FEATURED ETSY SHOP - GILDED OWL JEWELRY

Calamity Jane... Opal and Fine Silver Earrings

Original Designs by Chris Wrinn

It is a pleasure to have Chris and her exquisite, original designed jewelry here on DZFANTASY as a featured Etsy artist.  Chris' Etsy shop is called GILDED OWL JEWELRY. When you pay a visit to GILDED OWL JEWELRY, you will find a wonderful selection of  pendants/necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more.

Let's learn a bit more about Chris and her artistic creativity by reading her interview below.

What led you to start creating your art/craft

I am a commercial illustrator by profession, but needed a relaxing, yet creative, outlet. The focus involved with designing jewelry is both refreshing and spontaneous. It lets me wander where I want.

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

Metals, especially wire and precious metals, have always appealed to me. Although I didn't know what to do with them until I took a course, there was always 'something about them' in the back of my mind.

Punk Phun Turquoise and Silver Pendant

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

Spontaneity and not knowing how pieces will turn out. Sometimes you get a bolt of creativity and haven't a clue where it came from. It can take one by surprise. I also like to mold precious metal clays into unique patterns and designs that you can't get with traditional sheet metals. Wire wrapping is another aspect I enjoy. The wire can take on what seems a life of its own and lead you into places you wouldn't think of going. Every piece is unique.

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

Vegetable. Vegetables have much more texture than fruits.

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

Icing. I've done painting and metalwork, so the one thing left that interests me is taking the creative side of me and making Decorating Cakes into something rather unique. It's amazing what can be done with icing!

14K Gold Filled Classic Circlet Earrings

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

I want my designs to grab your attention at first glance and I want the wearer to receive compliments. I'd like the customer be proud of the piece.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Find your passion and keep doing it. It may not be the easier way or it may not be the one you are more successful at, but keep at it. As long as you are happy when you are in the process of creating, that's what you should be doing.

Thanks, Chris, for a great interview and taking the time to share your wonderful creations with all of us.  Great style and workmanship! Your creations reflect that you love what you do!

Be sure to visit the links below to see more of Chris' work.

FACEBOOK

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - GIFTBEARER

14 Karat Solid Gold Braided Ring

by Pippit Carlington of GIFTBEARER

WELCOME, Pippit Carlington and her Etsy shop, GIFTBEARER, where you can see Pippit's gorgeous contemporary tribal style jewelry.  She has some truly wonderful pieces of jewelry that anyone would be delighted to wear.

Before paying a visit to GIFTBEARER, let's learn a bit more about this talented artist by reading her interview below.

What led you to start creating your art/craft

I wanted to start a career after my son was born and to make a living with my art; something I already had skills in made sense to me.


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


I've always worked with a variety of materials and started out painting and drawing as a child, but also have worked in other mediums as well over the years. I rotate mediums and materials so that I stay inspired and my work won't get stale. Jewelry seemed one of the more practical forms of art when deciding on one medium to put my main focus on, although lately I'm not so sure.


I first thought about making art furniture, but the logistics of getting to and from the location where training was available weren't going to be feasible, so started using wood to see what I could make on a smaller scale, and found that wood made nice jewelry. I found I really enjoyed that, so I continued to add more and more techniques on to what I taught myself, went to jeweler's school for metalwork, took other classes in beadweaving, and found that the possibilities in this field are endless. I wish I had the money to take more specialized classes in other jewelry techniques. There are alot of areas I'd like to explore.

Copper Poppy (bracelet)

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

There are many things I find most enjoyable; soldering, beadweaving, spool-knitting, bead crochet, PMC (I could go on and on), but I guess what I really enjoy (in a nutshell) is watching something come out that is really unique and knowing that others also appreciate it with the same sense of wonder and excitement.

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

I guess in many ways what I create is like a watermelon because it is often colorful, sometimes the winning combination takes alot of work and is at first hard to break into, but once I get everything the way I see it in my head, the result is sweet!

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

I'm currently getting into felting and I'm really enjoying that. Currently I'm making some needle-felted dogs that are going to be replicas of the ones I work with that have obtained a new cure for Distemper. I have always loved dogs, and sculpture and realism has always intrigued me!

My own dog, Carmella is the first in the US outside a lab setting to have ever been cured in both body and central nervous system of the disease. Jewelry doesn't seem to be selling all that well in this economy, so I happened to notice that these types of fiber miniatures seem to have a big following of people with disposable income who also love dogs.

