j. Frances Design

Welcome! I created j. Frances Design a few months after moving to rural Iowa from North-eastern Pennsylvania where I grew up. I began making beaded jewelry in my junior year of college when I noticed a classmate selling intricately woven seed bead bracelets. I bought myself some beads, thread and basic tools and taught myself the basics, eventually moving on to more advanced techniques. I've always been a creative person and took art classes throughout junior high, high school and college. I saw bead weaving another way to "paint" and play with color.

After graduating from Lehigh University in 2001 with a degree in Industrial Engineering, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work for a major semi-conductor manufacturer. I quickly discovered several wonderful bead stores within close proximity, and my love of jewelry making only deepened. I took a beginning metalsmithing class at a local highschool and learned to solder and work with metal. Several years later, I found myself living in a historic district in Central Phoenix. My neighbor was a lampwork artist, and she worked at a local bead store that specialized in semi-precious stones. There, I took my first wire-wrapping class, and jewelry design took on a whole new meaning for me. I loved (and still do) wrapping little stones in sterling and copper wire.

In April 2009, I opened my Etsy shop and began selling my jewelry online. I now work with a variety of mediums and materials, including silver, copper, brass and silver Precious Metal Clay. I create both one-of-a-kind, vintage inspired jewelry using antiqued brass findings and vintage glass and acrylic beads, buttons and crystals as well as hand-forged, rustic designs in silver and copper. My hand-forged pieces often incorporate contemporary, premium Czech glass beads and semi-precious stones. I choose my beads for their interesting shapes and beautiful colors, and I'm more than a little addicted to expanding my growing collection.

I've had the wonderful opportunity to work with several brides on creating jewelry for their wedding day as well as for their bridesmaids. I know how difficult it can be to find that exactly perfect piece, so I really enjoy helping brides - or anyone - bring their vision for their wedding jewelry to life. If you're interested in custom designed jewelry for your wedding day, a special occasion, or just because, please email me. I would love to work with you.

If you'd like to learn more about me and my jewelry, please visit my blog. I write primarily about my creations, pursuing my graduate degree in Interior Design at Iowa State University, cooking, and of course, my two dogs Eddie and Miles. If you'd like to be notified when I add new pieces to my shop and receive special promos, head on over to my Facebook page and click the "like" button.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Jillian