FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - NANSGLAM - Artisan Jewelry by Nancy Trujillo

Welcome, Nancy, and her Etsy shop NANSGLAM. I always ask the artist to send me a link to one of their favoriate items in their shop so that I can put it out here with their feature. I can see why the above bracelet is a favorite of Nancy's....WOW, it is so GORGEOUS! The colors, and texture, not to mention the beautiful leaf clasp. I'm happy Nancy agreed to share some of her thoughts and ideas with us regarding herself and her jewelry. After browsing through NANSGLAM, it would be very hard to find just one favorite, among all the elegant creations out there. Be sure to visit Nancy's shop and see for yourself!


What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I took a beading class at a local bead store and I was hooked! I now teach beading designs and techniques at that same store. It is so rewarding to be able to help fellow beaders learn new techniques and designs and to meet so many people with the same addiction as me!

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

By taking so many different classes, I learned what materials and techniques I seemed drawn to. Along the way I also learned something about myself; I enjoy variety and seldom make more than one piece before I move onto something else. To give me that variety I crave for, I work with different metals, beads and gemstones. I never get bored that way. I still am a softy for the classic and romantic designs such as stringing pearls and will always create those pieces.

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

When I get a special request to create or remake a piece of jewelry for a sentimental reason. A friend of mine asked me to re-string his two small puka shell necklaces into a bracelet and necklace that would fit him. He and his mother had got them when he was a child and his mother had recently passed away from cancer. When I showed him the two finished pieces, the look in his eyes was priceless; he said he would never take the bracelet off! That is very rewarding for me. I get special requests similar to the one I just explained quite a lot.

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

That’s a hard one. I guess it would have to be an apple. Why? First because when you bite into them they are so refreshing and I hope that is what people feel when they see my jewelry. Second, there are so many different types and one can use them in so many different ways when cooking. You know what I like….variety!!

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

Restoring furniture. Is that a medium? I believe the older furniture was constructed very well and has such beauty. I love finding a piece that has been forgotten, that has that hidden potential, and perhaps adding vintage hardware and a new finish; in a sense giving it a new life!!

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

That it is wonderful to feel good about yourself. If I can create a piece of jewelry that helps someone feel good about themselves and their appearance when they put it on, then that pleases me very much.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Enjoy yourself. Don’t get frustrated if you are trying to earn a living with your creativity and can’t make ends meet. It can be slow and it takes a lot of work to get noticed when there are so many talented people out there using the internet, etc. Hang in there and don’t give up!

Great interview Nancy! How wonderful that you can take people's keepsakes and turn them into a lasting memory! What a good feeling that must be. Thanks again for taking the time to share!

FLICKR

FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - THREE KISSES XXX by .t

Welcome, Terezia also know as .t, whose shop on Etsy is called Three Kisses xxx. If you will read below you will find out from Terezia how her shop name came about, and you will also hear what she has to say about her lovely creations. The following paragraph was taken from Terezia's Profile on Etsy, and will explain why all words begin in lower case letters. OK, .t, let's learn a little bit about you!

My name is terezia and i am from slovakia. i have been living in germany and england for some years, but now i am back in my home country and that`s where i create my work. one of my friends mic christopher, great singer and songwriter, who unfortunately is not with us anymore, used to call me t. also some friends of mine in england found it difficult to pronounce terezia, my name got shortened to just t and i like to spell it with a dot in front, and because i love to write without capital letters i simply use “.t” and a short story about my label three kisses xxx: i like the way of finishing letters with kisses, but because it's not used in slovakia, i added in full words what those 3 x's mean and that`s how i created the name of my studio and simply scanned my handwriting. as you can see, i like things simple and you can see it also in my designs. i use different materials and my favourites are silver, gemstones and natural or recycled materials. i also like to add swarovski beads to my work as they add lovely sparkle and they are popular and wanted by my customers.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I have always been very creative and most of the presents I give to my friends and family have been created by me. I went through different stages. I have been creating different paper based items, like cards, posters, gift bags, gift boxes and others. Then for some time I made candles, then I decorated them with decoupage technique. I still have boxes of serviettes from those days. Every year my employer organized a big Christmas party. It always had black tie dress code, so I made a lovely long red and black dress for myself. As I needed jewellery to go with it, I had a go with wire and Swarovski beads. That’s how I made the first roses. They are the most favorite creation among my customers, and I also use them in my banners, avatars and on my business cards. They simply became my logo.

