Welcome to my ETSY shop!
My jewelry exemplifies the visual excitement I find in layering textures, colors, values and materials. I gather imagery and inspiration from the natural world around me; in particular the sea and forest. Moss greens, autumn coppers, silken leaves, woven shadows, luminescent waves, and polished stones appear and reappear throughout my work.

Creativity has guided my life from as far back as I can remember. Mud, paint, crayons, yarn…so many possibilities as a child. As is true of most artists, that child-like joy has never left me but has been guided and nurtured through skill development and life long learning.

I am an artist and a teacher; each influencing the other. Professionally I have taught in a wide variety of venues from public high school to colleges to workshops and lectures. My jewelry and ceramic sculptures have been displayed and marketed throughout the world. I have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Skidmore College and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. I live and work in the Finger Lakes area of Western New York State and Cape Cod in Massachusetts; both environments rich in visual inspiration.

I retired from full time teaching a few years ago and devote my time now to creating and marketing my jewelry. I made the radical decision to purchase a motor home two years ago and named her "Maxine the Wonder Bus" (probably influenced by my hippy days!). Hence the name of my ETSY shop. I spend alot of time now traveling the country doing art shows and craft fairs and designing and creating my jewelry in Maxine. I welcome you to come along on my journeys by going to my blog on my website karentretiak.com!