Carmella still has a large vet bill, and I'm also looking at possible surgery/procedures to repair some remaining CNS damage she suffered before she obtained treatment. If I can make the money needed for her expenses with this new medium and have fun doing it, it will be a real win/win for all!

Carmella Collection - Illumina (Earrings)

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

I would like people to be excited about my work and feel a special connection with it, not as merely an inanimate object, but to view it as adding something special to their lives, to feel the unspoken expression of the soul of these items on a spiritual level.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Keep striving to improve upon your "best", set your sights on new mountains once you've climbed the previous one, and be ready to change some things along the way to keep the journey interesting and fresh for yourself and for viewers/buyers.

Pippit, thank you for a very wonderful interview, and for sharing your lovely creations with everyone.  May you realize success in finding funds for Carmella's surgery!!  Anyone who has or had a beloved pet, knows how important they become in our lives. 

Be sure to pay a visit to Pippit's links below.

ART LIFE NEWSBLOG

BLOG MYSPACE

FLICKR

TWITTER

FACEBOOK PROFILE PAGE

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

The links below will give you information on the new cure for distemper:

CANINE DISTEMPER CURE

SAVE DOGS FROM CANINE DISTEMPER

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - HEARTSABUSTIN

Desert Sun Bracelet - PMC charm

 by Erin of HEARTSABUSTIN

"The inspiration for this bracelet came from the sunshine charm I handcrafted from precious metal clay. Call it a reaction to all the cold weather and snow that's been blowing around. I wanted fiery reds and contrasting whites for a beautiful statement bracelet, and I'm pretty sure that's what I got!"

Let's welcome Erin and her Etsy shop, HEARTSABUSTIN. No matter how many jewelry artists I've "featured" on DZFANTASY, I always find it fascinating to see how each artist has their own unique styles and designs. The ideas are endless....which makes for a lot of fun in finding just the right piece of jewelry! 

We also see so many different names used for each artists' shop, so I thought it would be interesting to  read here, why Erin's shop is called "Heartsabustin"

"Heartsabustin is a wildflower that grows all over the eastern United States in moist forests. This little plant is rather unassuming in the spring, but in the fall, the seed pods burst open to display hundreds of little red heart shaped berries. The plant was a favorite of my great-grandmother's and inspired the name of my wonderful shop here at Etsy."



When you pay a visit to HEARTSABUSTIN, you will find a beautiful selection of jewelry....precious metal clay creations, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I decided I could make jewelry as pretty or prettier than the things I saw in the department stores. I was right - and it has lead to a wonderful realm of learning!

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

I started using glass beads, but I knew I wouldn't be happy until I was able to create some of my components myself. I started out with polymer clay, but that didn't quite fit the bill. I've been eyeballing precious metal clay for a while and finally took the plunge when I got money for Christmas from my parents. It was love at first sight!

PMC Flower Earrings - precious metal clay

"My favorite thing about PMC is its absolute versatility and the fact that no two pieces ever come out identical. These are flowers, cut from silver precious metal clay, stamped, and oxidized with liver of sulfur. A great deal of handwork goes into each and every PMC piece - but you are guaranteed that YOUR piece will always be one-of-a-kind."

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

I love being inspired. Fabrics inspire me, color combinations I see out in the world are a great inspiration. Nature is also a wonderful place to find inspiration, especially since PMC lends itself so well to that "organic" look I like.

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

Oranges! Sweet and hot colored all at the same time.

Out of Africa - handcrafted bracelet

The centerpiece of this bracelet is a piece of African turquoise - a jasper that is dyed and used as a substitute for turquoise. Another substitute is magnesite, which is the beautiful bright blue stone hanging from the links. The other stones include white jasper, smoky quartz, pearls, Swarovski crystals, fluorite, and cloisonne beads. The wirework was handcrafted by me. This bracelet retains its feminine feel despite my eclectic use of materials.

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

I would like to get a better handle on working fiber into my pieces. I quilt and sew, as well, so it seems natural to want to include that aspect of my craftiness into my jewelry making. I just haven't completely figured it out, yet.

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

That I love what I do and that each piece means something to me, as well as to the person who buys it.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Do what you love. I know we've all heard it before, but if this crazy thing we call Etsy and crafting isn't fun, it will show in your work. It must always be something that you love. If you don't love it anymore, find something else that sparks you!

Erin, thanks for a wonderful interview and for sharing your creativity with everyone!  Beautiful creations!

To learn more about Erin and her creations, be sure to visit the links below.

BLOG

TWITTER