By Contributing Columnist Jay of Haffina Creations

Not many people know, but I am the mother of twin boys, and as such I understand how challenging it can be to be creative with twin bundles of joys dancing like a whirlwind through your house. Now let me introduce you to another mother of twin boys, who creates beautiful items whilst being a fabulous mom to her darling boys. Teri Landow is the driving force behind The Beaded Branch and my featured ArtFire artisan.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
An eclectic mix of bead jewelry, sterling silver chainmaille, Bug Bag pouches, and of course, my very own line of Present Past Treasures.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
The name for my shop came about by combining several ideas:
1) I really love trees, and wanted to incorporate the idea of trees into my business name somehow.
2) I loved the idea of “branches” being related to arms, necks, ears, etc of a person and them being decorated with my jewelry.
3) When I started out, my designs were very simplistic bead earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I never really thought I’d expand out past the beaded branch of jewelry making. Of course, I was wrong, but I still try to incorporate beads in everything I sell.

How long have you been selling online?
I started my own online shop over 10 years ago. I ran into the trouble that so many do, though. After I got married, and started a family, the huge time commitment of having to maintain a website just got to be too much. So, I started exploring my options, and came across Etsy, then ArtFire. In November of 2008, I opened my Etsy shop, and then in May of 2009 I opened my ArtFire Studio. I still have my own website, and might actually get around to updating it now that my children are actually starting school.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
Many, many factors lead me to joining ArtFire. The sense of community was the main thing, but other than that, all of the wonderful features that AF offers. The guilds, the ability to have ten pictures of each product, the coupon and gift certificate codes, being able to edit everything in my store with a few simple keystrokes, the list goes on and on. The real clincher for me was when I made my first sale in my ArtFire Studio. I was so excited, I tweeted it on my Twitter page. When the owner of ArtFire sent me a direct message, congratulating me on my sale, that meant the world to me. I’ve never deleted that tweet, and still read it when I need a little boost. The fact that he took that time to do that was a real sign to me that ArtFire cares about the artisans that choose to sell there.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
I have to pick ONE? (lol) It’s a toss up between the coupon codes and the bulk editing feature. I love how easy it is to set up coupon codes for my customers. The fact that I can pick what code for the coupon will be is awesome, because it makes it much easier for me to keep track of when it was used.
The bulk editing feature is awesome. Being able to go in and reprice everything in my studio, or add tags to everything with just a few keystrokes, is wonderful and so time saving. It’s just so easy and convenient.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Read up on how to take really good photographs of your products. Make sure your photos are nice, clear, and in focus. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Learn how to market using blogs and social networks. Figure out all of your shipping prices before you start listing. Set aside money for advertising. Join guilds and participate. Make a lot of friends in the crafting world. We are the best support to each other when sales are slow, and we need a little mental boost.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
I try to create the feel of a cozy and relaxed slightly upscale boutique where you never quite know what’s going to spring up next.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I don’t necessarily revolve my stock, but whenever I add pieces, I always try to make sure that I add an assortment of pieces in a new line at the same time, as a boutique would do when they received a new shipment, instead of one piece here and one piece there.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
Right now, at this moment, I don’t really have a favorite. Actually, at any moment it would be hard for me to narrow down my favorite of anything to one thing. I love pearls, and would incorporate them into every piece I make if I possibly could. I’m also currently exploring materials and techniques that are new to me. Polymer clay and epoxy resins are the big ones right now, and since I’m still in the learning phase of those two mediums, I get to play with them, and learn how to make pieces that are good enough to sell.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
Oh, several. I would love to learn to work with glass, and also I want to expand my knowledge of polymer clay, epoxy resins, metal clays, painting, and sewing. I love to learn new skills and techniques that can cross over from one medium to another, seeing how and what I can combine to create some new, unique pieces.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
Yes and no. Yes, I still sell my basic bead jewelry. I’ll never fully get away from that, and wouldn’t want to. But, because I get distracted easily, and my desire to explore new techniques often overwhelms me, I switch off what I’m working on at any given moment, and my lines are continually expanding and growing. That’s the one problem with having so many friends who are so very talented in different art forms. I see their work, and think “Ooohh, I’d like to try that!”, and I do.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
The whole process of listing products in my Studio- pricing, photographing, descriptions, tagging, all of it. It can really drag me down. The way I deal with it is to just bite the bullet and do it. Generally, I wait until I have a stockpile of products made, and I do a several day long photo shoot of everything. Then I spend another day editing the photos, and then another day or two listing. It’s a very draining week or so for me, and I always refer to them as my “necessary evil” days.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
I try to keep it balanced, but there are some days when the lure of the online world is just too great, and I’ll spend all day chatting, and drooling over my friends new works. There are other days, however, when I have no desire to go online at all, so I just check my email once or twice those days, and leave it at that. Having kids helps keep the balance, because their needs come first. So, I do have to spend time offline feeding them, playing with them, reading to them, and doing arts and crafts with them.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
It used to be beads. Now, I have to admit, it’s pretty much whatever comes into view that I think I might be able to use. If I find a new craft that I find intriguing, I’ll buy just enough of the basic supplies to try it out. But even that I’ve slowed down on. I need to use up what I have before I buy anything more.

