No, my given name isn't yobo, but I prefer not to have my real name hanging out on the web for personal comfort reasons. I assure you that i am a real person, and if you need photographic proof, please see my twitter stream, where I post pictures that have my hands, feet, and, shockingly enough, occasionally my face in them (http://twitter.com/yoboseiyo).

I have been a jeweler for nearly 20 years now, and I'm still learning. I started out beading, and it's what I always come back to, despite my love of all things wire-wrapped. I've flirted with many techniques, including soldering, metal work, and even porcelain bead making, but I always come back to the wire and beads.

Many of my pieces are one of a kind, simply because I don't purchase most supplies in wholesale quantities. I buy small runs of findings and pre-shaped/-cut/-polished beads or gemstones, and tend to buy only enough to do the project I have in mind. This means that, most of the time, once an item is purchased, it's gone forever.

I don't make or use many patterns, as my design method is incredibly organic and tends to be governed more by feel than anything. Often, the end result is nothing like what I started out thinking of.

I work in a variety of materials, including vintage components and beads, modern components and beads, as well as gemstones and precious metals. I have a habit of taking pieces and parts that you wouldn't normally think of together, and blending them into my pieces in ways that, while not entirely unheard of, are somewhat unexpected (hardware store findings wrapped in gemstones, for example).

Impatiens Designs was named after the little ground-covering flower, because I think they're quite adorable, and I like how their name sounds like a mood that is often occupied by many in modern times.

Impatiens is also the second incarnation of my jewelry business. The original name was Jewelry :ninja!, and I changed it during 2011 because I discovered that there was another company trading on that name. I had been hankering for a change, and didn't feel like fighting them for the name, so I went for it and retooled and refocused my entire business. Many of the older pieces on ImpatiensDesigns.com were originally on J:n!.com.

If you've any questions, or would like to talk to me about a piece you've been dreaming of, please contact me.