Monica van der Mars Jewelry

I have been creating art with paint, beads, fabric, and found objects since I was a child. My mother Gunda, born in Sweden, filled our home with sewing, knitting, and various creative projects. I grew up in the Netherlands, my father’s native country. At age twelve, I sold my first pair of beaded earrings at a street market in Amsterdam. I’ve enjoyed creating and selling my work ever since. In 1983, I moved to Montana to join my older brother. I soon fell in love with this beautiful state and and stayed to pursue a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Montana. Currently, I live and work in Missoula, Montana, with my husband Rob.
My work consists of stained and recycled glass pieces, combined with various glass, stone, and metal beads. Some of the glass pieces are wrapped with copper foil and lead-free solder. I also like to seal handpainted and found papers behind the glass.