To see more gorgeous creations from The Beaded Branch check out her ArtFire Studio.

By contributing columnist Konnie aka Konnie Kappow

Part three of my Crafty Men series is an interview with the man behind Folksy shop Tree Gems. A true craftsman and thoroughly nice chap; I loved reading his answers to my questions and I hope you will too!

Name: Stewart Would (Tree Gems on Folksy)
Age: Mature
From: near Hornsea in Holderness, East Riding of Yorkshire
Favourite movie: Probably West Side Story
Favourite book: I have a massive collection of books but most are non-fiction.

…..Honestly, nothing springs immediately to mind for [favourite colour, animal or band]. The fact that I had to rack my brains for five minutes suggests that any answer here would have been artificial. Am I unusual? My music collection centres around the blues, but ranges through almost all genres but I don’t know much about Acid House or Grunge!!

How did you learn your craft?

I’m sure I took an interest as a child, when my dad was working with wood around the house doing what was later called DIY. I enjoyed woodwork at senior school and did well at GCE level (No ‘S’ in those days), winning the year prize for the subject. It was when I retired from a mainly desk-bound job that I set up my wood workshop. Books, magazines and websites have been my main source of learning; those, plus actually having a go and trying new techniques.

Your eureka moment – tell us about your favourite thing you have ever made?

A few years ago I made a very large kitchen dresser, for my step-daughter, in English Oak; in fact the biggest piece I have ever done. Over the weeks I worked on it, all I ever saw were little details, problems and challenges. It was only when I finally assembled the piece of furniture on site, that I had the room and time to step back to look, and see it in its entirety. I was honestly amazed that I had made such a thing. ‘Eureka moment’ is a good description.

Your “D’oh!” moment – tell us about you biggest crafting disaster.

Woodturning a bowl on my lathe one day, I was being experimental and aiming to retain a square surround whilst hollowing out a circular centre. At a few hundred revolutions per minute, the corners of the square tend to ‘disappear’. After quite some time of intense concentration, Radio Four piped up with a reference to Blues singer Blind Willie McTell (see answer about musical taste) which, for a split second distracted me. Without going into too much detail, I had to have a dozen stitches in two fingers. Ouch!

Is crafting what you do full time or do you have a Clark Kent style alter-ego?

I’m extremely lucky in that there is no pressure on me to do my craft work. It’s an extension of the hobby that I love. I go to my workshop when I feel like it. I’m fully supported by my wife in what I do, and I support her in her passion for knitting. She has no issue over my growing stash of wood, and I have none over her wool stash. My other interests include family history research, trying to play the guitar, motor cycling and reading motor cycle travel books; my lovely grandchildren and doing voluntary work at the local museum.

Where do you do your crafting?

My workshop is in the garage, with a buzzer from the kitchen to call me in for regular refreshments!

Tell us a bit about your crafting philosophy (e.g. environmental, heritage, family, therapy!)

