Joy Kruse
Goldsmith Wild Prairie Silver
Artist Designer Owner
Goldsmith Wild Prairie Silver
Artist Designer Owner
I love to play with fire, this is a trait of all metalsmiths... being a pyromanic. I love to mix fire, metal & stone which by accident or design makes me a jeweler. I am self-taught for the most part and really enjoy making the entire piece right down to every little component.
I am by education and devotion an RN. For sixteen years I worked as both a jeweler and an RN. After 20 years of being in the nursing field I decided to finally give up that vocation. I miss being a nurse but I love being a full time jeweler more.
I am married and have two children. My family was the start of my jewelry business. My husband & I chose to have one of us stay home & raise our children. I stayed home but I still worked as an RN on days he was able to stay home with the kids. In my spare time I began making jewelry. I had no idea where that would lead. I had no idea that I had any skill or passion for what I now, love so much. It's been a wonderful journey of learning and creating. It's been a pleasure to be home, be a mom, have a trade, and become skilled at a fine craft.
Inspiration? Where does it come from? I get that question all the time, especially with my unique stone pieces. My inspiration often comes in lost thoughts (yeah, really random stuff at really random times *** you have this too *** you have to pay attention to it and write it down), times when I am doing something else and the idea just floats into my head... it's a very organic process. New creative designs are never good if the thoughts are forced. I have always kept a very disorganized journal of these thoughts. I go to it when I need it and when I don't need it, the daily practice of writing down the thoughts you dismiss. It's a messy tally of my brain but it works. Somehow that messy record of randomness flows out of my fingertips and into a sheet of silver or gold. (Tip to creativity~ Do not watch television. Try it for a month. It works. Your brain will finally settle in to doing it's own thinking.)
Other inspiration comes from my surroundings that I love: the outdoors, kids, birds, flowers, flowing water, dirt, rocks, trees, religion & religious symbols, everyday nature, history, biology, and science.
Design is everywhere.
Don't forget you, my customer... you have given me my best ideas. You have pushed me to do things I would never have done. You have given me important, special, meaningful projects that I am honored to do for you. So, thank you for your belief in me. I could not have done it without you and cannot continue to do it without you.
God Bless
Happy Healthy 2020
~Joy Kruse
I am by education and devotion an RN. For sixteen years I worked as both a jeweler and an RN. After 20 years of being in the nursing field I decided to finally give up that vocation. I miss being a nurse but I love being a full time jeweler more.
I am married and have two children. My family was the start of my jewelry business. My husband & I chose to have one of us stay home & raise our children. I stayed home but I still worked as an RN on days he was able to stay home with the kids. In my spare time I began making jewelry. I had no idea where that would lead. I had no idea that I had any skill or passion for what I now, love so much. It's been a wonderful journey of learning and creating. It's been a pleasure to be home, be a mom, have a trade, and become skilled at a fine craft.
Inspiration? Where does it come from? I get that question all the time, especially with my unique stone pieces. My inspiration often comes in lost thoughts (yeah, really random stuff at really random times *** you have this too *** you have to pay attention to it and write it down), times when I am doing something else and the idea just floats into my head... it's a very organic process. New creative designs are never good if the thoughts are forced. I have always kept a very disorganized journal of these thoughts. I go to it when I need it and when I don't need it, the daily practice of writing down the thoughts you dismiss. It's a messy tally of my brain but it works. Somehow that messy record of randomness flows out of my fingertips and into a sheet of silver or gold. (Tip to creativity~ Do not watch television. Try it for a month. It works. Your brain will finally settle in to doing it's own thinking.)
Other inspiration comes from my surroundings that I love: the outdoors, kids, birds, flowers, flowing water, dirt, rocks, trees, religion & religious symbols, everyday nature, history, biology, and science.
Design is everywhere.
Don't forget you, my customer... you have given me my best ideas. You have pushed me to do things I would never have done. You have given me important, special, meaningful projects that I am honored to do for you. So, thank you for your belief in me. I could not have done it without you and cannot continue to do it without you.
God Bless
Happy Healthy 2020
~Joy Kruse
Kali Karnopp
Goldsmith Wild Prairie Silver
Artist Designer
Goldsmith Wild Prairie Silver
Artist Designer
I started working at Wild Prairie in September of 2016 as a goldsmith apprentice.
I am now working as a jewelry designer, being challenged with the daily task of making the impossible, possible and I love it, usually :) :) :)
I am married with 2 children. Besides learning to be a jeweler, I have a Bachelor of Art Degree in Theater & Dance. I am a dance instructor/teacher in the evenings after school and own a dance studio in Kewaunee WI.
Goldsmithing has been the perfect fit for me, to let my artistic creativity flow, while still operating my dance studio, teaching Ballet, Jazz and Tap to young little feet.
I am now working as a jewelry designer, being challenged with the daily task of making the impossible, possible and I love it, usually :) :) :)
I am married with 2 children. Besides learning to be a jeweler, I have a Bachelor of Art Degree in Theater & Dance. I am a dance instructor/teacher in the evenings after school and own a dance studio in Kewaunee WI.
Goldsmithing has been the perfect fit for me, to let my artistic creativity flow, while still operating my dance studio, teaching Ballet, Jazz and Tap to young little feet.
Skyla Vanderbloemen
MCSP Manager
Marketing, Customer Service, Supply Chain, & Product Manager
MCSP Manager
Marketing, Customer Service, Supply Chain, & Product Manager
I joined the Wild Prairie Team in January of 2017 starting out as part time help while attending college at UW Green Bay.
After graduating from college in December of 2018, with a marketing degree, I started consulting & managing all of Wild Prairie Silver, Savannah Jewelry Supply websites, social media profiles, products, and customer care.
Besides my love of marketing & web management, I run two other businesses involving my family's Christmas tree farm.
I recently married in February of 2020. My husband and I are remodeling an old farmhouse (1880's ~the house was built by my husbands Great Grandfather) so we will have somewhere to live soon (no I am not homeless but almost, no roof or walls at the moment) = never a dull moment.
The "Prairie" is my home away from home and I look forward to continuing to grow in and with it in the years to come.
After graduating from college in December of 2018, with a marketing degree, I started consulting & managing all of Wild Prairie Silver, Savannah Jewelry Supply websites, social media profiles, products, and customer care.
Besides my love of marketing & web management, I run two other businesses involving my family's Christmas tree farm.
I recently married in February of 2020. My husband and I are remodeling an old farmhouse (1880's ~the house was built by my husbands Great Grandfather) so we will have somewhere to live soon (no I am not homeless but almost, no roof or walls at the moment) = never a dull moment.
The "Prairie" is my home away from home and I look forward to continuing to grow in and with it in the years to come.
Life On The Prairie
Our favorite hobbies include making jewelry, making you smile, drinking coffee, roasting meat, drinking wine, and being 'Clydecorns'. What's a Clydecorn you ask? It's a cross between a Unicorn & a Clydesdale = hard working but magical creature.
left to right: Skyla, Joy, Kali 
Our booth at an art show in Wausau Wisconsin
bMy daughter Savannah setting up the booth
The very start of building Wild Prairie Silver Studio
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Our Studio is just about complete as of the end of August. Just need some blacktop, grass, some landscaping and it will feel like home!
The view outside of our studio
I am stilling thinking about it... I love this ring. It makes me smile every time I see it. 3 carat diamond ring.
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