ShoreDebris

I am Vicky Brown, the youngest of a family of artisans and crafters. My passion is jewelry. Or maybe I should say my passion is the beach and I make things that are inspired by the beach (most of which is jewelry).

I am a 2003 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps from 2003 until 2009. Now this probably doesn’t sound like the precursor to an artist’s life, but I learned a valuable lesson – do what you love because you never know how long you can do anything at all. I have just recently moved from Tampa, Florida to Leavenworth, KS.

I decided to open my business in 2009 after I had a knee replacement. When you are laid up for nine weeks non-weight bearing and unable to bend your leg, you have time to think about life and what is important. My husband and I decided me working from home on my jewelry gave us the life style we preferred as I have time for organic gardening, cooking our meals, and quality time spent together as we no longer have to maintain separate weekday residences for us both to keep our former jobs.

I am a self-taught jewelry artist. I tend to learn better through books than through listening to someone tell me how, although I can say both the engineering background and the fact that my aunt was a trained silversmith in college have helped tremendously. In recent years, I have taken a few one-day technique classes at Ornamentea (a jewelry-making and fine-crafting store) in Raleigh, NC and a fall term class at the Arlington center for the Arts in Arlington, MA. From 2011 - 2012, I taught beginning wirework classes at BD Unique, the closest bead and jewelry store to my former home in Sanford.

My personal shell obsession didn’t begin until my wedding. I got married at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse in Buxton, NC and although I had family living on the island year round and I’d visited almost every year of my life, we’d never shopped at “The Old Grey House.” Behind this house in sheds, carports, and what I thought of as “additions” to the original house were shells and shells and more shells… The shell obsession usually hits the girls in my family around age 12, and I was just a late bloomer.

My shell and sea glass collection is organized by beach and trip. Although most of my shore debris is found by either me or another family member, I do occasionally buy pretty shells just because I do not have chances of finding Pacific shells. I’m still waiting for someone I know to move to Tahiti so I can come and visit!

If any of my listings mention other names: Rita is my grandmother (she is known for her 6ft tall shell wall hangings), Lori is my aunt (she’s the metalsmith [BCF Designs] who also creates wonderful polymer clay figurines), and Deenie is my mom (she’s author of The GTMO Shell Book and has created a public library shell display in addition to every type of shellcraft out there). Fred is my dad and he’s the quiet helper… whether it is dragging massive pieces of driftwood to the car or drilling items when I am tired, he’s always there to lend a hand or just keep me company. CJ is my brother – he’s got the huge light box when I need photos of stuff larger than my small jewelry and ornaments and will always give me a true response when I ask whether something looks good.

Almost all of items except sea shell and sea glass flowers are available at wholesale and bulk discount rates. Please contact me through etsy or through my business e-mail: shoredebris [!at] live.com. I also run a second shop here on etsy: it is http://www.purplefuzzyfeet.etsy.com. There, I sell supplies, crocheted items, and jewelry that just doesn't fit my normal beach theme.

My goals for the future involve opening my own brick and mortar store to showcase my jewelry and clothing designs in addition to other consigned artwork. {Of course this is way in the future as I have to wait for the army to stop moving my husband and I across the country!}