More great "behind the scenes" info from jeweler Lexi Erickson, including how the Southwest has played a big role in her jewelry career.  Catch Part One of her interview here.

Can you tell us more about the themes that run through your jewelry?

I'm really inspired by the geology and geomorphology of the Southwestern US where I grew up. I love her mountains and canyons, the wide open spaces, and the deep ravines of the Rio Grande River. I grew up with the Rio Grande as a big part of my life, and I'm continuously inspired by it. I love the texture of the land here, the roughness and rugged beauty of it. Life is texture. I also love using fossils because of their history and dinosaur bone and coprolites for fun. Most of my themes are geologic, in some form or another, though many pieces of my jewelry contain no stones.

What do you have planned for future collections?

More texture. Lots of texture. Every piece is a one of a kind, so I am wanting my work to be for the individualistic, independent woman, sophisticated, professional, strong and sure of herself, maybe self made, who has a mind of her own. I'm going in that direction now. I am hoping the woman wearing my work would wear a simple black sheath and let the work speak for both itself and her.

Can you name another jewelry designer whose work you admire?

Only one? No way! Let see, there's my mentor, Harold O'Connor, and Denver jeweler Richard Kimball, and California jeweler and good friend, Marne Ryan--she's a fabulous designer and loves texture, too. But I am inspired by so many others, like Andy Cooperman, and my buddy Julie Jerman-Melka, whom I greatly admire and respect. And a number of New Mexico jewelers. They are my jewelry heros. I stand on their shoulders. They were part of the reemergence of craft in the 1970's. They have been great teachers who have given so freely of themselves and helped me so much along the way. They're all big texture people, too. And lastly, I'm inspired by my students. They love to experiment.

Do you prefer doing retail or trade events?

Oh, definitely high-end Fine Craft Festivals. I get to see the immediate reaction to my work, and what I need to change or develop more. I like to meet the people who take home a piece of my soul

If you could have any jewelry super-power to help you with your jewelry what would it be? (Perhaps flame throwing hands to fire your pieces quickly? Mind reading for your customers? Extra arms?

While it would be great to have a torch as my index finger of my left hand, it's not that practical (except for marshmallows or cream brulee). And I would like to have extra arms on which to display my collection of bracelets. But I'd rather have the power coming from jewelry. Throughout history, jewelry has had a function of power, wealth, healing, status, religion, or mystery. I like to think of my superpower as a piece of my jewelry giving self confidence to someone, letting them feel the power when they wear it.

Find out more about Lexi at her website, http://www.lexiericksondesigns.com/