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

I will cut the story short and will write only about jewellery. I use sterling silver, Swarovski beads and gemstones. I believe in the power of gemstones, love the sparkle Swarovski cuts into the crystals and always loved the color of silver. I started with silver plated to learn the different techniques, but I believe the time I spend designing and creating my pieces worth more in sterling silver.

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

Whatever job I do, I need to learn new things every day. Creating jewellery gives me that opportunity. I read a lot, try a lot and play a lot in my studio, that’s what I enjoy the most.

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

Interesting question. I think I would say strawberry. It has got simple but perfect flowers. Its juicy, its sweet and it looks so great in the basket on top of that market stall in the sun. Stands out in between leafs that have different color…Yes, I would say strawberry.

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

If I knew how to use it, I would love to work with epoxy, would love to know how to etch silver. Epoxy gives silver that extra color and etching opens horizons when transferring images onto silver. I know, I know its still silver. Then I would like to work with wood, because its warm and has lovely deep colors. And if the project doesn’t go well, you sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy the heat coming from it.

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

We are all different. We express ourselves in different ways and should keep that in mind and try to understand others. They are not better or worth more, they are just different. We are all unique. Handmade = unique.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

I will use the words from mics song:“...why should we wait for things we want in life when we can just go out and find them and stop dreaming our lives away...”; mic christopher Don’t wait, don’t let anyone or anything stopping you. Be creative.

.t what a charming interview!! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and lovely work with all of us. Be sure to visit Three Kisses xxx, to see what else .t has to offer. You also can find out more about .t and her work by clicking on any of the links below her shop's photos.

MYEBOOK

INDIEPUBLIC

DaWanda (in German)

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - SHIRLEY'S CREATIONS

I am happy to feature this jewelry artist, whose shop on Etsy is "SHIRLEY'S CREATIONS". We, as women, KNOW we like to adorn ourselves to make ourselves feel good, and Shirley has some lovely designs and creations to help us do just that.

Below, you can read, in Shirley's own words, what she has to say about herself and her creations.

Hi, I’m Shirley and I have been designing & handcrafting Jewelry and novelties for over 10 years. I enjoy learning the latest techniques and keeping up with fashion trends. Growing up I always felt the need to accessorize. I never felt completely dressed until I put on my jewelry. Wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry is a great way to express your inner beauty. My goal is to design fashionable jewelry that anyone can afford. I hope my pieces make you feel beautiful as that was my intention when I made them.

What led you to start creating your art?

I always was into art as far back as I remember, but as an adult I loved jewelry and thought it would be cheaper if I made it and then gave it as gifts. Now I want others to love my jewelry.

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

Jewelry just fascinates me. It has been around for centuries, all the movie stars wear it, and it makes the person wearing it feel beautiful.

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

The best part is going to a gem show and seeing just how many natural stones and beads are out there just waiting for you to develop into a masterpiece.

If you had to choose a fruit or vegetable to describe your work, what would it be and why?

If I have to pick a fruit, it would have to be the apple. To me it is the perfect fruit-it has beautiful shape and variances of color running through it.

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

My message would be, as a woman you are only as beautiful as you feel your are. If jewelry can make you feel beautiful, than go for it!

What advice to you have for other artists?

I don't have real advice for other jewelry designers since I am not a great success story, but what is important is to have a dream and keep making that your vision!

THANKS, SHIRLEY for taking the time to give us an "insight" into you, as an artist, and your lovely creations. Be sure to visit SHIRLEY'S CREATIONS.