Lynette Andreasen

I am pleased to introduce Lynette Andreasen , from Mesa, Arizona of Asymmetry on Etsy. She sells unique handmade jewelry that are mostly one of a kind pieces. If you spend any amount of time on Etsy you have seen her work displayed in many front page treasuries . She certainly has a unique style- her most interesting pieces mix metal and fiber. I love her work and hope you enjoy the interview and pictures.

What is your “real” life?
Right now, my real life is being a student. I am in my second year of graduate school in the metals program at ASU working on my MFA. I have been married for 5 years. I volunteer at a Boys and Girls Club and enjoy everything related to art.

What is your process?
I don't do a lot of sketching, I make a lot of samples and do a lot of trials. I reject a lot of pieces before I come up with a final product. I love working in silver and copper and combining metal with embroidery and fibers. My favorite tool in the studio is the hydraulic press for die forming.

What are your goals and vision for your business?
I want to finish my MFA and then work on getting my work into galleries. I'd like to do some of the bigger shows like the American Craft show. I think I may decide to teach metalsmithing, but want to focus first on getting my work out into the world.

How and where do you market your business?
Mostly my marketing is through word of mouth. Also, a lot of people find my work through my blog. Blogging is a great way to let people know who you are as an artist, and then through you they become more interested in your work when they get to know the maker behind it.

Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
18kt
Metalcyberspace

The Carrot Box

Zero 925
Design*Sponge

What inspires you?
Materials and my relationships with other people.

Who is your favorite musical artist? (click on the artist name to see video)
Pearl Jam

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
Embroiderd neclace in Warm tones
Sterling Silver Stick Earrings with Rivets

I am a fan of...
Corey Ackelmire
Elsa Mora
Megan Auman
Post Secret
Margaux Lange

Find Seller....
www.lynetteandreasen.com website
www.lynetteandreasen.blogspot.com blog
www.asymmetry.etsy.com shop

A Blond and A Torch

I am pleased to introduce Jen Nixon from Nome, Texas of A Blond And A Torch. She makes and sells mostly sterling silver jewelry--rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and now cuff links. She likes to keep things simple, but elegant. She says, "Sometimes less really is more."

What is your “real” life like?
My real life is crazy right now! On top of being a domestic goddess, I am trying to recover from hurricane Ike, raise my 12 year old son, and still find time to hang out with my husband. On top of that, I have two dogs outside, Layla and Lucy, and two inside cats, Ginger and Max.

What is your process?
I typically work with sterling silver, sometimes gold-fill and brass. I prefer using simple soldering techniques and, of course, I love to beat things into submission with my hammer.

What are your goals and vision for your business?
Well, when this started it was just a hobby to lower stress. Now I am selling online and in a few stores scattered around the U.S. I would like to see my online business grow in the short term, and my wholesale accounts grow in the future. However, I am terrified of success......LOL

How and where do you market your business?
Mainly I try to get myself out there online. I am on Trunkt:
www.trunkt.org/ablondandatorch
Flickr:
http://flickr.com/photos/jennixon/
And I have my blog:
http://ablondandatorch.blogspot.com/

What inspires you?
Nature inspires me--I love flowers and I have been working on a series of flower-like rings. I also love the shapes that I find all around me.

Who is your favorite musical artist?
Oh, such a tough question! I really don't have one. I get sick of songs so easily so what I like is always changing. I have to say that when I am the car I will catch myself speeding if Saving Abel comes on!

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
This always changes too! Right now I love these Striation Rings:
Pictured below
They just catch so much attention when I wear them!
And of course my bangles:
Pictured above
Which I wear many of!

I am a fan of...
Sandra Eileen-Jewelry For Your Good Life:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5168107
Funky Quail:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5420568
Une Petite Etoile:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5085211
Passemeterie:
http://www.shoppassementerie.com/

Find me...
www.trunkt.org/ablondandatorch
http://flickr.com/photos/jennixon/
http://ablondandatorch.blogspot.com/
http://www.smashingdarling.com/item/hammered-band

Sprout Jewelry

Name
Krista DeJoseph

Location
New York, NY

Business Name
Sprout Jewelry

Describe what you sell.
Handcrafted jewelry. I describe my style as “Industrial Organic,” because it’s a fusion of sleek lines and natural shapes. I use very few stones or gems in my work; instead I try to create visual interest by mixing metals and multi-dimensional shapes.

