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About Jill Zeagler Jewelry
My dream almost ended before it even began...
As far back as I can remember, I've loved crystals and minerals, and I've always been a bit of a rock hound. Somewhere along the way, I got sidetracked and began a career in horticulture, working as a horticulturist, landscaper, and designer for over 30 years. I started making jewelry in 2015, after watching a news segment featured on a local Dallas, TX television station. I started taking classes and decided that I wanted to make a career change. Still having lots to learn, I still had my landscape business as my means of income, I took classes.
In 2016, my dream of becoming a custom jewelry designer almost ended before it even began. While on a jobsite, I experienced a horrific hand injury to my dominant hand. The middle finger on my right hand was crushed by a dump truck gate. I was taken to the emergency room, where I was admitted and scheduled for surgery. My finger was literally shattered. The surgeon pushed the pieces of bone together as well as possible, then inserted two 3-inch steel pins to hold it all together. I had the pins and was in a cast for 8 weeks and couldn't use my hand. At the 8 week point, the cast and pins were removed and I started physical and occupational therapy to try to regain use of my hand. That was an ordeal. After 3 years of much hard and painful work, I was able to regain about 85% use of my hand, but it would never be the same.
In 2019, I started taking classes again and decided to build a studio in my back yard, where I could spend my free time making jewelry and working on my skills. In March of 2020, COVID-19 came along and changed our world. While the world was shut down, and we were all home-bound, I was happily making jewelry in my studio. By Thanksgiving of 2020, I'd had enough of what 2020 had to offer and I knew that I needed to make a change in my life if I was going to be happy. I decided that I was going to sell my house, liquidate my landscape business, and move to New Mexico by the end of 2022. In March of 2022, I closed on my house and headed out with all my belongings to New Mexico to begin my new life and to follow my dreams. Here I am, making custom jewelry and watching with anticipation as my life unfolds, and I embrace it. I'm grateful that my dream of becoming a jewelry designer didn't end before it began.
I currently reside in Albuquerque, NM with my beautiful German Shepherd, Daisy, and my sweet gray Tabby, Kitler. I enjoy hiking and spending time in the mountains of New Mexico, travelling to National landmarks/parks/historical places. My jewelry is currently featured at Ghostwolf Gallery at 206 1/2 San Felipe St, NW, Ste 3 Old Town Albuquerque, NM 87104
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