I do enjoy using wood that a traditional cabinetmaker wouldn’t even look at; wood with what is often seen as faults – knots, twisted grain, fungal staining and so on. I do prefer home grown timbers; yew and figured elm or oak especially. If it’s ‘found’ or recycled, so much the better.

As for style, the range of things I have made is so wide, from tiny wooden earrings to a bedroom suite, that it’s difficult to categorise, but I have a tendency towards what might be called rustic, retaining the bark edging on some of my work, especially boxes.

Tell us why you think there are far more female than male crafters?

Mmmm. Difficult. Folksy certainly suggests that’s the case. Could it be that there are more young mothers trying to supplement their income from home?
The woodworking community www.lumberjocks.com of which I am a member, has 20,000 members, most of whom are male. However, that’s not a craft selling site.

Tell us something surprising about yourself (non craft related)?

We’ve lived without a television for fifteen years, and have no yearning for one whatsoever.

What’s the manliest thing you make?

Some of my wooden finger rings are considered to be quite manly, as is this more unusual spark plug computer memory stick.

And here’s a manly jewellery / keepsake box I made for me.

What’s the least manly thing you make?

Since ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’, it’s got to be my pendant memory stick set with a diamond, now on Folksy.

What would you say to encourage more men to craft?

Turn off your television and make something. Have a go. You might be surprised at what you can achieve!

You can check out more of Stewart’s work at his folksy shop.

Next in the Crafty Men Series is an interview with Jamie Brind aka prototyper of Glowbiles!

Don’t forget to check out the previous interviews with Nosuch Disco and Steam Punk Glass too!

By contributing columnist aka Haffina Creations

As a jewellery maker, one of the items I love to use the most is Artisan Lampwork beads. There is a very talented Handmade Lampwork Bead Artisan who happens to have a studio on ArtFire. Her name is Jamie Rose and she is the incredible talent behind her ArtFirea> studio is always worth a visit, with new items added regularly. I wanted to know some more about workings of < so I asked Jamie some questions, which she kindly answered.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I make fun and whimsical beads. I make characters with smiley faces and love to use bright colors.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
My favorite new glass is CIM, Creation Is Messy. The colors are bright and vivid, and very unique.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
Right now I use soft glass which has to be kept warm so the beads don’t crack. However, I’d love to use Boro glass, a harder glass, which isn’t so temperamental outside the flame. You can get much more freedom to work with the glass without it shattering if it’s not in the flame.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
Pretty much. Once I started making fun faces and whimsical character I just couldn’t stop!

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
Marketing is very challenging. It’s so time consuming, and can be costly. However, there are many website that make it easy to post listings and pictures of your newly listed items to one site, or multiple sites like Twitter, facebook, Plurk, Plaxo and other networking sites. Facebook has a great application called RSS Graffiti which will go into your websites that have an RSS feed and pick up newly posted items. Anything like that makes marketing so very easy! Ping.fm is nice because you can add a toolbar to your browser and with just a couple of clicks you can shoot out info about one of your items or your shop to multiple websites.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
Balance? LOL! Well, my kids are grown and it’s easier for me to spend my free time marketing. I love making Lampwork beads, so for me that’s easy because I run to the torch whenever I can. Marketing is something I do while I’m watching TV at night. I’ll list new items and shoot out links through all my networking sites, and chat with my friends on Plurk. My husband bought me a laptop for Christmas so I wouldn’t be stuck in the back room with my desktop all the time.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
Glass, glass, glass and more glass!! There are many different manufacturers and so many colors to try out.

I really do recommend dropping by Glasstastic Treasures on ArtFire, it is well worth a visit.

One Shop or Two?
by contributing columnist Ashley Pahl aka AshleyPahl

Having an Etsy, Artfire or Folksy shop can sometimes be a very time-consuming activity. Why would a person want to open a second shop? There are many good reasons for making the decision to have two stores, and sometimes it is the right choice. Some good reasons for opening a second shop include:

1. Introducing a new line of items or a different style.

2. Selling handmade if you own a supply shop, or vintage if you own a handmade shop, etc.

3. A shop appears cluttered and is overwhelming to shop browsers.

4. Separating the popular money-makers from the more serious art forms.

5. Dividing a wide range of prices into two so that shoppers can focus and better compare products.

Buyers may have an easier time focusing on the items they are looking for if they are separated from the additional miscellanea that you sell. For example, if you mostly make knit hats, but also have your handmade earrings peppered in your shop, it may be too distracting for shoppers who came to your shop looking for hats. Alternatively, if you have a shop that specializes in sterling silver jewelry, it may help a shopper to focus on what they really want if the more expensive pieces are separated from less expensive “silver-toned” pieces.

