Local jewelry-maker brings a new kind of artwork to library’s creator in residence program

Jewelry-maker Sondra Barrington is November’s creator-in-residence at the North Spokane Library, but if you haven’t signed up for her classes, it’s too late.

“They’re all full, with waitlists,” said Barrington.

But the artist will still be available for open studio times where people can meet her and ask questions about her work. She will be at the library at 44 E. Hawthorne Road from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 27 and from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 20.

Barrington hasn’t always been a jewelry maker. She was the vice president of a market research company for 18 years. She was in Seattle visiting a friend who had just learned basic wire wrapping. Her friend taught it to her and Barrington was hooked. That was 12 years ago.

“I started taking classes all over the United States,” she said. “That’s been really cool, to learn to make things. It’s been awesome.”

She now works as the showroom manager for Rings & Things and also teaches classes there. “That’s my day gig,” she said.

She also teaches classes at the Spokane Art School, where some of her work is for sale. She frequently posts pictures of her creations on Instagram and has a blog on the Rings & Things website.

Barrington’s work is varied and not all of it is jewelry. She makes felted stars, etches designs on bronze, creates glass mosaics and puts together tassels made of metal. Her interests vary and she often shifts course into new areas.

“It changes pretty often,” she said. “I’m just wildly prone to tangents. My favorite thing right now is metal clay.”

Barrington said she likes the freedom to create something unique without having a plan in advance. “I’m not really so much about the patterns,” she said. “I think everyone has some kind of a vice. My making things is kind of my downtime activity.”

She made a scarf a few years ago made of 30 different kinds of fiber, everything from wool to silk, all in shades of blue or purple. It caught the eye of someone at HGTV and she appeared on an episode of “That’s Clever!” Her creations have also appeared in the magazines Bella Armoire and Jewelry Affaire.

One of the few things she doesn’t do is knit. “That’s a counting thing,” she said. “That’s a pattern thing. It’s not relaxing. I like to have fun.”

Quite a few of her creations feature insects. Barrington said she’s not sure why they fascinate her. “I just don’t even know,” she said. “Some people get into flowers. I just like insects.”

The Spokane County Library District started an artist-in-residence program last year, said district communication and development director Jane Baker. “It was a hugely popular program,” she said.

This year the district decided to expand it to all types of creators, not just traditional artists. “Artistry can be many different things,” Baker said.

The program is only available at the North Spokane Library, which has the space needed for the program after a recent remodel. “We just don’t have that space at our other libraries,” she said.

The program will continue in December with baker and cake decorator Catee Ng and in January with Hannah Charlton, who makes illuminated manuscripts and bookmarks.

Barrington heard about the creator-in-residence program and applied to participate. ”I enjoy sharing things with people and inspiring them,” she said.

She’s also been a longtime fan of libraries in general. “The library is awesome,” she said. “I think it’s great that they’re trying to expand what they’re doing and stay relevant and be that fixture in the community. I wanted to be a part of that.”