Four Lakes artist 'obsessed with beads'

Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of profiles of artists participating in the Slightly West of Spokane Studio Artist Tour set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30. Look for more profiles in upcoming editions of the Cheney Free Press.

FOUR LAKES - A local artist who says she's "obsessed with glass" will be among those featured here during the Slightly West of Spokane Studio Artist Tour on Nov. 30.

Jessica Veda Jones,  the artist behind Veda's Beads, will be at Stop No. 5 of the tour at 3210 West. Medical Lake/Four Lakes Road. The stop also features Summer Milson and Cloie Milson.

"I started with a simple beginner lampworking kit that my husband gave to me in 2001 and found that even though there was a learning curve, it was pretty easy to get started," she said of her foray into arts. "And wow did I love using a torch to melt glass."

And voila, an artist was born.

"I especially loved the challenges inherent in the medium," she said. "Every new technique, tool, or even new color of glass presents a fun puzzle to figure out."

While working with glass, she "made piles of beads."

Rather than throw them away or give them away, she decided she could create works of art with them, she said.

"That led me to learning how to run an Etsy shop, market my work, set up at shows, network and grow my studio while constantly improving my craft," she said.

Jones said she not only enjoys making art, she enjoys teaching the bead-making skills to other.

"I'd love to see what you create," she said, encouraging those on the arts tour to visit her at Stop No. 5.

Alex Silver

Before tour-goers reach Stop No. 5, they'll have a chance to meet a Medical Lake artist and silversmith at Stop No. 3.

Alexa Silver will open her Medical Lake home-studio, Silver Twilight Studios, 324 E. Lake St., to tour-goers.

"I love making small wearable metal objects that make a personal connection possible, maybe tell a story, jazz up the uniform, be slightly audacious," she said of her silversmith works. "Some of my silver collections revolve around the Sisterhood of the Rings, icons and relics, and earrings that have flash and sass."

In addition, Silver draws and paints, writes poetry, makes art from clay and enjoys photography.

"I'm also hanging out with canvases, paint, tea bag paper, ink and anything else I can possibly run my fingers through," she said. "Things that inspire me artistically are color, pattern, shape, texture and emotion... all powered by luscious coffee."