Having a second shop may even get you more exposure. You can be listed in directories twice, in Etsy’s search engine twice (when searching for sellers), and could be stumbled upon twice.

The downside, of course, is that a second shop is twice the work. Two shops to stock; two shops to market and promote; two shops to make listings for; two shops to answer messages for and complete feedback for. Additionally, if you decide to move items that you already have listed in one shop to a new shop, you will need to do so manually: copy and paste the titles, descriptions, and materials, re-type the tags, make new shipping profiles, and upload the photos all over again. Not only that, but you will lose all of the hearts and views you have accumulated for such items. Your shop’s feedback will be back at zero and you’ll have to find a way to bring shoppers to your second store.

For many, it may be worth adding a new product line to the original shop and see how it fairs. Additionally, it may help to organize the “clutter” of the first shop into something more manageable for browsers. The shop sections feature and Rearrange Shop feature are both great for accomplishing such a task.

If the pros outweigh the cons and you decide to go for it, here are some things to remember when opening a second store:

1. You will need a second email address. Each email address can only be linked to one account on Etsy.

2. You will need to disclose your additional shops. You must link from your first shop to your second shop and vice versa either in your shop announcement, profile, or shop policies page.

3. All listings must be manually re-listed. There is no way to just switch them to a new account, and you will have to pay listing fees again.

4. The same PayPal account can be used for multiple Etsy accounts – there is no limit.

5. If you are not using the same banner, avatar, packaging materials and business cards that you use for your first shop, you may need to get new ones, which will add additional costs.

All in all, the decision to open a second online shop is really an individual one. What works for one business may not pan out for another. It may be worth the financial risk to open a new store, or it may be more practical to better manage your first shop. Many Etsy businesses do quite well with multiple shops, and as the old adage goes, “you never know until you try”.

Poster image courtesy of   The LoveShop

“Open” image courtesy of   The Back Porch Shoppe

By contributing columnist Elle aka: EllesDesigns

It’s Not Art…

As I browsed the newest items on Folksy this week, I came across a really beautiful necklace that caught my eye. The ‘scimitar’ shaped pendant featured gorgeous shades of purple, with just enough silver to reflect the light, and eye catching layers, too. I was mesmerised, and the shop just gets better! Not only does it feature really beautiful, contemporary jewellery, they are all made with recycled materials too!

I decided to talk to the shop owner about their new business, and how it was going! Annie started making jewellery to wear herself, and eventually began giving it to friends and family. They were really impressed with her talents, and suggested she start selling online…it’s a big first step, though! I really struggled with gaining the confidence to list my items, but Annie didn’t have the same problem. Within a week she has created a shop on both Folksy and Misi, and started making sales!
Her inspiration for pieces often comes from what she has in the house to craft with. As well as unwanted CDs, which created the gorgeous necklace that attracted my attention, she has made pieces with dominoes, chess pieces, mah jong tiles, draughts pieces, and bottle tops. Things that would usually be thrown away are transformed into really gorgeous, unique pieces.

And the name? It‘s Not Art  was inspired by a stamp, she recalls. “Lots of people get really precious about ‘art’ and so on, and I liked the self-deprecating tone of the stamp and adopted it as my name”. It’s certainly a name I think you’ll be seeing a lot of, the whole collection is utterly gorgeous!

I’m off to look for more new talent on Folksy, but let me know what you think of Annie’s work…I’m in love with it! It’s definitely on my wish list.

Photo courtesy of Gypsy Pottery

By Contributing Columnist  Amy McCarthy aka Amy Orange  Juice

Getting your work in Galleries in 10 easy steps

Hi, I am Amy and this is my first article for IndieSmiles, I hope you find it useful!

