Janis Long grew up in rural Southwestern Ontario, Canada. One of her most endearing memories as a child was watching, with fascination, her mother emerge from the dressing room wearing what Janis knew as the same suit or dress she had seen a hundred times, but the garment looked completely different and new. It was the magic of accessories!
The amazing talent for pulling looks together, for seeing the wearable possibilities in both the unusual and the usual is part of Janis’ make-up. It was through this love that she began to haunt flea markets, eschewing the ordinary and collecting only the very best vintage beads, Bakelite buttons and belt buckles that would be transformed into one-of-a-kind pins, necklaces and bracelets.
For several years she worked with these fantastic materials creating a successful line of vintage jewelry. Ultimately, Janis felt she needed to know more and was fortunate to be able to learn from the two very talented artists, Bethany Barry and Diana Contine.
Under their tutelage, Janis has expanded her art and now works in fine sterling silver using silver beads and unusual wire wrapping techniques. The use of contemporary stained glass, semi-precious stones and fine art glass as her new raw materials while still incorporating her trademark vintage beads and buttons, has taken her jewelry-making to an exciting new level. A passion for design, style, beauty and color, plus the never-ending support of her family, has allowed the jewelry artist to emerge.
|