What is your real life like?
Hmmm. Well, no kids, no pets. I live in an apartment with two roommates, an ever-rotating cast of house guests, friends that live in the apartment above us, and both of my brothers live a few blocks away. Ultimately, I feel like my life is a circus of friends, family, and jewelry making! Jewelry is my full time job, though I also work one or two days a week as an academic advisor at a local University. I’m always busy with jewelry, but I definitely make traveling and seeing live music priorities too. I spent most of August in Morocco, and I’m already plotting my next journey!

What is your process?
Well, my creative process is usually born out of procrastination. If I’m not feeling motivated to fill orders, I’ll usually start messing around with some scraps and sometimes something cool comes out of it. As for my tools, well, as any jewelry designer will attest, buying jewelry tools is truly addictive! I have to be careful about acquiring too many, since my work space is so cramped. But I do love my torch and my dremel!

Business Goals and Vision...
Ha ha, well, my vision for the business is always changing. Sometimes I feel like my newer pieces have evolved beyond what are considered the “signature” style of Sprout Jewelry, so from time to time, I consider producing my newer, more industrial pieces as a separate line under a different name. But then I worry about saddling myself with the added responsibility of juggling two lines, two marketing concepts… two of everything! So that’s something that I need to resolve. Also, I need to start making bigger investments in the business, beyond materials and such. I hired a graphic designer a few months ago, and that was scary! I was entrusting her to shape the look of my business. But she has really done some great work, so the investment proved to be well worth it.

How do you market your business?
Ads in magazines like Bust, Venus and Craft. Lots of promotion on Etsy. A mailing list. Business cards. A customer appreciation program. Word of mouth is huge too. Whenever someone emails me to tell me they love their new Sprout piece, I tell them the best way that they can thank me is to pass on my website to their friends.

Do you subscribe to any business related blogs,zines or magazines?
I read Accessory Magazine. And I’ve been trying to read a lot of books and online articles about marketing and graphic design, to help me improve the “business” aspect of my business!

What inspires you?
I love light fixtures! I’m forever photographing lights in NYC. I really love light bulb encased in cages of metal. I’m working on a new line that is inspired by these shapes!

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
I love the Paloma necklace (first picture) – visually, the shape is just very unique, and the touch of copper that I incorporated is a fun twist. And the Cleo bracelet;(last picture) making it was truly a labor of love, but it came out so well in the end.

Am a fan of these places...
Aside from the obvious (email, etsy, and facebook) I always check the Onion, NYTimes.com, and Feministing.com. Oh, and Perezhilton.com, though I feel guilty admitting it!

Find seller at...
I have a website: www.sproutjewelry.net which will link you to my blog: www.sproutjewelry.blogspot.com and my etsy page: www.sproutonline.etsy.com

Pink Papillon Jewelry

Name
Mary Ann Springer

Location
Central New Jersey.....in the historic town of Crosswicks...settled in 1670

Business Name
Pink Papillon

Describe what you sell.
Custom hand stamped jewelry in precious metals

What is your real life like?
Ha-ha! This *is* my real life!! Stamping has completely taken over! But seriously, I live in a fabulous small historic town called Crosswicks located in central New Jersey with my husband Nick, my children Noah (7) and Hope (5) along with a menagerie of pets including a 4 pound Yorkie, and Australian Shepherd, 4 cats, many fish, and Sea Monkeys! When I am not hammering jewelry you usually can find me running or at the gym. I also love to learn new jewelry techniques~~ before stamping took over my life, I actually made all kinds of jewelry!

