Amate Studios is pleased to announce our very talented 2010-2011 Design Team!

Renee Morris-Dezember - I am from Eatern Washington. I am a mom to 3 great kiddos and a wife to a very supportive hubby. I have been crafting in one form or another most of my life. I ran across Amate Studios this past January, white at CHA and I have to say I was very intrigued by their products and thought how fun it would be to incorporate it into my scapbook pages and cards! My favorite part of creating is seeing the end result...sometimes things don't always work out like Ive planned so the end result bay be different then expected, but different is sometimes very good! I love sharing my work and ideas with others hoping I can inspire them to create something as well. Four years ago I left my classroom to stay home with my children and since recently returning I know that teaching is my true passion. I have been very lucky to have hand many of my creations published in magazines and idea books over the years. I love a good challenge and I'm always looking for new ways to challenge my creativity.



Patty Barnes -  Using my hands to create something has always been a constant whether it was needle work, crochet, sewing or building an entire village from flour/salt clay for my children at Christmas. With my first efforts at working with polymer clay, I knew I had found my preferred medium and now over 24 years later, I continuously enjoy exploring all the various ways that polymer can be manipulated to create beautiful jewelry. I also love teaching others how to achieve their own desired designs with the classes I teach. After retiring from teaching art in public schools, I have been fortunate to offer classes where adults can either begin or continue their own journey into working with polymer to create their personal jewelry designs. I’ve been fortunate to have articles appear in several jewelry magazines and also PolymerCAFE. I have also worked with several companies during the annual CHA shows and been able to introduce others products which they can use when creating jewelry. I would never have dreamed when I was earning my BFA and MA from TAMUCC  (Texas A & M University – Corpus Christi) and my All Level Art Teaching Certificate, that one day I would have such exciting and satisfying opportunities to present my art to the world!

 Tatiana Allen - I am a mixed media and jewelry artist. I live in Chico, CA with my handsome husband Josh and 2 kids, Elijah and Lukas (3 and 1). I believe that images and words connect the world around us to the world that lies witnin us and art can be a bridge between the two. So, in my creations, I like to explore language from a childlike perspective, through literal visualization of words and phrases into a scene, the way a child would.
Using recycled images and objects brings a certain nostalgia to my art and the process of finding the right elements is exciting and rewarding. It also offers proof that value can be salvaged from things others consider worthless and that some part of everything is reusable and beautiful. I hope that people who see my art feel some of the joy God has filled my heart with by giving me the incredible gift of creativity. It is my desire to encourage others to also think like a child and approach the world with a naive and literal eye.

Deborah Anton – I am a craft junkie. I absolutely love to paper craft and make jewelry. I began this journey of crafting 7 years ago after my children were born to give me something to do. It became an instant love. I started with making bookmarks and self taught my way to making jewelry, and soon after, paper crafting. I enjoy sharing my creations with others, learning from others, and most of all, watching what I have imagined, come t life through paper or jewelry components. I have not been published in any magazine, but will begin to serve on the design team for My Favorite Things in June for jewelry. In the past, I have owned and operated an online store of my designs for over 3 years providing such companies as The Golden Nugget Casino and The Military Academy at West Point with their own designs. When I am not creating, I an a stay at home mom to twin boys and a military spouse currently residing in North Carolina where I volunteer my time to the troops ensuring their families are prepared for deployment and everyday readiness.

Kelley Lohr –

Michal Rainsbarger – I live in the beautiful Tahoe National Forest, California with my wonderful husband and our beloved dog and cat. I have the best job ever working as a buyer for Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames in beautiful Grass Valley, California. I am an avid jewelry maker and mixed media artist. I’ve had the pleasure of having projects published in Scribbles by Lindsay Ostrom. I’ve also had many projects printed in the Sierra Pacific Crafts circulars. I love working with Amate products and currently carry the jewelry blanks. I’ve had a wonderful response from my customers who are so excited to see what’s new.

            
Sam Katz – I am from Anaheim California. I have an A.A. & a Certificate in Electronic Multi-Media from Orange Coast College. Outside of my day job as Production Administrator for Fisher Printing, I am primarily a polymer clay artist; designing my own jewelry line for tap dancers which I sell across the U.S. & sculpting. I am a well rounded artist with training in many other mediums, including: water color & oil painting, photography, computer graphic design (& yes, rhythm tap dance) & self published a coloring book at age 19. As a 9 year member of the Orange County Polymer Clay Guild, I have had pieces published in books by Dottie McMillan & Lisa Pavelka & has had photographs published in Polymer Cafe Magazine. Over the last several years, I have assisted in workshops taught by Lisa Pavelka & Donna Kato at the C.H.A. trade show in Anaheim & have demonstrated for several companies, including Amate Studios & J.H.B. I have sold at shows, including the Laguna Beach “Winter Fantasy” show, Tucson’s “To Bead True Blue” & the “Pasadena Bead and Design Show” with mentor Christi Friesen, as well as on my own in other shows & venues across the U.S. As a finalist in the 2008 Amaco Bottle of Hope competition, my bottle of hope was included in the advertising for the 2009 competition. I am available to teach group or private classes in the local area.

Susan Johnson – I live in Mesa, Arizona. I am married to Jason and we have 5 children. Crafting of all sorts has been a part of my whole life. Starting out at a young age I could not just pick a flower in the yard and give it to my mom, I would create floral arrangements for her. I would making clothes for my Barbie dolls and cut their hair instead of playing house with them. Both crafts have proven to show a glimpse into my busy future. I currently work as a Floral Designer/Buyer at Watson’s Flower Shop. I am also a Licensed Cosmetologist, a Ranger Ink Certified Master Instructor and the lead Educator/Designer for Amate.