Ivan and Carmen Taylor are both native New Mexicans.  By January 2008, both Carmen and Ivan Taylor retired and started taking classes in lapidary, silver smithing, dichroic glass, and metal casting.  They soon discovered that making handmade jewelry was their passion.  Both artists are enthusiastic about creating one of a kind art treasures.  Although Ivan was already an acrylic/oil painter, he welcomed the opportunity to create art objects through a different medium, 3D art.  Carmen had been an avid enthusiast of many arts and crafts types of projects over the years.  It had been sometime since her artistic spirit was rekindled, but it came alive with jewelry making.

In April of 2008, the couple did their first art show at Mama’s Minerals.  The invitation to do a booth at their semi-annual arts fair was just the jump start that they both needed to create a fun and rewarding new career, that of making jewelry through a variety of materials and metals.  They specialize in natural stones, pearls, wire-wrap designs, metal designs, bead work, cast metal, and silver-smithed one-of-a-kind pieces.  The couple grinds and polishes many of their own stones for center pieces in their work.  Recently, the couple added bottle art to their repertoires. 

Ivan entered one of his signature bracelets in the 2008 New Mexico State Fair and was proudly awarded a first prize for his work.  This was his first bracelet and a beautiful piece it was!

Ivan and Carmen operate their business under the name of Taylormade Creations.  They can be found exhibiting their work at various art exhibitions throughout New Mexico.  They also have their work in the following stores: Blue Portal, Hot Fused Glass and Dessert Willow Gift Shop.  They have been invited to exhibit their art work on the Museum of New Mexico Foundation Shops.  Their work will be featured at their websites: www.newmexicocreates.org, www.worldfolkart.org, and www.shopmuseum.com .  They can also be contacted through their email addresses at Carmeneliz66@hotmail.com or Ivanup@netzero.net, or through their home phone 505-833-6064.