Hello and Bonjour to You!
I Love My ETSY Shop Koliopee Designs! I Started my shop in 2008 when I discovered it was available as a way for Independent Artists to show their work for sale and it was growing very popular! My shop sat for a few years empty as I was busy doing Craft Fairs and Juried Shows, finishing College and maintaining my first successful B&M Koliopee Designs Boutique at the Red Light Gallery in Akron, OH......and becoming a Family! When my first son Lyle was born he was a wonderful experience and I quickly fell in love with him and all that he was about......He quickly grew into a handsome little toddler and right before his second birthday I had my Phylogenetic Landscapes Show at the gallery....and then the next day my life was flipped upside down!!!! Lyle was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of Eye cancer and a possible brain tumor and his second birthday was a week away! A month earlier I had lost my job due to my position as a tech writer/ lab assistant being canceled.....appointments, diagnostic tests, and surgeries were piling up for Lyle and there was no way a traditional job could work around that schedule so I decided it was time to call upon my art work and vintage collection to somehow replace my lost income and launch my online presence! So here I am!!! Come Check out my Shop!!! It's full of Beautiful Vintage Surprises! My Handmade Jewelry, Original Knitwear, and Hand Slapped Ceramic Home Decor and BioDiversity Ceramic/Metal Jewelry Line!!!!! YaYaY!

My Life In A Nutshell....
I was Born July 11, 1977 in Galion, Ohio to a mechanic and a free-spirit in their early 20’s. From Birth I was exposed to the world of animals, artisans, craftsman, blue-collar jobs and a rural/country life with sewing, gardening, baking canning and farming. As a child and young adult I had to assume much more responsibility than the average kid and I was independent by the age of 16 with my own place and transportation.
Throughout all of this part of my life I was always thirsty for knowledge, examining the world around me, learning about the tough journey of life on my own and dreaming about the journey ahead, I was bound and determined to achieve my dreams and aspirations, one of those was becoming a recognized and self-supported artist/ Biologist or perhaps a Nurse like my grandmother; at that age I had a lot of things I wanted to be when I grew up! At 18 I graduated from High school and a year later my love at the time and I moved to Akron, Oh to go to the University there. He studied Opera and I studied Biology and Art
This is where I discovered metalsmithing as a fine craft and I found part of myself in this art. I have discovered that my passions lye in the world of fine craft and in the sometimes unrealized art of Biology and its inspiring science of the living world. I have spent much of my life in school and I am enjoying life after graduation finally! There have been many obstacles along the way but I’m a stronger more dedicated person because of them.
In 2009 my greatest piece of art was realized when I had my Son Lyle and then in 2012 life was blessed with a second gift my son Ezra. My husband and I became one, in the same year; after a long 5+ year courtship and now I am contemplating graduate studies in Fine Craft or perhaps medicine or Art Therapy and constantly making art along the way!

My last body of work was, “Biodiversity Breeds Art - Phylogenetic Landscapes”, it is a body of work in clay, glaze, under-glaze , vitreous enamels, wood, and ‘cut’ nails which is a translation of the morphologies, forms, textures and colors which occur in nature. Just as life occurs in nature this piece is an installation of many pieces and its morphology takes shape according to the venue it is being realized in. I hope to have it in many places in varying arrangements over time , pieces will be added as the evolution of its arrangement takes place in each venue.

Im always into trading, bartering and chatting, so drop me a line!