Meet our Columbia artists - Sheila Hawkey Page: our jewelry artiste, student, mother, and turquoise devotee.

Sheila, her dazzling smile and her dazzling turquoise.

Sheila, her dazzling smile and her dazzling turquoise.

Hi, I’m Sheila, and beads are my passion. I am currently in possession of about a zillion of them; they have taken over my house and my life. The only down-side to owning enough beads to fill a house is that there’s nowhere for people to sit when they come over.
A sampling of Sheila's work - stone, coral, and wood.

A sampling of Sheila's work - stone, coral, and wood.


If I didn’t make jewelry I think I would go crazy, it’s not really an option for me. It’s meditative and soothing (and I get to play with my beloved beads). I like to imagine my jewelry as it makes its way into the lives of others as a gift or something special to wear with a favorite outfit. My work is a tangible expression of my thoughts and energy, so, in a way, I’m connected to those wearing my jewelry. Even as strangers we share something, which is a great feeling.
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I get my inspiration from the world around me. The earth is such a beautiful place, so much color and texture; there is no limit to the surprises she holds. When I visit a new place I fall in love with the plants and earth and people. It often gives rise to new ways of seeing and of expressing myself.

My favorite stone is turquoise. This love affair began when I first visited New Mexico; I saw it everywhere and it took my breath away. It evokes the beautiful sky in New Mexico, the fierce and stunning desert, and the brilliant sun. You’ll see a lot of it in my work in a range of colors and sizes. I honestly would be hard-pressed to think of something that could not be improved with a little turquoise. Don’t live without it and wear it often! These are words I live by.
When I’m not making jewelry I’m doing homework or knitting and hanging out with my kitties here in beautiful CoMo. I love art, walking, gardening and architecture and am in the process of living happily-ever-after with my children without whom I would be eternally lost.

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