FEATURED ETSY SHOP - VERRE DESIGN

LADY BUG NECKLACE

Glass Lampwork, Obsidienne and Silver Necklace

by Patricia Wood

of VERRE DESIGN

Patricia of VERRE DESIGN on Etsy is a talented jewelry and glass artist, from Quebec, who has some very exquisite creations in her shop. I find the creation of lampwork beads very fascinating, and love how they look, so I'm very happy to have Patricia as a featured artist out here on DZFANTASY.

Be sure to visit Patricia's shop as she has a large selection of beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more, in which she incorporates her wonderful handmade lampwork beads.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

Glassblowing always fascinated me. Encased pieces are almost mesmerizing... I started melting glass as a hobby that soon became a passion. I’ve also always loved original handmade silver jewelry. Incorporating some of my handmade beads into my designs sort of came naturally.

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

I don’t think I ever decided... It was just “it”!

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

I love each part of it! I love the “zen” state I’m in when I melt glass, the concentration and attention it requires, the different textures and feels each color have, the planning it sometimes requires to make a specific design or achieve a certain effect. And I love designing jewelry, selecting components, working with silver wire and silver clay... coordinating it all to create unique and original pieces. And the smile on my face when I just get it right!

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

Avocado – For its mysterious center, its soft, smooth and silky texture, its vibrant and changing color, it’s sublime look (and taste) just by itself or the great combination it makes with other ingredients.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPER EARRINGS

Handmade Lampwork Beads

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

I love writing and cooking and to make my own gift cards... but I will say sculpture – to uncover and touch the angels hidden in marble.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
Accessories make the look – wear what you like and what makes you feel good.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Be passionate, curious and try different things. Remember that practice makes perfect and to train your creativity muscle every day. “Whether you believe you can make it or not, you’re probably right”. Find joy in creating.

THANKS, Patricia for taking the time to share your creativity and thoughts with all of us. Beautiful creations!!

Be sure to visit the links below to see and learn more about Patricia and her VERRE DESIGN creations.

VERRE DESIGN BLOG

VERRE DESIGN WEBPAGE

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - SHIMMERMEBLUE by MELISSA

Rustic Unachite Bracelet

by

Melissa

Welcome, Melissa of SHIMMERMEBLUE on Etsy. I was surprised to learn that Melissa and I live in the same area surrounding Milwaukee, WI. What a small world it is!

I'm happy to have Melissa here on DZFANTASY as a "featured jewelry artist", and hope you take the time to visit her shop SHIMMERMEBLUE. She has a wide selection of delightful jewelry! First, let's learn a little bit more about Melissa.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I actually started making jewelry out of the blue. I have always been a 'crafty' person, and started to see a lot of handmade jewelry. I thought 'I can do this!' I skimmed through several tutorials on different sites, watched a few You Tube videos and started buying beads.

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

I love the look of glass beads, but honestly it was the easiest thing to start out with! As I learn more, I will be making a lot of different things. It just all takes time and practice!

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

I would have to say, looking at the finished piece and the feeling that I accomplished something. This is especially true when I work on projects I've never done before and the finished piece turns out really good!

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

Hmmm, this is a really tough one! Maybe a plum because each one tastes a little different. That's kind of how I design my jewelry, a little different, but still the same in some ways. I don't stick to one specific style, color or pattern.

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

I really want to learn how to make handblown glass beads! I think the finished product is so amazing and I would love to be able to make my own beads for my jewelry.

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

If you are passionate in what you do, go for it! There's nothing better than being able to do what you love, even if you only do it as a hobby.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Don't get discouraged if you are not successful and making tons of money right away! It all takes time, work and patience.

Thanks, Melissa for sharing your thoughts and jewelry with everyone. May you continue to enjoy creating, and may it bring joy to those who wear it!

To learn more about Melissa, and see more of her work, be sure to click on the links below.

SHIMMERMEBLUE BLOG

TWITTER

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - ANNWN - Handcrafted Lavender Glass Bead Jewelry by Andrea Kiernan

WELCOME, Andrea of ANNWN - Handcrafted Lavender Glass Bead Jewelry out on Etsy. I just love this artist's exquisite glass lavender beads!! One can almost smell the wonderful scent of lavender...just by looking at her lovely beads! Let's hear what Andrea has to say about herself and her delightful creations.

In my island studio I work to recreate the beauty of the lavender fields. I primarily use the lavender beads for pendants like the ones modeled after the Grosso variety that have been featured in various beading books and magazines. Most recently, my jewelry has grown from simple pendants to large art pieces containing multiple lavender flower spikes. The hollow focal bead functions as a vial, meant to be filled with the lavender plant's calming essential oil. Its wearer experiences a constant aromatherapy treatment, the next best thing to a summer walk in the fields.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I studied off hand glass blowing in undergraduate school. When I moved out to San Juan Island, there were no hot glass shops so I built and ran my own small glass studio and quickly learned how expensive they are to keep in constant operation! It was at this time that I pulled out the lampworking torch that I had been carrying around since high school and taught myself how to make glass beads.

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

Hmmm... I have always been really excited by molten glass, but I do remember getting to see a hot glass demonstration when I was a kid on a family vacation. After that, whenever anyone asked what I wanted to be when I grow up I would reply a glassblower.

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

I really enjoy the torch time, it is where I can experiment and be creative, I also enjoy assembling my beads into finished jewelry- this I can do right in my living room while at home with my three-year-old daughter, it enables me to be at home while working and helps our family avoid crazy high daycare bills.

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

I would choose vegetable, the head of the lavender plant reminds me of asparagus!

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

Silversmithing- I really want to learn how to solder and have the materials to cast and polish silver and other metals. I feel limited with jewelry design not being able to design my own fine metal components.

