FEATURED ETSY SHOP - SUE RUNYON DESIGNS

PEACH pearl necklace set

(Click on the above photo to learn more about this beautiful set)

I'm very pleased to have Sue of SUE RUNYON DESIGNS on Etsy as a featured shop here on DZFANTASY. Sue has a wide variety of lovely jewelry creations to choose from...fresh water pearl and gemstone necklaces, necklace sets, earrings, bracelets and bracelet sets, and much more. Be sure to pay a visit to SUE RUNYON DESIGNS. You just might find a piece of jewelry that you can't live without. To learn a bit about what motivates this creative artist, read Sue's interview below. I found it very interesting.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I've always been interested in art and design since I was a child and made my own paper dolls and all their little paper clothes. I have a BFA in Drawing and have also pursued many creative outlets from basketry to soap making. I enjoy working with my hands and the whole creative process.

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

I had the opportunity to live in South Korea for two years. Since it was just two hours to Beijing, China by plane, I traveled there a couple of times and went to the famous Hongqiao Pearl Market. When I saw how beautiful and affordable freshwater pearls had become over the past couple of decades of improvements in culturing them, I became interested in learning more. I realized that not many jewelry artists were working with traditional methods for hand-knotting pearls, but the art was much in demand because of the beauty and quality of the finished product. Back in Korea, I learned the art of classic pearl stringing--with a whole lot of practice. Armed with my scanty knowledge of the Korean language I took advantage of the colorful gemstone bead vendors in Seoul for finding beautiful beads to mix with freshwater pearls in my designs. I really had no idea of starting a business, but when my designs started selling off my neck, a business was born.

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

I enjoy the actual time that I have to design and make my jewelry. I love throwing things down on my design table and seeing which combinations really enhance the design. I often do professional pearl re-stringing and custom work and have fun working with my customers on their special designs. Most artists don't really enjoy that type of collaboration, but I've had a great time with it. I have awesome customers.

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

LOL. I'd have to say a Korean Shingo pear. Since my jewelry making was "born" in Asia and my family was addicted to these incredible pears while we lived there I'd say they might have a little something to do with it. ☺

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

I haven't done much of it lately, but I do enjoy quilt making and also drawing with pastels. Sometime you just need a change and stepping away from jewelry making for a time to work in another medium is refreshing and makes one see new design possibilities.

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

The pearls, gemstone beads and metals that I work with are just exquisite in and of themselves. I try not to get too fussy with the designs because the materials themselves are so flattering on women. There is a reason pearls, jade, silver and the other materials I work with have been treasured forever. They just look beautiful against the skin. I take the view that our Creator is a much better designer than I am and I like to show off what he can do to the best of my abilities.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

You really have to love what you do because there is a lot more to being successful than just creating. You have to love it enough to stick with it through the licensing, advertising, promoting, book keeping, providing customer service, website design, packaging, photography (my least favorite part) and all the rest.

Sue, thanks for a very enlightening interview. It was fun hearing your thoughts and views relating to your beautiful jewelry designs.

If you'd like to learn and see more of Sue's work, be sure to visit her links below.

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