ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Alexis Gopal

• Tell us a little bit about your shoppe.  I’ve been making jewelry as a hobby ever since I was a little girl, when my mom would take me to the huge bead shops in Manhattan, and I would ask for beads and earring hooks and findings, not having a clue what to do with them. I taught myself how to make earrings, bracelets, and necklaces but eventually my hobby had to be put on hold for medical school and a career in medicine, which left little time for leisure. In 2006, after I had stopped practicing to stay home with my two little girls, I resumed making jewelry, and took some courses in metalsmithing, and precious metal clay. That year, I started Alexis Studio Design LLC, when I realized that enough people were asking me where I got my jewelry, so they could buy it. I never developed a particular style or look because I love working in so many different media, so my work includes wirewrapping, polymer clay, fiber jewelry, seed bead embroidery, among others. Recently, I opened a jewelry supply shop LexiBeads to provide jewelry artists and crafters with unique components for their work, since I found I had a hard time finding unique pieces myself.

• What is your favorite product in your shoppe and why?  My favorite products are my wire mesh pieces… I love the versatility of wire mesh, and it’s so much fun to work with.

• When you’re not creating lovely pieces of jewelry, what are your hobbies?  My spare time is very limited, and is usually spent on my beautiful girls, but I enjoy reading, oil painting, making lampshades, watching Criminal Minds if I’m lucky enough to get the opportunity.

• What do you like best about The Artisan Group?  I adore The Artisan Group… it’s like a second family. They’re very supportive, very quick to give very helpful advice and come to one’s rescue. I feel very fortunate to be a member. It’s the only organization that I’ve ever been a member of that has truly enriched my life professionally and personally.

Alexis will participate as a display participant in the upcoming luxury celebrity gift lounge on January 13-14, 2012 at the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, in honor of the The 2012 Golden Globes Nominees and Presenters.