Wild Prairie Gals
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
Kali Karnopp
Goldsmith Wild Prairie Silver
Artist Designer
I started working at Wild Prairie in September of 2016 as a goldsmith apprentice.
I am married with 2 children. Besides learning to be a jeweler I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater & Dance. I am a dance instructor/teacher in the evenings after school and own a dance studio in Kewaunee WI.
Goldsmithing has been the perfect fit for me to let my artistic creativity flow while still operating my dance studio and teaching Ballet, Jazz and Tap to young little feet.
I am married with 2 children. Besides learning to be a jeweler I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater & Dance. I am a dance instructor/teacher in the evenings after school and own a dance studio in Kewaunee WI.
Goldsmithing has been the perfect fit for me to let my artistic creativity flow while still operating my dance studio and teaching Ballet, Jazz and Tap to young little feet.
Skyla Vanderbloemen
MCSP Manager
Marketing, Customer Service, Supply Chain & Product Manager
Marketing, Customer Service, Supply Chain & Product Manager
I joined the Wild Prairie Team in January of 2017 starting out as part time help while attending college at UW Green Bay.
After I graduated college in December of 2018, with a marketing degree, I started consulting & managing all of Wild Prairie Silver, Savannah Jewelry Supply websites, social media profiles, products, and customer care.
I am newly married, February of 2020.
Besides my love of marketing & consulting, I run two other businesses within my parents Christmas tree farm. I am also remodeling an old farmhouse so I have somewhere to live soon = never a dull moment.
The "Prairie" is my home away from home and I look forward to continuing to grow in and with it in the years to come.
After I graduated college in December of 2018, with a marketing degree, I started consulting & managing all of Wild Prairie Silver, Savannah Jewelry Supply websites, social media profiles, products, and customer care.
I am newly married, February of 2020.
Besides my love of marketing & consulting, I run two other businesses within my parents Christmas tree farm. I am also remodeling an old farmhouse so I have somewhere to live soon = never a dull moment.
The "Prairie" is my home away from home and I look forward to continuing to grow in and with it in the years to come.
Life on the Prairie
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Our 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.
left to right: Skyla, Joy, Kali 
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Email info@wildprairiesilver.com
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