Joy Kruse
Goldsmith Wild Prairie Silver
Artist Designer Owner
I love to play with fire, this is a trait of all metalsmiths... being a pyromanic. I love to mix fire, metal & stone which by accident or design makes me a jeweler. I am self-taught for the most part and really enjoy making the entire piece right down to every little component.
I am by education and devotion an RN. For sixteen years I worked as both a jeweler and an RN. After 20 years of being in the nursing field I decided to finally give up that vocation. I miss being a nurse but I love being a full time jeweler more.
I am married and have two children. My family was the start of my jewelry business. My husband & I chose to have one of us stay home & raise our children. I stayed home. I still worked as an RN on days he was able to stay home with the kids and in my spare time began making jewelry. I had no idea where that would lead. I had no idea that I had any skill or passion for what I now, love so much. It's been a wonderful journey of learning and creating. It's been a pleasure to be home, be a mom, have a trade, and become skilled at a fine craft.
Inspiration? Where does it come from? I get that question all the time, especially with my unique stone pieces. My inspiration often comes in lost thoughts (yeah, really random stuff at random times *** you have this too *** you have to write it down), times when I am doing something else and the idea just floats into my head... it's a very organic process. Design is never good if the thoughts are forced. I have always kept a very disorganized journal of these thoughts. I go to it when I need it and when I don't need it. It's a messy tally of my brain but it works. Somehow that messy record of randomness flows out of my fingertips and into a sheet of silver or gold. (Tip to creativity: Do not watch television. Try it for a month. It works. Your brain will do it's own thinking for once.)
Other inspiration comes from my surroundings that I love: the outdoors, kids, birds, flowers, flowing water, dirt, rocks, trees, religion & religious symbols, everyday nature, biology, and science. Design is everywhere.
Don't forget you, my customer... you have given me my best ideas. You have pushed me to do things I would never have done. You have given me important, special, meaningful projects that I am honored to do for you. So, thank you for your belief in me. I could not have done it without you and cannot continue to do it without you.
God Bless
Happy Healthy 2020
~Joy Kruse
I am by education and devotion an RN. For sixteen years I worked as both a jeweler and an RN. After 20 years of being in the nursing field I decided to finally give up that vocation. I miss being a nurse but I love being a full time jeweler more.
I am married and have two children. My family was the start of my jewelry business. My husband & I chose to have one of us stay home & raise our children. I stayed home. I still worked as an RN on days he was able to stay home with the kids and in my spare time began making jewelry. I had no idea where that would lead. I had no idea that I had any skill or passion for what I now, love so much. It's been a wonderful journey of learning and creating. It's been a pleasure to be home, be a mom, have a trade, and become skilled at a fine craft.
Inspiration? Where does it come from? I get that question all the time, especially with my unique stone pieces. My inspiration often comes in lost thoughts (yeah, really random stuff at random times *** you have this too *** you have to write it down), times when I am doing something else and the idea just floats into my head... it's a very organic process. Design is never good if the thoughts are forced. I have always kept a very disorganized journal of these thoughts. I go to it when I need it and when I don't need it. It's a messy tally of my brain but it works. Somehow that messy record of randomness flows out of my fingertips and into a sheet of silver or gold. (Tip to creativity: Do not watch television. Try it for a month. It works. Your brain will do it's own thinking for once.)
Other inspiration comes from my surroundings that I love: the outdoors, kids, birds, flowers, flowing water, dirt, rocks, trees, religion & religious symbols, everyday nature, biology, and science. Design is everywhere.
Don't forget you, my customer... you have given me my best ideas. You have pushed me to do things I would never have done. You have given me important, special, meaningful projects that I am honored to do for you. So, thank you for your belief in me. I could not have done it without you and cannot continue to do it without you.
God Bless
Happy Healthy 2020
~Joy Kruse
Life on the Prairie
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My favorite hobbies include making jewelry, making you smile, drinking coffee, roasting meat, drinking wine, and being 'Clydecorns'. What's a Clydecorn you ask? It's a cross between a Unicorn & a Clydesdale = hard working but magical creature.
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Email [email protected]
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