Saturday, November 22, 2008

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - LeelaBijou Jewelry

VOLCANO RING

WELCOME, Maria, a jewelry artist from the Canary Islands, Spain. I love the colors and sparkle of the Volcano Ring... (I guess, I'm like Maria....I LOVE Swarovski crystal!)

Below is another photo of this ring, so that you can see the great colors! After reading what Maria has to say about herself and her delightful jewelry, be sure to visit LeelaBijou, as she has a wide selection of very beautiful jewelry in her shop....necklaces, rings, bracelets and more!


What led you to start creating your art/craftI have always loved arts?

When I was younger, I looked for different ways to express myself: painting, music, etc. One day, three years ago, I started making my own jewelry. Simple designs with wood beads, glass beads and silver. Many people showed interest in them and that encouraged me to go further. I learned new techniques, and I improved my old ones. Later, I included new materials in my work (like Swarovski crystals or Italian crystals) and I got a great response from my buyers. Two months ago, I joined Etsy. I have many ideas and projects for the future, and I hope they will become true.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?

People always told me I had an eye for jewels and picking colors. At first, I made very simple designs with very basic materials. I got excited with my first results, so I worked hard to learn new techniques. These techniques allowed me to work with better materials, like Italian crystals or natural gems. My favorite material is the Swarovski crystal.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?

Mixing different pieces and obtaining very surprising combinations. I love creating new shapes with hearts, flowers, butterflies,…A great feeling surrounds me when I create something someone considers special, something “unique” for them. I also love when I can combine my ideas with the ideas of more people. I have made a lot of custom orders through these years and I find them very interesting and funny too.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?

A cherry, because it looks beautiful, but it also tastes very good. It is not just appearance. I want to make beautiful jewelry, but I also want it to be of a high quality.

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?

Music. I studied piano and I used to sing. Moreover, my grandmother was a professional singer. It´s a perfect medium to evoke deep feelings.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?

With my jewelry, I try to show creativity and colorful ideas. The world can be dark sometimes, but we can make it a little brighter.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

If you like what you do, keep working on it. Don´t worry about the sales, and make your art with dedication and passion. Sooner or later, people will recognize your efforts.

Maria, beautiful work, great interview.....thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts and creativity with everyone! Again, do take time visit Maria's shop LeelaBijou. She really does have some delightful jewlery. Christmas is just around the corner! You will also find links to her blog and Twitter below.


BLOG

TWITTER

2 comments:

Kathy said...

Nice feature and beautiful jewelry!

moxylyn said...

Her jewels are gorgeous! I like what she said about the world can be dark sometimes but we can make it brighter.