What is your process?
I start with raw materials~~ which is SO satisfying when you finally end up with a finished product! I do a variety of things~~ I may saw or cut, use the torch (my FAVORITE), bend and shape, file and buff, antique~~ of an d of course, individually hand stamp each and every letter. I think that is important for people to know as some people think I "set" all the letters first, and then use something to stamp it all at once. Not so! I lovingly hand stamp each letter one at a time!

Business Goals and Vision...
This has been a big year for pink papillon jewelry~~ I have grown and expanded so much and have been extremely busy. This is the first year both of my children are in school all day. In the past I limited the amount of wholesale accounts I took on, just as I didn't feel I had enough time for any more. I am very excited as this opens up a lot of extra time for me, and I can not only allow more accounts, but I am thinking about do the large vendor shows in New York City to *really* get the pink papillon name out there!

How do you market your business?
Everywhere! I am pretty much open to whatever comes my way. I used to pay for many different advertising opportunities, but I started to find that the little things I did free of charge were the most beneficial to me. This is my best advertising advise to anyone! For example, I was asked to write and article for the Soft Flex Wire company~~ a fabulous opportunity, as they as so well known and have a very popular website! I have stayed with them and not only wrote another article, but was named their Designer of the Month! All for free! Now, I am not saying I wouldn't pay for a fabulous advertising opportunity, but I really do think that there are ways to advertise yourself with great results if you keep your eyes open!

Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
One that I *really* like is www.seekingdesigners.com.
For a small monthly fee you can set up a "look shop" on their site. They then will send you press releases and press opportunities through email. They also will send around a "Designer News Flash" where you can sort of toot your own horn and have other people see it! It has been really interesting!

What inspires you?
Nothing specific, really.....I'll just see something...a gemstone, or whatever and just think, "Wouldn't that look nice with X?" Or I will just sit there and put pieces together and see what I like!

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
I am in LOVE with my new font~~ I call it the "Designer" font as you will find it *no where* else but in my shop as it was created by my husband just for me! I have been stamping for years, and in the beginning my block and my girlie font were enough. But as the stamping world has grown at an incredible pace, I like to keep my self a little ahead of the game. So I guess anything in my new font would be a favorite! I also really love my gold vermeil Initial Necklace with the Thai flower~~ I designed it so the flower is propped up a little and it is just the sweetest thing to wear~~ I love it!

Am a fan of these places...
Oh gosh, I am the BIGGEST online shopper, so this one is hard. Let's see.
I am addicted to the cupcakes at Fat Daddy Bake Shop on etsy. They are HIGHLY recommended by me!
I also love to visit www.stylebakery.com.
I think I keep Sephora in business all by myself! I buy tons of outfits for my daughter at http://www.liliputians-nyc.com/ CUTE stuff. Of course I love
Face Book and
my blog! (see link below)

Find seller at...
All over! But directly at: www.pinkpapillon.com or my blog at www.pinkpapillonsilver.blogspot.com

Howlindoggie- Jewelry

Name
Ceeb Wassermann

Location
Sydney, Australia

Business Name
howlindoggie

Describe what you sell.
Handmade limited edition & OOAK jewelry

What is your real life like?
I am a full time Jeweller. I have a husband, daughter, cat, dog & goldfish. I love road trips. Vacations (they don't happen much, as we work a lot), art, drawing, movies, music, scuba, reading and of course my primary love is making & designing my work.oh, and I love great food!


What is your process?
my most favorite technique is sawpiercing. This is reflected in a lot of my work. I work in gold silver, platinum or any metal, it just depends on the piece. Sometimes I dream pieces, other times I set myself challenges


Business Goals and Vision...
I would like to expand my internet business (eg. Etsy & my website) as this is quite a new field for me. I want to sell more of my production work in stores overseas.


How do you market your business?
word of mouth mostly , blogs, some minor advertising and I belong to the fabulous etsymetal group. Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
I do only one at the moment as one of them did not work for me, so I'm still looking around for others.


What inspires you?
The ocean, Japanese design, Alchemy, Carl Jung, Matisse, Chopin, Travel, Music, amongst other things.

