FEATURED ETSY SHOP - DAINTLY DESIGNS

SunBurst Drop Earrings

by DAINTLY DESIGNS

WELCOME, JACKIE!  I'm happy to have Jackie and her Etsy shop, DAINTLY DESIGNS, here on DZFANTASY as a featured Etsy shop.  I discovered Jackie also lives in Wisconsin, and not very far from me.  What a small world!  I find it such fun to meet all the talented people who sell on Etsy, and get to learn a little bit about them and their creativity.

Read Jackie's interview below to learn how she got started creating her lovely jewelry.

What led you to start creating your art/craft

It started as a Christmas present for my mom...I thought I'd learn how to make earrings and make her a bunch of them as a gift. I went bead shopping and all the lovely beads had me envisioning so many lovely pieces of jewelry, I went a little overboard in my bead buying! This seemed to be the case every time I went bead shopping, resulting in my collection of 2 tackleboxes full of beads! I decided making jewelry to sell would be an excellent use for all those beads, and a fun way to make some extra money.

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


I like the limitless options available when working with sterling silver, gold, and antiqued bronze wire. I also wanted to form my own earwires, and using wire allowed me to do that.

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


Picking out beads, of course! I love when I find that unique bead that catches my eye and I immediately start imagining what I can design with it. It is also very rewarding being able to create something that people find special!

SALE- Red Swarovski Earrings

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

I think green beans. The more that I create with my beads, the more ideas pop into my head, kinda like how green beans grow more green beans when you pick them! Plus I really like green beans :) That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

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

Wheel-thrown pottery. The possibilities of what you can create are endless, just like jewelry. It's so relaxing, and very satisfying when you create a piece that can be actually useful for something.

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

I'm not sure that my jewelry has a particular message, I just hope that when someone sees one of my pieces they think it is well-made and they feel a little special when they wear it!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

If you are thinking about selling online, I strongly recommend Etsy.com! It is so easy to get started, and you'd be among a great online community of crafters.

Thanks, Jackie, for a delightful interview, and for taking the time to share your beautiful jewelry with all of us. 

Be sure to pay a visit to DAINTLY DESIGNS, to see all of Jackie's charming and exquisite jewelry.  She has a huge selection of wonderful earrings! You can either click on the individual photos below to go directly to that item in her shop or click on her shop link below the photos.

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - POOKIE AND PIERRE

Dream in Color Sterling Silver Earrings

(CLICK on the above photo to learn more about these beautiful earrings!)

WELCOME, Emily and her Etsy shop POOKIE AND PIERRE, where you will find some very stunning and beautiful jewelry. I love the colors and textures that Emily creates with her designs. Be sure to pay POOKIE AND PIERRE a visit! It is very hard to decide which creation is your favorite.

Let's read below to learn a bit more about this delightful jewelry artist, and what inspires her to create.

What led you to start creating your art/craft, and how did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?

I have always had creative inclinations and a love of color and texture and desire to create beauty. I dabbled in painting for awhile before a friend introduced me to the joys of beading about 5 years ago! My first visit to a bead store, I was like a kid in a candy shop! So much color to play with. At one point, on a trip to Asheville, NC, I saw some stunning beadwoven pieces that led to my desire to delve into beadweaving. I am self taught and proud of that fact. I made jewelry for awhile, giving most of it away to my mom who was fighting breast cancer at the time. My mom passed away in September of 2007 following her 10 year battle. Following her passing, I lost my desire to do anything while I grieved this tremendous loss. I miss her everyday. I kept coming back to the fact that what was most important to my mom was that I was happy.

Her goal for me ultimately brought me back to my love of jewelry making and starting again has helped me through the healing process. I also realized that given my experience, I had a unique opportunity to not only do something that I loved, but to give back to others by contributing to a cause that is near and dear to my heart. I am currently contributing 75% of my sales of Pookie and Pierre jewelry to the Susan G. Komen foundation through my participation in the 3 Day Walk.

Little Mermaid Drop Earrings

(CLICK on above photo to learn more about these exquisite earrings!)

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

There are so many things I find enjoyable. Two primary reasons though. I find peace in weaving beads together. I often bead in silence as it gives me time to focus and think and let go of all of the outside stresses in my life. My day job is purely business so beading gives me the creative balance that I need. It has been extremely therapeutic for me to begin creating again. My second is my love of color and sparkle! I often dream of color and all of the various combinations I can make. Beading allows me to bring it all to life and ultimately share that joy with others.

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

Let's just say fruit salad. Not sure why, but something about bringing all of the different colors, textures and flavors together is pretty similiar to the process I go through. Fun question!

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

I love to learn new techniques. If I had to pick one, I'd delve further into painting. For similiar reasons to beading, I love the peaceful aspect of it. I can get lost for hours in a painting. Its like a mini-vacation from life. It has given me a whole new appreciation for all of the brilliant artists out there that create such amazing work.

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

My message I'd love to convey with my jewelry is to enjoy life! It is short and sometimes a little sparkle can add that extra joy that we sometimes miss in the day to day.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Do what you love and you are ultimately responsible for your own happiness. Be confident in your creativity and don't be afraid to go out on a limb and try something new. Innovation will keep you fresh and will keep your creative juices going for a long time to come. I'd also say not to worry about what others think. Someone out there will love what you create more than you will ever know.

Beautiful work, great interview, Emily! It has been a real pleasure to see your gorgeous creations, and to learn a bit more about you. I'm sure your mom "knows" you are happy doing what you are doing! Keep on creating!

Visit the links below to see more of Emily's beautiful creations. Oh...I just learned that POOKIE AND PIERRE are Emily's two kittens!

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