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

The beauty of the natural world and the amazing properties of lavender as a medicinal herb.

Thanks, Andrea, for sharing your beautiful work with us. Be sure to visit Andrea's links below to learn more about her wonderful creations.

PELINDABA LAVENDER

SHOP THE FRONTIER

SILVER ONLY

FOREMOSTFOCAL

LAVENDER BEADS (Etsy Shop)

FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - Pretty Little Love Objects by Blinking Mouse

Let's welcome PRETTY LITTLE LOVE OBJECTS by the Blinking Mouse, and hear what led this delightful artist to start designing her fun, colorful jewelry.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?
When I was young, I was a greeb, kind of a UK cross between what is now emo and a goth. Many, many, many plastic beaded stretch bracelets were the order of the day, and I used to make a lot of them myself. Eventually I stopped dressing in a way that reflected my musical tribe, but I was hooked on making bracelets and jewellery in general. I made a button necklace for my friends birthday, used some of the craft kits people had given me as presents, and became the unstoppable crafting machine I am today.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
I’m really passionate about jewellery, I still love to buy it even though I make my own, and I could sift through all the jewellery in shops like Accessorise and Topshop for hours (but people tend to drag me away). I just love sparkly, glossy, colourful accessories, beads are what my paradise would be made of. Jewellery making is also really easy to get into. You don’t need that much special equipment to start out with, not like working in clay, lampworking or sewing, you can just concentrate on buying pretty materials. I’m kind of impatient when it comes to having the right things to begin with, so I think jewellery making satisfied that need to get going straight away.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
Picking colour schemes is so much fun, you can be so inventive and match colours you don’t often see together on the high street. Of course searching down the best materials is really fun (but bad for my bank balance) I’m constantly distracted on Etsy because I’m like a magpie with an obsession for bright and shiny things.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?
Toughie can I have two choices? OK...I think we'll let you have two choices!! I would pick a red apple because I just got the most gorgeous Swarovski bracelet given to me and it features a crystal apple. For me Swarovski is really the pinnacle of excellence in classy, grown up jewellery. If I could have a second choice (please) I’d describe my craft as a carrot because it’s a quirky choice and I love my pieces to have a personality. I also love to include unusual materials, like buttons and plastic stars, that people might think only belong in children’s jewellery. I use these items to create Pretty Little Love Objects that any grown up would love to wear to express their individuality. Love your 2 choices...Jodie!!

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
I’d love to be a writer. I dream about it constantly, stop and start, and then return to reading to try to educate myself on how to get better.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
I really want people to start shopping properly. Shopping should not be a chore that you do quickly, buying dull gifts in a slapdash manner. You should enjoy picking out the perfect thing as a present for you or a loved one. If you put a little effort into finding a personal present you will get much more appreciation back, and that little cycle of events will increase the loveliness of the world. What a lovely thought!! So true!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?
Try to get some sleep, at some point. It’s easy to get stuck promoting online for hours when you should be recharging your creative batteries. Pick promotional opportunities that are simple and effective so you have plenty of time to give to crafting and having a life.

THANKS, Jodie for a delightful insight into you as a person, and what motivates you to create your fun, colorful jewelry! I really enjoyed having you as a featured artist out here on DZFANTASY, and wish you every success in all your endeavors! Be sure to visit PRETTLY LITTLE LOVE OBJECTS on Etsy....you just could find the right piece of jewelry that could brighten your day!

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JUST BE CONNECTED A HOME FOR CREATIVE BLOGGERS

FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - ALISON KELLEY DESIGNS

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.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I have been making jewelry for over 16 years. It wasn't until my mom inspired me to make a necklace for her in the summer of 2006 that got me motivated and excited about making jewelry again. It had been a while since I had made something for myself too, so I made a necklace for my mom as well as an identical one for myself. I was so happy making it, and with the results that I just couldn't stop myself from making more. Before I knew it I had friends coming over to look at my new jewelry designs, so after their overwhelming feedback this ‘hobby’ soon became Alison Kelley Designs and a full-time business.

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

I've always loved beads and it was natural for me to go back to making jewelry with them. My favorite materials are Sterling Silver, Copper, Gemstone Beads, Pearls, Swarovski Crystals, Natural Beads, Shell Beads and Glass Beads.

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

Jewelry making is truly my passion. I enjoy every aspect of it. Getting an idea in my mind, sometimes even in my dreams. I imagine the piece already made. and then going through the process of putting my design together step by step is invigorating. Once my creation is complete I can't help but be so proud. Maybe I have that artistic need to create and in creating something it brings me happiness.

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

I would choose "fruit". Not only do I love fruit, but all their color variety. Color is very important to me. It makes me feel alive and happy. Without color I would be drained of life and happiness.

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

Painting! I used to paint a long time ago, it was relaxing and satisfying.

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

My goal is to offer beautiful handcrafted pieces of jewelry that are as unique as they are beautiful. Handmade is a forgotten art to many, showing the importance of it is an endless journey. I myself lost that for a while. After having three children and living in such a busy world, it is easy to forget the beauty of making something yourself or cherishing another person's creations.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Be true to yourself and your art. Don't let the busy world crush your creativity. Flourish it and expand it by continuously learning your art.

THANKS, Alison, for taking the time to share your thoughts and your work with all of us! I enjoyed getting to know a bit about you and how you feel about your chosen form of creativity. Keep on creating!! Below you will links to Alison's Etsy shop and other place where you can view her work. If you are looking for beautiful "bridal" jewelry, be sure to click on Alison's BRIDAL JEWELRY link below.

ALISON'S BLOG

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ALISON KELLEY DESIGNS BRIDAL JEWELRY