Jan Elfner

Jan Elfner’s jewelry journey began as a tribute to her mother, who believed that jewelry was as essential as clothing. After inheriting her mother’s extensive collection, especially her signature large earrings—Jan wanted to find a meaningful way to honor her mother’s memory. Rather than parting with the pieces, Jan started taking jewelry-making courses, eventually transforming the “out of date” or unused jewelry into unique, repurposed creations that carry the essence of their original owner.

Since 2020, Jan has been repurposing vintage and unused jewelry, bringing new life and personality to pieces that might otherwise be forgotten. She finds joy in making something fresh and meaningful from items once relegated to storage, creating personalized jewelry that honors memories while adding a modern touch.

This is Jan’s first art show, and she’s excited to connect with others who appreciate creativity and individuality. She hopes to continue making jewelry, balancing her passion with her love for travel and other pursuits. Jan encourages others to embrace learning at any age, sharing her belief that “you can pick something you like and make it something you can run with!”

Visitors can reach Jan at the festival, she hopes her jewelry will inspire others to find joy in creating something new from the old, discovering beauty in items that hold cherished memories.

Jackie Goldberg’s creative journey began with her grandmother, who inspired her love for art from an early age. Jackie fondly remembers visiting her grandmother, who always had art supplies on hand, nurturing her artistic spirit. Her passion blossomed in high school when she decided to major in art, eventually teaching the subject for over a decade. Though her career path took her in other directions, Jackie continued to pursue art independently. After retirement, she dove into daily art practice, which only deepened her commitment to creativity. Upon moving to Colorado, Jackie found a new outlet for sharing her passion by teaching art at the South Ridge Recreation Center.

During a visit to a craft show in Asheville, North Carolina, Jackie discovered bead embroidery, an intricate and tactile art form that captivated her instantly. She has been creating with beads for 14 years, skillfully blending colors and textures into unique jewelry pieces, often collaborating with her neighbors in the community. 

Her work can be found on Etsy through her shops, Beadadorn, https://etsy.shop/Beadadorn) and at WhimsicallyWOW, https://etsy.shop/WhimsicallyWOW), as well as her website  JSGArt.net   https://JSGArt.net. Jackie delights in sending her art across the United States and even to a few international buyers. She is now expanding her creative portfolio to include abstract watercolor wall art, which she plans to offer in an additional Etsy shop.