Jadiva is your #1 Jewelry Arts Diva. I handmake a variety of jewelry using glass, gemstone, and metal beads. I am a photographer as well and make several things using the pictures I take. I work in various mediums creating unique pieces of artworks.
My name is Jennifer Kellogg. I have been working with jewelry and various arts since I was a kid. Always drawing, painting, sculpting and studying anything to do with arts. I still enjoy learning how to do new things so I can incorporate them into what I'm working on. Because of this my work tends to change and grow as I go from one thing to another.
I have also worked in the jewelry industry for 15 years +some. It goes way back when my father and I would polish rocks and turn them into necklaces or earrings. We would then sell them at local markets, to friends, as well as to family. While I was in high school I took a jewelry class and learned to fabricate my own jewelry out of metal. Starting from the designing aspect then following through to the finished product. We would cut out our designs, doing all the soldering or casting, and finally finishing off by polishing our jewelry/sculptures to a high shine.
This all came in handy when I entered the workforce after high school. I had the basic knowledge down for work in the jewelry industry. Since graduating in 1996 I have worked for many different jewelry stores or trade shops. Over the years I have picked up so much knowledge and learned many, many techniques (as well as tricks of the trade). I've had so much fun working with jewelry. I would even read up on it in my spare time. It's become more than a hobby. It's now my way of life. If I'm not working on it then I'm talking about it. If I'm not talking about it then I'm thinking about it. "What can I do next?" "How can I make something out of that?" "Look what I found! I shall make it into something fabulous and it will be shiny and beautiful."
I truly enjoyed goldsmithing, but I felt it was restricting my creative abilities. Not working on something imagined in my mind would become frustrating at times. So, when I was laid off in 2008, I did a bit of soul searching to see what I should do next. In the same year my 4 year old daughter and I where going through quite a lot of medical testing. She was diagnosed as lacking a small amount of DNA which was the reason for her hearing loss, as well as physical and mental disabilities. Still learning to cope with these difficulties I was then diagnosed myself with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Myotonia, which type of myotonia I'm still unsure. My mobility, strength, and stamina were fading away fast. Being passed from doctor to doctor with little or no hope was taking its toll on me as well. Finally I realized that I needed a pick-me-up big time. Well the one thing I always did best while having fun to boot was making jewelry and playing with art stuff. So this is what I set out to do with myself. This has been my most brilliant plan of all things to do by far.
This is how Jadiva came into being. I love Jewelry, I love Art, and boy can I be a Diva at times. Therefore, Jadiva was created. I'm starting out small. Selling at local markets, to friends, and family. I just love making stuff. I have fun doing so. I also enjoy teaching others how to make stuff as well. Therefore this is the basis for Jadiva. I make a large variety of jewelry. I also work on photography, which in turn gets me out hiking to give my muscles a good workout. It's a total win, win situation. I slow the deterioration of my muscles down while simultaneously playing outside collecting photographs and objects to use in my artwork. I work in any materials that catch my fancy that I can find. Be they metals, beads, clay, photos, or found objects. This is why you will see my projects continue to change and vary as I progress along.
Occasionally I will teach classes on different projects. I will certainly announce any classes in case your interested in joining ahead of time. As well as give details along with location of classes. If you have any requests about certain subjects or are interested in parties please feel free to message or e-mail me and I'm sure we can come up with something for you. In the future I plan to have a storefront that offers classes regularly at certain times. When that option becomes available I will certainly announce it to everyone along with details. I'm located in Mason City, Iowa so anything I teach would be in this vicinity. If you have a specific request then contact me and I'll see what I would be able to do.
Please contact me if you are in need of a specific item or look. I can create sets to match outfits as well as occasions. I can also create things for you when your looking for specifics. If for any reason I can't do something I usually know someone who can and will refer them to you if requested. I have done repair work on multiple things in the past and may be able to do some for you depending on the supplies I have on hand, tools, and equipment available to me at the time. Always feel free to ask and I'll let you know what I'm able to do for you.
I'm a believer in knowledge. Therefore I'll be posting the occasional project here and there. It can be helpful for those interested and makes for great entertainment for you. I always find it fascinating to see what others are working on, so feel free to post your art project here too, as long as it is not inappropriate. One never knows where you'll find that tid bit of information you've been looking for but didn't know you were.
Thank you so much for visiting my site. I hope you enjoy it.
"It is in my soul to create, I must create, therefore I will create" --- JK
