Photo by Cate Goedert
Gina is known to many as Laughing Lady. If you spend any time with her you will hear her contagious, uncontrollable laughter. She recently relocated to the beautiful and artsy Santa Fe, New Mexico where creativity is abundant. It is a great place for a jewelry designer and instructor to live. Her main focus for several years has been creating jewelry and teaching jewelry classes using beads, fiber, jump rings, metal clay, metals, resin and wire. Her favorite techniques are chain mail, riveting, silver fusing, copper and brass etching, metal clay, viking knit and wire crochet. More recently she has been working with fused glass and silk dyeing. Gina’s next endeavor will be to try encaustic painting.
Teaching Experience
- Bead & Button Show, Milwaukee, WI
- Bead Fest, Santa Fe, NM
- Bead Me Up!, Apple Valley, MN
- Bead Society of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- Beadhive, Minneapolis, MN
- Beading Heart of Santa Fe, NM
- Sea of Beads, Lakeville, MN
- Twin Cities Bead Bazaar, Rosemount, MN
- Upper Midwest Bead Society Retreats, MN & WI
Publications
- Wirework Magazine, Winter 2010, Copper Teardrops Necklace, Bracelet and Earrings.
- The New Mexican, 12/25/11, 1st Place Photo “Entrance to El Santuario”
Exhibits
- Artist of the Month, The Beading Heart of Santa Fe, NM
Certifications
- PMC Certification, Level 1, PMC Connection
- Art Clay Silver, Level 1 Instructor
Memberships
- Bead Society of New Mexico
- Eldorado Arts & Crafts Association.
- New Mexico State University Extension Association of New Mexico, Rainbow Makers Member. The mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities through: Education, Leadership and Action.
- Upper Midwest Bead Society
Online Moderator/Owner
- Metal Clay Gallery Yahoo Group I started this group in 2002.
Recent Volunteer Positions Held
- Board of Directors, UMBS, MN
- Co-Treasurer, Rainbow Makers Extension Assn. of NM.
- Santa Fe International Art Market, Artist Assistant, Santa Fe, NM
- Month Programs Co-Coordinator, UMBS, MN
- Vice President, Eldorado Arts & Crafts Association, 2012-
- Web Master, Upper Midwest Bead Society, MN