Bracelet Nesting Pretty Pearls, Lavender
There is so much detail in the beautiful bracelet by Pat from The Speece Collection, that I have put the close-up photo and another photo showing the whole bracelet. What a gorgeous creation! One can tell that a lot of time went into its creation.
Let's welcome Pat, and her Etsy shop The Speece Collection! When you pay a visit to Pat's shop you will find some very exquisite creations ranging from earrings, bracelets, necklaces and more. Read below to learn a little bit about Pat and her work.
What led you to start creating your art/craft?
Rocks, jewelry, rocks, jewelry......As a kid, I collected and saved my rocks mainly from the field behind my house, carefully saving them in an old bucket. I spent many afternoons dipping each rock into a pan of water and admiring the colors and patterns. Later, jewelry took over as an interest, and finally matured into the realization that a lot of jewelry is made from gems and minerals, and rocks --- all solid earth creations. Now I could work with both interests. But how? I joined a rockhound group, and during one of the shows, a friend was demonstrating how to make jewelry. I stood transfixed, admiring his ability and creations. He said, "Pat, you can do this!"Really? Yes... and so I did.
How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
After working with clay, jewelry components were light-weight, small, dry, and I could wear the outcome! I could also work in the house on cold days.
What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
I love looking at a pile of components and turning that into something beautiful. The entire process is satisfying, and I feel really good with the final results. If I don't, it's back to the drawing board until I am very happy with the outcome. When I think I might be done with a piece, I ask myself what can I do to make it better. When I answer that question, and act on it, then I know it is finished and ready for someone else. That is the most fulfilling feeling!
If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?
A peach. They are beautiful, tasty, filling and satisfying. I like to think my customers are happy and very satisfied with their piece, the piece that fills a need to complete their outfit.
If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your "creativity", what would that be and why?
I would choose clay sculpture. I've done this in the past. Clay is forgiving of mistakes in that you can just wipe them out and go forward until the piece looks right and wonderful in all its parts as well as in total. Sculpture allows changing directions in the middle of the process, as does making jewelry. Since color is not involved, it is possible to concentrate on form only.
What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
I want them to realize that the piece was made with great care, and that it shows. When one of my pieces arrives at its destination, I want the buyer to open the mailing box, slip off the ribbon and note, and with happy anticipation, lift off the lid of the gift box, and have a big grin on their face, and exclaim "Wow!".
What advice to you have for other artists/crafters?
I would advise others to find the creative outlet that satisfies them. Something that is enjoyable in every step of the way, that the challenges are not insurmountable, and that greatly satisfies them.
Pat, thanks again, for sharing, and for a really great interview! Your work is beautiful, and one can tell that you really love what you do...your creations certainly reflects it.
Citrine Candlelight EarringsI'm happy to have Anna of ARTISAN CREATED on Etsy, as a featured artist here on my DZFANTASY blog.
Anna creates some beautiful jewelry...earrings, necklaces and more. For her favorite item to show on her feature, Anna selected the gorgeous pair of Citrine earrings shown above. While browsing through her shop, I noticed the matching necklace, and just had to add it out here! Very beautiful.
Citrine Candlelight Necklace
What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?
Thanks for a delightful interview, Anna, and for taking the time to share your thoughts and wonderful jewelry with us.! You can learn about Anna and her creations by clicking on her links below.
WELCOME, Mindy of MINDY G JEWELRY BOUTIQUE, and her beautiful jewelry creations! I just love the colors and design of the above necklace. A truly delightful piece!
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!
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.
WELCOME, Alison of ALISON KELLEY DESIGNS!! If you love unique, beautiful jewelry, be sure to visit ALISON KELLEY DESIGNS on Etsy! I'm happy to have Alison out here as a featured artist on DZFANTASY! Below, Alison will share a bit of herself, and her thoughts on what makes her "tick" as a person and a jewelry artist.
I really love these earrings, which Vanessa said were her "favorite" item in her Etsy shop right now. They are so delicate and "airy" looking! Vanessa has taken the time to share her thoughts and wonderful jewelry out here with us....so enjoy reading what she has to say. Don't forget to pay a visit to "DESIGNS BY VANESSA", when you are finished. Her links will be listed below. If you have any questions, I'm sure Vanessa will be happy to answer them for you.
What led you to start creating your art/craft?
I spent many summers crafting with my grandma as a little girl, and I’m always doing something creative. I work in the foster care/adoption field and my creativity has become my stress reliever.
How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
The reason why I named my shop “Designs by Vanessa” and not “Jewelry by Vanessa” is so that I’m not stuck doing just one thing. Making the same thing over and over again is not fun to me, and I’m constantly getting new ideas for my designs. Jewelry is my current obsession, but I will soon start introducing my “Little Birdie Cards” to my shop
What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
Creating is definitely a huge stress reliever for me. I also enjoy seeing other people enjoying and wearing my creations.
If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?
Hmm, I would say passion fruit because I’m passionate about my designs!
If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
I know the basics of sewing, but I would love to learn how to make my own clothes. I just think it would be so much fun to sew up a cute dress whenever I wanted!
What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
I really love creating,and Etsy has become a great outlet for me. You will find fun and feminine jewelry in my shop. I'm very much a girly girl and my designs reflect that side of my personality. I love simple, elegant, dainty and whimsical creations.
What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?
Believe in your work.
VANESSA, thanks for sharing your thoughts and delightful jewelry with us....I feel the same way you do about "not making the same thing over and over"...definitely not fun!! Be sure to visit all of Vanessa's sites below to see more of her lovely work.
