"This is the den of iniquity, the home of the addiction," Jenkins said, gesturing around the room.

It is in this room where Jenkins makes jewelry, all her own designs, that she sells under the name Jewelry By Jenkins. Upstairs is a newly refinished showroom filled with necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other charms in every color, shape, size and design.

"I have thousands of ideas and lots of supplies I haven't even used yet," Jenkins said. "I can only make it so fast."

Jenkins has long had a love affair with art. She took several courses in commercial art as a student at Highland High School, and had a freelance lettering and calligraphy business before her children were born. She also has a background in layout and graphic design, and spent several years in California teaching piano and guitar while she raised her three kids. A self described "girly-girl," Jenkins started making jewelry first for herself, then for her family and then as gifts for friends. When someone suggested she could sell it, it seemed like the next logical step.

"I'm kind of doing the business because it turned into the business, but it's more really therapeutic and fun for me," Jenkins said. "I tell my husband it's therapy I can sell."

The experiment started with simple, small beads strung on sewing string. Now Jenkins' collection includes all kinds of beads, as well as charms and semi-precious stones, in all varieties of designs and combinations, from simple to elaborate, casual to formal and everything in between. Her showroom even includes a Kid's Corner with child friendly pieces like bracelets made out of glow-in-the-dark beads. About half of Jenkins' business is custom orders, she said.

Karen Birth, who lives around the corner from Jenkins, asked her to make a bracelet using crystal, black and silver beads. Because Jenkins is close by, it was convenient, and Birth said she was sure she would get what she wanted. The jewelry makes excellent gifts, Birth said, and the price is always reasonable.

"It's a very fair price and that's probably why I go to her," she said. "It's cheaper than in the store. And I like that the profit is going to her and not some stranger."

Jenkins works hard to keep her prices down. Some of her children's pieces sell for as little as $2. She said most of her jewelry is in the $10 to $20 price range, and the most expensive piece she has sold was $50.

"I try to keep things in an affordable range," she said. "I think what you're getting is something artistic out of inexpensive supplies. I'm the kind of person who goes to Payless Shoes and buys five pairs of shoes for $5.99 each," she said.

Though she had been making jewelry for some months before, Jenkins officially opened her business in October. Since then, she estimates she has sold about 500 pieces of jewelry. Depending on the intricacy of the design, she said she can make about 80 pieces in a week. Some pieces take as long as two days to put together, while others can be finished in 20 minutes. Jenkins often strings and restrings a piece until it looks exactly right.

"If I were impatient, there's no way I could do this," she said.

But Jenkins describes herself as patient and detail-oriented. Making jewelry isn't ever a frustration for her.

"It's where I turn when I have frustration in my life," she said. "This is relaxing for me. I could do it for hours, not eat, not sleep."

And the more she does it, the more she likes it. Jenkins said she can tell her designs are getting better because people tend to buy her most recently made items. But she has no shortage of new ideas. Many of them, like the idea for a short necklace, made of large, brightly colored and eclectically shaped beads, come from things she sees people wearing on TV, at the mall or in restaurants.

"I was never going to make big chunky stuff, but then I started seeing it in the stores and people wearing it so I thought, 'OK, I'll go there,'" she said."

In addition to filling custom orders, Jenkins will also help customers make their own pieces. She doesn't charge for her time, just for the materials used. The reward of seeing people walk out with something they love is enough for her.

"When somebody loves their jewelry and it makes the outfit and they look like a million bucks, that's fun," she said. Some of her biggest customers are her sisters, who are scared to even come over to her house because they always spend too much money, Jenkins said.

One of the best things about her new business, Jenkins said, is meeting new people and making new friends. And she can't wait to try out all her new ideas and designs.

"I think the best is yet to come," she said.

Jewelry by Jenkins is open by appointment, Monday through Saturday. For more information or to visit the showroom, call 801-582-7982. To see samples of Jenkins' work, visit www.jewelrybyjenkins.com.