How to go
What: Colorful Me! Jewelry by Margie Homan
Where: PNC 2nd St. Market, 600 E. Second Street
When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays
Info: (513) 518-3897 or e-mail colorfulmejewelry@ gmail.com
Imagine that you find out your husband has cirrhosis of the liver and desperately needs a liver transplant. After seven long years of waiting, a donor match is made and the transplant is successful. But you barely have time to catch your breath before your full-time corporate job is downsized.
That is exactly what happened to Margie Homan of Middletown in October 2009. But, with the help of her long-time friend, Connie Hanselman, she found a new way to cope.
“Connie urged me to get back to my creative endeavors. She got me involved in contributing to DVAC’s spring gift gallery by decorating small boxes with polymer clay,” said Homan, who has a BFA degree from Miami University. “But they didn’t sell. I had a lot of miss-matched colors of clay left, so I started making beads. When strangers would admire my necklace or bracelet, I would just give it to them.”
It’s one thing to be generous, but a person has to eat. Homan got serious about her craft and turned it into a business this past January. “Colorful Me!” was born, and she started selling her art at the 2nd Street Market in downtown Dayton on Saturdays.
Her art is, indeed, very colorful. Homan creates dozens of beaded necklaces and bracelets with earrings to match. Vivid reds, greens, yellows, and blues are used separately or in combination for jewelry as unique as its creator. Bold, geometric pendants hang from coordinated beads. Chunky folded or stacked rectangles take their place alongside similar or contrasted beads for a bracelet. Dangle or post earrings have the look of urban chic.
“Margie is using her art training to solve life’s problems with positive energy, courage, and her distinct form of creativity. She’s swirling her life story into the joyous colors of her clay-beaded jewelry,” said Hanselman, a Dayton artist. “She is a profound business woman who enjoys making others look and feel good by providing price accessibility and attentive personal service.”
Homan also uses her art and sewing skills to restore and decorate purses. She cleans the bags; re-lines them if necessary, and embellishes them with polymer clay designs. She also takes custom orders to match colors, clothing, or other jewelry. Colorful drawstring bags are included with every purchase.
“My target philosophy is to make my art acceptable, usable and affordable,” said Homan, who lives at home with husband Brian and her cat. “Eventually I would like to create higher-end, one-of-a-kind jewelry and wearable art.”
Contact contributing arts writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.
About the Author