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
Chrysanthemum pendant(first picture) & The Jane Johnston Cuff (pictured below)

Am a fan of these places...
Etsymetal.com
experimetal.esty.com
nanopod.etsy.com
moxieandoliver.etsy.com
saschaK.etsy.com
JapaneseTreasures.etsy.com

Find seller at...
www.howlindoggie.etsy.com
www.ceebwassermann.com/splash
www.mettledesignstudio.blogspot.com/

BallAndChain Jewelry

I am in love with Katrina Ballings jewelry creations! Here sterling silver silhouette collection is da BOMB! She makes other types of jewelry as well, another of my favorites being her crocheted chain necklaces. Truly inspired! and inspiring....take a look....

Name
Katrina Balling

Location
Redhook, Brooklyn NY

Business Name
Ballandchain Jewelry

Describe what you sell
I have a variety of jewelry... I will describe it based on the sections in my store:
Kitschy silhouettes- Hand sawn sterling silver silhouette necklaces mostly with a tool or everyday object theme.
Crocheted chain necklaces
Open the door - Necklaces featuring vintage keys, or solid silver castings of my favorite keys.
Casting Call- Jewelry made with the lost wax casting method
Asymmetry- Necklaces made with a focus on asymmetrical design or combinations of chain, stones, and or beads Vintage Reinvented-Vintage findings & parts remade into new jewelry designs Simplicity - Pretty stones or special beads simply on chain Semi Precious earrings Vintage Beads- designs made with a focus on unique & colorful vintage glass beads.
Chunky Chain - simple large bold chain necklaces

What is your real life like?
Job-I do surface design for a home furnishings
company.
I also make oil paintings, and just had a show this
past January in NH. I would have to say after my job,
my painting, jewelry making and Etsy, my hobby is
sewing, though I haven't done that in a long time! I
also like to crochet scarves, and will do that to &
from work on the subway in the winter.
I am happily married to my husband who is also a
painter. We have a cat & dog. We are both originally
from NH, but love our life in Brooklyn & love the
city.


What is your process?
My process is to work on what I am the most interested
in at the time. I suppose I use whatever I need to
realize my ideas. Mostly I have been concentrating on
my hand sawn shapes, but recently I have been
experimenting with the lost wax process. I enjoy
working with the wax-getting back to sculpture, which
I originally went to school for. After learning to
crochet 2 years ago I immediately tried it with chain
& love the result.

Business Goals and Vision...
I love that Etsy gives me an easy to use venue &
presence online. I hope to develop my online presence
more, I think website each for both my painting and my
jewelry are short term goals.
Long term plans, I hope to always be making things and
being creative.

How do you market your business?
I mostly market my business on Etsy itself. I have
images on flicker and indiepublic, but find it hard to
spend time there. I'd rather be in my studio working.
I do have some jewelry in a couple local stores in
Redhook- Atlantis...Found, and at another fellow
Etsian's store: Metal and Thread, and in Philadelphia
at VIX Emporium, another Etsian.


Do you subscribe to any business related blogs,zines or magazines?
Blogs:
dailycandy
rarebird finds
cakespy
etsy finds
Magazines:
readymade magazine
otherwise whatever magazine catches my eye on the news
stand.
I suppose it may be less business related, more for
researching fashion & trend.

What inspires you?
Color is definitely a huge obsession. I can sit &
play with it forever! I love to see vibrant colors
work together. Color makes me happy. I love to
collect vintage glass beads because of this, and
sometimes find them hard to part with. Also I think
jewelry making satisfies my need to hoard pretty shiny
things.
Also humor, is an inspiration. I find humor in making
images of everyday objects into a piece of adornment.
I wish my work to have a sense of playfulness,
sometimes to actually be a visual joke. Wouldn't it be
funny if...


What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
Underpants sterling silver necklace
Milk Jug sterling silver necklace
I suppose I think they are the funniest!

Am a fan of these places...
www.reprodepot.com
www.contemporarycloth.com
printpattern.blogspot.com
www.terryberry.etsy.com
www.gretchenwagoner.etsy.com

Find seller at...
jewelry:
www.ballandchain.etsy.com

painting:
www.mcgowanfineart.com/balling.html