Friday Findings: Janies Joli

This Week's Friday Find: Janies Joli

Last week, I was logged into my HANDMADE JEWELRY: SATURDAY SPARKLE group on Flickr and as is my usual habit, I was checking out all of the neat pieces that have been submitted to the group photo pool. For me, choosing today’s Friday Findings piece was one of those instinctive things; there was just something so cheerful and bright about this pair of earrings. The moment I saw them, they put a huge smile on my face and I didn’t even need to stop to think. I immediately knew that I wanted to share this pair of recycled bottle cap earrings with you this week. So, I contacted Janie Manley from Janies Joli to ask if she’d be a sport, and luckily, she agreed.

I think that today’s Friday Find earrings are loaded with child-like imagination and creativity, which are two things that Capitola Girl really loves. Today's Friday Find is the Soda Jerk Earrings and they come to us from independent jewelry artist Janie Manley, from Janies Joli. Janies Joli is based in Taylor, Michigan.

Janie’s always been a crafty type, but she got started in jewelry making after purchasing a handmade bracelet from a friend. Her friend’s creation sparked her interest in beading and now, like many beading-types, she’s addicted. One of the things that stood out to me about Janie’s creations is that she uses her memories as sources of inspiration for jewelry, and I think that’s neat.

While I was interviewing Janie, I asked about her other inspiration sources and she shared, “ Nature - Sometimes just being somewhere beautiful like an apple orchard or the beach will inspire me. People - I am a people watcher and I love to see what people are wearing, colors and such. Shopping - Looking at the range of all the different colors, textures and shapes of beads and focal pieces.”

On a more personal note, Janie makes donations to Autism Speaks. Both her brother and nephew have been affected by Autism, and so she does what she can to help build awareness and support the cause. One (1) out of every 150 children is diagnosed with autism. And, although Autism is a disorder that can affect any child, boys are four times more likely to be stricken than girls. If you are interested in learning more about Autism and how you might be able to help support awareness and research, visit Autism Speaks at: http://www.autismspeaks.org/

I’d like to thank Janie for being a great sport and for her willingness to share her adorable Soda Jerk earrings with us on Friday Findings. To see more of Janie’s fun and creative jewelry work, please visit her shop on Etsy:

Janies Joli

http://JaniesJoli.Etsy.com