I am a stained glass and mixed media artist working in Devon, in the UK and I sell my wares on Folksy and in a range of galleries and shops around South West England. Lots of my Folksy friends ask me how I pluck the courage up to go and approach galleries and how to go about selling yourself and your products.

So in response, here is my guide to getting into shops and galleries……

1. Pros and cons, ask yourself is retail selling right for you? I tend to make a bit less profit when selling to shops and galleries as they double my price, so I tend to lower my profit margin a little. BUT I get lots of exposure (people can follow up your website/ask for a custom item or commission) the gallery will market and sell your work for you. I don’t have to pay for or set up a craft stall; essentially I can leave my items and walk away; which as a busy mum of 2 is invaluable to me.

2. Can you be organised? You need to keep a really good record of where you items are, what you are expecting to be paid and how much stock they have. I learned this the hard way when a shop lost several of my pieces and I did not have a record of exactly what, so I could not effectively challenge them.

3. Sale or return. I have only ever managed to sell my work out right to one shop; everything else is sale or return. You have to have to be able to trust that they will pay you; so only go with established shops or people you can trust. I am still waiting to be paid for an order I sent to a gallery before Christmas and I have to be realistic in assuming I am going to have to really push them to pay me! But most galleries will ask for your bank details and debit you on a monthly basis by BACS.  Smaller outlets may still wait for you to go in and pick up a cheque. Remember, sale or return allows galleries to take a chance on you, they can see if you sell and if so then they may reorder, it gives small artists big chances! Have an invoice book and always get a receipt.

4. Research where you want to sell and visit them, note what they are selling (do they have themes, special interests etc), pricing, how much is imported/local and think if you want to put your name with them. If you don’t like the look of somewhere or their ethos then don’t sell to them, there are plenty more shops on the high street!

5. Use your friends and contacts. My first doors opened by talking to friends who were selling in galleries and shops. My dear friend Hesta (aka GreenGlamour) is an established artist and she really gave me the confidence to start approaching galleries myself and put in a good word for me (so it seemed appropriate to use photos of her work available on Folksy for this article).

6. Pricing; remember that most galleries double the price you sell to them for, so be sure you can make a profit. It is important to remember that what might sound like a lot of money to you may not to someone else. You are not necessarily trying to sell to your own economic bracket!

7. Less is not more. Having a decent amount of stock in a shop always leads to better sales; it makes your stuff stand out from other artists and makes your work more of a feature in the shop. Prepare a good range of products (at least 6 of each kind of thing you want to sell in a range of prices) and work out what you want to tell the retailer about them.

8. Go say hello. I have tried lots of contact methods and this is the best. When you go check out the gallery say hello and explain yourself and your work, if possible leave a card. Go home and email them a short bio and some good quality pictures (do not be disheartened if they do not respond, a gallery I have a very established relationship with never reply to my emails). A few days later follow up with a phone call asking if they saw your email and if they would be happy for you to come in with your work, then make an appointment and take everything you want to sell not just a sample (remember my at least 6 things rule).

9. Take a deep breath, be prepared to go home with your stuff again and go and talk to them. Be yourself, they have already said yes to a meeting so they are interested. Be positive and smile! Give them a chance to look through your work and if they say no, ask why. One shop really liked my stuff but I didn’t fit with her French theme, so I just had to move on to the next one on my list!

10. Tell the world. When your work is in a shop tell your friends and family about the great shop your work is for sale in, put it on your blog, facebook etc, what is good for the shop is good for you!

Good Luck!

Hair Band Pic courtesy of Green Glamour

Lion pic courtesy of It belongs to Turtle

By Contributing Columnist Ashley Pahl aka AshleyPahl

Every day, countless new shops full of beautiful art and handmade items open on Etsy.com. Among those shops are artists who think outside the box and fill their online store with amazingly creative and unique ideas. Shops to Watch, a monthly article, highlights these artists and the works that fill their shops.

This month features the art of Melissa Wagner-Lawler, shop owner of Red Thread Letter. Wagner-Lawler, a printmaker, sculptor, and book artist, has trained at both the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies. Her portfolio of prints, sculpture, and books are available for viewing at her website, www.RedThreadLetterPress.com. Currently located in Milwaukee, Melissa Wagner-Lawler exhibits locally, nationally, and internationally.

