BJ Haxton has a passion for giving old pieces of jewelry new life. She will launche her business, Lady JeLaine Repurposed Designs, at the Dogwood Festival.
Haxton, of Francis, Okla., specializes in creating one of a kind artisan jewelry. Most of her items are beaded necklaces and chunky beaded bracelets with charms. Her trademark is adding a bit of something old to each necklace or bracelet she creates -- whether it be a ladies watch, a silver spoon or beads from a vintage necklace.
Sometimes Haxton's jewelry is made entirely from recycled pieces, other times it has just a few repurposed items. Haxton mixes her found treasures with new beads and charms to make jewelry so unique that not even she could reproduce them.
"I like the old things," Haxton said. "They need new life. They need to be enjoyed again."
Haxton finds her repurposed items at garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores. Friends are another great resource.
"If they break something, they bring it to me," Haxton said.
Haxton began making jewelry as a hobby about five years ago, selling her creations in a vendor booth in the Chase Building in Oklahoma City before Christmastime. In March she retired from her position as a Realtor's assistant and decided to start making jewelry full-time.
Creativity runs in Haxton's family. Her grandmother started teaching her crafts such as sewing, knitting and embroidery at the age of 5. Her son, Duain Batey of Siloam Springs, owns Bait Werks and works as a custom fishing lure painter.
"I've always wanted to create things. I got my creativity from my grandmother and apparently my son has got it from his mother," Haxton said with a laugh.
To celebrate the launch of her new business and her first big show, Haxton is creating a special line of Dogwood-themed jewelry for the festival.
Each necklace has a slice of a Dogwood branch with the bark showing on the outer edge. The circle of wood is paired with dogwood charms and beads. Like all of her other jewelry, each Dogwood necklace is unique. Haxton's necklaces are available with silver, gold and copper chains in different lengths.
Community on 04/22/2015