Submitted photos

A piece of Amy Roads’ beautiful, handmade jewelry. 

by Mary Kerns
for Burns Times-Herald

In this week’s edition of Artist Behind the Art, we’re highlighting the work of Amy Roads. 

Roads moved to Burns three years ago, and she’s relatively new to the Spark Collaborative group. Her beautiful, handmade jewelry became available at Spark Mercantile just in time for the holidays.

Roads said she started making jewelry after having a stroke. 

“I found the occupational therapy of stretching bands to be quite boring, so I decided to try my hand at making jewelry, and found it a lot of fun,”  Roads said. “I fell in love with it instantly, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Since moving to Harney County, Roads has become a bit of a rock hound, and she’s starting to incorporate those findings into her jewelry.

“I’m just now starting to work with them, so I don’t really have a favorite yet,” she said. “If I had to pick one, I would say jasper.”

Roads added that she really enjoys working with people on custom orders.

“I love that someone else can see the beauty in something I create. I love the thought that something I make could be around 100 years from now in someone’s collection,” she said.

You may view and purchase Roads’ work at Spark Collaborative at 341 N. Broadway Ave. in downtown Burns.

Spark Collaborative will be hosting a Last Friday Artist Reception this Friday, Jan. 28 from 5-7 p.m. This is the first of many monthly events planned to showcase Spark’s artists. 

Roads will be Spark’s first featured artist, and she will be present to discuss her jewelry design.