Melissa’s Etsy shop, however, focuses on handcrafted jewelry inspired by natural and organic forms. In particular, her series of cellular-inspired necklaces stands out. The necklaces are inspired by irregular and organic patterns found in nature. They come in many different colors and no two are alike. Wagner-Lawler shared with me her thoughts on running a shop an Etsy shop and creating a focused collection, receiving an education in art, and her biggest inspirations.

What led you to your decision to get an education in art?

For me, there was never any decision that had to be made; it was really the only thing
that I ever wanted to do. It was the natural progression. The real decision was what
did I want to do after receiving my master’s. I debated about whether or not I wanted
to teach, and in the end, I just kind of fell into it. Currently, I’m teaching art at two
institutions and I couldn’t be happier.

Where did your love for organic forms come from?

It’s hard to pinpoint. Overall, I’d have to say that I like mimicking or attempting to
mimic natural forms. I’m more attracted to other people’s representation of organic
forms than the actual forms themselves.

What else inspires you?

Most of my inspiration comes from subtleties in texture and pattern and slight shifts in
color; this is why the majority of the pieces in my shop are somewhat monochromatic.
Keeping the colors very similar or the same allows for the focus to be put on the design,
pattern, or texture and maintains simplicity, in that respect.

Also, contrasts in materials and forms, such as organic versus industrial, continually
interest me as well.

What is your favorite piece, current or sold, in your Etsy shop?

The larger asymmetrical pieces with the chain are definitely my favorite. They embody
the contrast of the materials – the beauty of the beaded form versus the industrial, rock
‘n roll side of the chain.

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=21955640

This piece was definitely hard to part with as well:

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=22341273

What work of art from your portfolio means the most to you?

On some level, I am attached to all of them. It would be difficult for me to pinpoint one
over another, but typically my sculpture items I can never part with simply for the
amount of time that it takes to create them.

Is there an art technique you not yet tried, but would like to?

I’ve always wanted to try blown glass, but have not yet found the resources to do so.
I’ve tried nearly everything that is art and crafty, especially when it comes to my
professional artwork.

What piece of advice would you give to another artist wanting to open an Etsy
shop?

Producing high quality items that you can stand behind is of the utmost importance. It
can be a daunting task to decide what you want to focus on in your shop, but having
one type of item that you excel at producing will get you further than trying to dabble in
multiple areas. Overall, I believe that buyers want to see an Etsy seller that is
committed to their product(s) and have taken the time to refine them. The old adage
practice makes perfect definitely applies!

What are your long term plans for your artwork?

Well, one can never show their work in too many exhibitions! Being a cross‐disciplinary
artist (printmaking and sculpture), I find myself often being pulled in one direction over
the other and then a few months later that direction flips back again. Currently, I am
focusing on printmaking and making some small‐scale etchings and larger collagraph
pieces. However, in a few months, I’ll be interested in sculpture again and then I’ll be
working on expanding a piece from my MFA Thesis that I’ve been continuously putting
on hold.

Thanks so much to Melissa for taking the time to talk to us at Indie Smiles, and may your success continue!

Tracy Smith of Cinnamon Jewellery

What inspires you to create and how did you choose the medium you work in? Every artist/designer has a story to tell ~ I compared notes with four Jewellery Designers on Folksy to find out what stories lie behind their creations.

A love of jewellery, going to a beading class, a horse~riding accident and beads themselves are what started these Folksy sellers making their own jewellery.

