Kristina Atkisson

MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE:
My name is Kristina and I am a bead jewelry artist. My business is named Mojave Creek. All of my designs are originally created by me. My work is hand stitched and handwoven one bead at a time with glass seed beads in traditional style. I like to mix my beadwork with silver and other metals such as copper and brass that I handcraft. As well as stones found in the West such as turquoise. All of my findings and ear wires are handcrafted by me with sterling silver. My focus is using high quality materials that reflect the region of the Southwest. I specialize in large beaded earrings but make a variety of sizes to meet people’s needs. My work reflects my long family heritage on my mothers side, which traces back 12 generations in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As well as from my Canadian Mohawk heritage on my fathers side. I would love to share in the spreading of the cultural heritage of our people. Thank you kindly for your consideration! The materials I work with are sterling silver, copper, and brass. I use stones that are mined in the West, such as turquoise. I carefully select stones from mined in the West. I use a lot of New Mexico Tyrone turquoise and Arizona Kingman turquoise in my work. The findings that I use are handcrafted by me. I handcraft sterling silver ear wires for my earrings. And use sterling silver lever backs as well. The methods I use to create my jewelry are traditional Metalsmithing techniques. My designs are hand drawn and hand sawn from sheet metal. They are then soldered, bezels are handcrafted and stones are set. Sometimes I create mixed metal pieces using copper, brass, and silver. The designs I create are either traditional shapes that reflect my heritage of Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as my Mohawk heritage. They are also inspired by nature. And by plants that grow through out the Southwest.