Janelle Wilfong of Janetics Ink

Janelle is an extremely talented, multi-tasking artist and creator who I am so proud to call a close friend. She has been an glass art making, jewelry designing and creating, wife and mother of three for a number of years now and her dedication to crafting and expanding her knowledge all while taking care of her tribe and her small-town Vermont community is utterly impressive and heartwarming. Janelle wholesales as well as craft show vends her handmade jewelry and watercolors locally and all over the East Coast.

I'm not sure where she even gets a minute to think between all her obligations, yet Janelle is constantly coming out with new designs and metal-working skills, and always sharing pics of having a blast with her beautiful and well-rounded kids.

Website: www.JaneticsInk.com

Currently Residing In: Proctorsville, VT

Currently Working On: Memorial pendant jewelry that encases cremated remains inside of glass

Word That Describes You Well: Effervescent

What's your creative process like?

I rarely plan on paper. My work, no matter what the material, has a very organic and free-flowing process. I swim in my supplies grabbing at whatever may work for the task at hand.

Has your style changed over the years?

Absolutely. The more I work, the more defined my aesthetic becomes.

What’s been your greatest artistic success?

Being able to live several years as a legit full time artist, while being a mom and wife too.

[Janelle's colorful tribe]

Do you have any advice for less experienced artists?

Don't take yourself too seriously.

Success is not measured in dollars.

The hustle should never be ignored. There are many artists out there who feel that they could be the next best thing yet they do not know how to present their work, sell their work, take criticism of their work, nor do custom work that could potentially be uninspiring. Anyone can be an artist but not everyone can sell themselves and their work. Learn how to do both.

Beaming Janelle in front of her jewelry booth at a hula hoop festival [Photo by Red Light Photos]

Anything else you would like to share that I didn’t ask?

I'm a hooper. A mom. A wife. I'm a Trinidadian American who absolutely loves living in Vermont. I'm also a substitute teacher and I consider myself a Neverbored. Last but not least, I have pink dreadlocks and drive a hand-painted pimp van named ChurchVanBetty.

Right now Janelle is working on her latest endeavor of encasing cremated remains inside of one-of-a-kind wearable glass pendants. These are a truly thoughtful and special way to keep a lost loved one close in spirit. I'm sure plenty of folks, like myself with my late father, are always craving ways to keep fond memories alive so I could see these really taking off for Janelle. It only takes a small amount of ashes to create each cabochon, yet look at these cosmic designs that are the result of firing the ash within the glass at 1700 degrees for ten hours. Wow!

Janelle shares lots of progress and behind-the-scenes shots on her Instagram @janetiks_ink as well as hula hoop videos and daily life in her tiny town of 450 in beautiful sunny and snowy Vermont. Check out her work and let me know what you think in the comments :)

Here I am with Janelle and two other close friends, Ashleigh and Stephanie, at our favorite hula hoop festival Return 2 Roots in 2015. Sigh.... fond memories of summer shenanigans that you just wish could last forever.....

originally posted: January 7, 2017