Becky of Folksy shop Red Bird Jewellery tried every craft from mosaics to knitting but it was after taking a beading class that she started making jewellery. “It’s like a bit of an obsession. I find myself talking to people’s necklaces instead of them, as I try to figure out how it was put together. I just can’t get enough of it. I’ve got lots and lots to learn, and I’ve just bought a soldering kit, so I’m going to try a bit more metalwork. I’m very excited!” I asked Becky what inspires her designs ~ “It’s a bit of an old cliche, but I do love nature, the colours and shapes of leaves and flowers, rivers flowing – there’s so much to inspire. I also look to other craft types to figure out what colours would go together, and would love to try to incorporate more fabric into my jewellery – look out for some pieces later in the spring”

Lorraine of Folksy shop FairlyGirly also took a jewellery making course at a local Arts Centre. “I have always loved wearing jewellery and this was my chance to make some for myself. After making items for myself and friends, they were so delighted with them that they persuaded me to start selling them and that was how FairlyGirly was created”. Lorraine’s inspiration comes from the beads themselves. “I love the shapes and colours of them and the ability to design something that is unique. I offer a custom made service to my customers and it is lovely to be able to make something to go perfectly with an outfit or bag. It is very pleasing to see others wearing your creations.”

A crafting weekend in 2001 where she learned to bead using seed beads, a needle and thread is how Jean of Folksy shop Talking Beads first started making jewellery. “I taught my friend and together we increased our range of stitches and eventually started to teach bead weaving and took our work to craft fairs and opened up a web site. We no longer teach but still sell online and supply a local shop with our jewellery.”

Jean’s inspiration comes from colour. “Having a box of beads in front of me, peace and quiet and a few hours to spend…… bliss. I spread out my beading mats and do a ‘pick and mix’ of my beads and they seem to come together of their own accord. When I buy beads I just top up colours and shapes with no particular project in mind. I then have the beads when I am ready and feeling arty! I enjoy commissions, being asked to create a special piece can be daunting but I love to take the finished item to my customer. In fact, my customers inspire me to do better and better designs.”

Amanda of Folksy shop Gimme That Thing wanted to make jewellery from the age of 14 but it was only after an accident that she actually started. “It was only last August, when I had a riding accident and broke a vertebra, that I was unable to pick up heavy bags of clay to work on my ceramic designs, and started making glass beaded jewellery, as it was something that I could do sitting down. I have now discovered the versatility of precious metal clay and am moving forward with more adventurous and creative designs”.
Amanda is inspired by “Nature’s amazing and sometimes surprising colour combinations, fireworks and the sea. I like to put colours together that shouldn’t really work, such as pink and red.”

Finding your inspiration to create a piece of beautiful jewellery is only part of the process. Finding the right beads and findings is also important. The internet has opened up a huge world of beads and jewellery making supplies at our fingertips. I asked Becky, Lorraine, Amanda and Jean where they source their materials…………………

Becky: “I would love to buy locally as it would be nice to see what I’m actually buying when it comes to gems, etc, but I usually end up buying online. I can also spend a fortune at bead shows. I wish there was somewhere around here that I could pop along to, but I’m figuring out now which are the best online suppliers”.

Lorraine buys all her supplies from UK online stores. “A lot of my purchases have to be online as I only have local access to one shop, and I like to use a wide variety of beads and findings. I also purchase handmade lampwork beads from other UK artists, as I like the opportunity to support them and use their wonderful beads in my designs. The disadvantage of buying online, is that sometimes the quality and size of the beads when they arrive aren’t as expected. When this happens I don’t use them, as I have set myself quality standards which I keep to! Once a year I do get the chance to visit a bead fair, there is nothing quite the same as handpicking the beads yourself. It usually ends up being an expensive day!!”

Amanda also buys her jewellery making goodies online. “I have worked my way through most of the good bead and findings suppliers and now have 4 favourites that always stock what I need at good prices.”

Jeans buys everywhere. “I am afraid that I do not buy everything from any particular shop. My first stop for toggles and clasps as well as crystals and swarovski pearls would be “Noseks Just Gems” and for pearls my first stop is “Sandstones“. Both online shops are very good and respond quickly to a request. In the beading world we always want the beads NOW PLEASE and we cannot wait for 3-5 days delivery. The shop I visit is Bijoux Beads in Bath. Dangerous, as there is no such thing as popping in to look.”

I’d like to say a big “Thank You” to Becky, Lorraine, Amanda and Jean from Folksy for taking the time to answer my questions and making this such an interesting article. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it!
Now enjoy their slideshow!

Donut bracelet pic courtsy of Art and Candies

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