WOW, is the first thought that came to mind when I saw this gorgeous earring and necklace set created by Milli of MaisonMilli on Etsy. The colors and design are just too exquisite!! Be sure to visit Milli's shop on Etsy to see just what went into the creation of this beautiful piece of art. Read below as Milli shares her thoughts and ideas regarding her work and what makes her want to create her delightful pieces of jewelry.
If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
Silver smithing. That will be my next adventure, as soon as I can find the right place to learn. In the past I have made stained glass lamp shades; I love working with solder, and I already have designs for silver jewelry in my head.
What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?
THANK YOU, Milli, for sharing your wonderful, exquisite work and thoughts with us. It is a real pleasure to have you as a "featured" artist out here on DZFANTASY. Now, don't forget to visit MAISONMILLI on Etsy. The links are below.
I love the unique, light feeling that so many of Jessi's pieces invoke, when looking at them. Be sure to pay a visit to Jessi's shop after reading below, in Jessi's own words, what she as to say about herself and her lovely work.
WELCOME, JESSI....!
What led you to start creating your art/craft?
My path was a rather unusual one. I became a fan of a wonderful but short-lived television show called Firefly, and one of the characters wore a distinctive necklace made of leather cording. I searched for one like it but it was not for sale anywhere. Having dabbled around a bit with beginner jewelry design, I just made myself one! I was able to make an almost exact replica of the necklace, and on a whim I posted to a fan forum offering them for sale. I didn’t expect anything to come of it, but they started selling like hotcakes. Shortly thereafter I started offering simple beaded necklaces inspired by the show, and before long I had to open my own web store ( www.serenityverse.com/shop ) to handle the order volume. Over time I became better at what I did, learned a lot about designing, and thanks to the sales I was able to afford and offer better quality materials. Before I knew it……I was a jewelry designer!
How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
Initially all of my work was “stringing.” I used the materials that most appealed to me, namely gemstone beads, sterling silver, and lampwork. Stringing gets a bad name amongst jewelry designers because it is the most basic skill, and is often branded the hallmark of a beginner. That has always irked me because while the market admittedly is flooded with “beginner crafts” strung jewelry, some of the most stunning and artistic creations I’ve seen have been strung necklaces and bracelets. I have always felt, both as a beginner and later as an experienced designer, that a strung piece made with superb materials, quality workmanship, and most importantly a striking and beautiful design is something for which no apologies should be made.While perfecting, honing, and expanding my design skills (and my ever expanding collection of beads!), I dabbled in other mediums. Stringing beads wasn’t enough for me, but I had a hard time finding any other medium that felt “right” for me and gave me the artistic control I needed. I took a brief stab at lampworking, tried wirework, tried Chinese knotting, mangled polymer clay, and all it took was one look at seed beads for me to run away screaming!The epiphany snuck up on me sideways. I began collecting some beautiful cabochons made out of unusual gemstones, planning to wire wrap them. But every time I tried to wrap one, I was unhappy with the results. I didn’t enjoy wire wrapping, and most irksome was the fact that I had purchased these stones for their innate beauty and patterns, and wire obscured and distracted from them. I decided to have them set in sterling silver as pendants so that I could make necklaces with them, but I couldn’t find anyone to do it whose “style” was right for me. Then it happened….my eyes lighted on a dusty sign in a local lapidary supply announcing silversmithing classes.I signed up. I collected even more stones. The class was cancelled. A year later though, I was lighting a torch for the first time. By the end of the beginner’s class I was hooked. By the end of the advanced class I was obsessed. Not even six months after I started, I knew I’d found my medium….and I had acquired my own top of the line torch and more tools than I care to admit to.In silversmithing I have finally found a medium that gives me the creative control I desire and allows me to make things I’m proud of, and most importantly I love doing it. I will probably always do stringing and very basic wire work as well, especially incorporating my metalwork. But my focus has certainly shifted dramatically to silversmithing, and I only expect that focus to deepen.
What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
I adore the creative control; the ability to be able to imagine a design that I think would be cool and then actually create it. That is quite a rush.
If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?
A pink grapefruit. Refreshing, tangy and sweet without either flavor being overpowering, the grapefruit is bold but not brash. The qualities of the grapefruit do a pretty good job of describing what I like to create; pieces that are different but not overpoweringly edgy, pretty without being “cute”, elegant but not snobbish, and clean without being boring.
What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
I want to convey the messages that are personally important to my customers. Jewelry is about more than simple adornment. It's about meaning; a wearable token for who we are, who we love, and what we admire. One reason I love custom work is that I get to create something that has deep and often hidden personal meaning to the person wearing it.
What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?
Do what you enjoy, and create what you like. There is a lot of peer pressure in the jewelry field to “be different!” “expand into other mediums!” and my least favorite, the unspoken encouragement of difficulty of creation over pleasing design. How, however, is one supposed to “be different” if everyone is struggling to do just that? In that case, are you not, by trying to be different, copying everyone else? What is new and different one year will be the overused trend the next. So stop trying desperately to be different, and be yourself….and that act alone will set you apart. Follow what you like and enjoy, and your own unique style will develop gracefully on its own, and your skills will surely advance along the paths that you are drawn to.
THANKS, JESSI for sharing your beautiful work, and also giving us an insight as to what makes you "tick" as an artist! Below you will find links to Jessi's Etsy shop, and also her web site. Be sure to take the time to visit!!
