Julia Bristow is an independent jewelry designer from Oakhurst, California, near the magnificent Yosemite National Park. She moved to the mountain community from Ventura, California several years ago. “I spend much of my time outside enjoying the surroundings of this beautiful area in the Sierra National Forest, or traveling back to the beach often. I am usually making jewelry or doing beadwork while in these surroundings.” 

Julia began designing jewelry a few years ago. She collected vintage jewelry as a hobby, and decided to create her own pieces. She considers her jewelry to be an art form, rather than a fashion trend. “I will be the first to admit that my jewelry is designed with art in mind, rather than fashion. I am all for the idea of originality and my jewelry definitely fits in that category.”

She draws inspiration from the beauty of her environment…“[a]ll scenes in nature. I am an avid outdoors person, spending a lot of time camping, hiking/backpacking, surfing/beach, swimming, and just being in nature in any way. Everything I see around me (trees, flowers, rocks, plants, water, sky, animals, leaves, insects, even dirt and sand) inspires me to create piece of beadwork.”

Each piece of Julia Bristow Jewelry is handmade and signed. Julia takes great pride in “creating many items which are one-of-a-kind, like nothing I have seen, and getting compliments to that effect.” As a designer, her biggest struggle is finding “enough time in the day (or sunlight during daylight savings!) to complete everything” she wants to do.

She would like to spend less time ‘running’ her business. “Although I seem to be proficient at it, I do not like the business aspect of this profession and would prefer to just design and create jewelry and have someone else handle the business, website, etc., as it takes up so much time.”

Her advice to emerging jewelry designers is to relax, “enjoy creating jewelry and not try so hard at selling it. The hobby can be very worthwhile and soothing to the soul.” Julia Bristow is an UsTrendy.com featured designer. You can read her blogs and view her portfolio at http://www.ustrendy.com/julia-bristow-jewelry/.