in Brigham City, was wild, but thanks to John and Jessica, it was a great success. We sold most of my pieces. I started the show with over 250 necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Now I'd be suprised if I had 30 pieces My youngest went to college this month. John moved her up the day before Peach Days. I wish I could have been with her, but I know she will stand up for whats right and yet still call me in tears when it's over. It takes a very strong girl to face her fears and stand up for what she believes and lead others to do the same thing. Now, as the month comes to an end, I'm hoping things will settle down a little. Except, I need to make a lot of jewelry for the Christmas season home shows, oh, and I would like to finally move into my new place that my family and I have lived in for over 6 months. I'm tired of stepping over boxes and not knowing which one to look in for my Silvers. I guess that means more changes and work to come.
August: HOT - HOT - HOT
Have you seen a Chan Luu bracelet. or more likely a Chan Luu want to be? I've seen them on TV, movies, on the Web and in a few stores, but they are just starting to get popular here in Utah. Be the first of your friends to get in on this fashion look. I love the multiple bracelet look, but most of all I love the 1 clasp!
July: Sun, Friends and farmers markets
It's the season for light jewelry, trying something new, weddings, and lets not forget farmers markets. Lucky for me, I'm in the shade at the Bountiful's farmers market, i love trying new designs & making new friends. Life is GREAT!
June can be deceiving
we have spent June in the cold & rain. I know the sun should be here but I can't find it.This has not been a traditional June. Just like the sun, african trade beads are hiding in this months necklace. African trade beads are rough and earthy, not elegant in anyway, but somehow my mind came up with an elegant necklace using my favorite, unique, beads. I used powder glass beads, watermelon beads & an occasional one of a kind bead. Untraditional is who I am!
April's Excitement
I was the featured artist at SE Needhams Jewelry Store on April 8th. Cache Valley has a great art community and I feel very lucky to have been part of it if only for a night. I made just over 100 pieces for the show in the last 4 weeks. I don't know who was more excited for the show. Me or my family who hasn't had a mom for a month A special thanks to the people at the store. They made me feel wonderful about the whole experience.
March Madness
Time is flying by. I've been making so many pieces that I haven't kept up on my site. These are some of my favorite necklaces. the colors are brilliant. (If only it showed up the same in a picture as it does in person.) The one on the left is made with a stone called sea sediment. It's wrapped in vintage bronze wire with great bobbles hanging from the end. Top right is made with fire agate. The yellow is bright and has wonderful looking cracks in it. The bottom right is magnificant in light. The rainbow vein agates are purple, blue, green and pink. In between each large stone are fresh water pearls and crystals.
January jewel
The year has changed, but my favorite stone has not changed. Tourmaline is still my favorite! The bracelette and necklace are on a stretch cord. No fighting with a clasp. For those who havn't hear about tourmaline, it is a very rare stone. It is now considered the 4th most valuable gem. Diamond, ruby and saphire are the only gems more valuable. The colored tourmaline are the most prized. Watermellon tourmaline is the most valuable
December's gift
Raku beads are my latest find. Very few people go to the trouble of learning and actually making raku beads I haven't fiqured out all the ins and outs of raku, but from what I understand, raku is a finish for glass beads. Every artist has their own chemical finish and then the bead is burned in a raku fire. They are very expensive, but well worth the price. This is for the person that wants a piece of art that no one else will have.
November's gem
I love the variety of stones. This moon shaped agate looks like glass and feels like glass too. It has amazing white swirls mixed with an ablosule black. I have added a glass bead that looks like it came from the same stone as the pendant. I am in ah when I find beads on one day that matches a stone I found long before. When this happens, it is like finding something that you lost and have been looking for forever. Only in this case, you didn't even know you had lost it. I wanted to make sure this special mix is enhanced, so I wrapped each piece of glass with sterling silver wire. This necklace shines from every angle.
August's gem
This necklace, the bronze mookite twist, is my fovorite right now. The bright colors and the unique, one of a kind bronze twist makes this necklace "pop"! I love using mookite in my necklaces. The stones are found here in Utah. They come in so many colors. You can match light, nutural colors together to make a soothing, quieter piece or you can use the bright colors, like I have, to make a necklace that "bams" all others Mookite is said to be a protective stone. It increases self asteam and gives you the confidence you need in a new situation. The stone is perfect for a childs first day at school, or meeting friends for the first time. It would also be a great thing for a mom to wear on her first day back to work.
