About me ( erin lima)

 

I have been an "artist" my whole life, dabbling in various mediums that struck my fancy along the way. I have always approached new mediums with an "I can do that!" attitide, working my way through college as a cake decorator, a portrait artist, a typesetter, and graphic artist for a ad agency (just to name a few).  It took a few years, but I eventually graduated with a degree in graphic design.  I later went on to complete my degree in Business Marketing.

I became intrigued by the possibilities of the natural, organic form of the hard-shell gourd, and began to combine them with my graphic design skills to create some fantastic and whimsical pieces that offer both form and function.  Most of my designs have removable lids and can be used as gift boxes or storage, but they also stand alone as pieces of art.

My fascination with lampworked glass beads began fairly recently, although my interest in jewelry making, and beading in particular, began in the days of "Beadazzled" -- a small chain of bead stores in the early 80's -- when, at the age of 12, I made one of kind pieces of jewelry, always searching for the most unique bead designs and colors.  Since then, the Lampwork Bead has come a long way, and has been elevated to its own artform, and I decided I wanted to learn how to make them myself. Living by the credo, "I can do that!", I searched out classes in Southern California and was lucky enough to find a beginning bead-making class taught right here in San Diego, by reknowned bead artist, Heather Trimlett (HeatherTrimlett.com), and I was instantly hooked. 

My fascination with "hot glass" continues to grow, and I have begun working on other things
like wine stoppers, knife handles and drawer pulls -- all things taught in another class by
Miss Heather.  Oh, and did I mention marbles?!?!?  They are really cool too.