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

Parisol Supplies

Name
Wendy Doss

Business Name
Parisol (spelled wrong intentionally!)

Location
San Francisco

Describe what you sell
Parisol offers quality supplies:sterling silver and vermeil findings,vintage jewelry components,exquisite gemstones, freshwater pearls, rare beads and eclectic flea market finds. Some items are destash. If I only need a half of a strand of gemstones why not sell the other half...we all save money. Some of my best sellers are sterling silver charms and pendants from Los Angeles, people seem to like angel wings, crowns, skeleton keys and fleur de lys motifs. Sterling and vermeil ball end headpins. Vermeil headpins are on order, I promise!! They sold out very fast this round

How do you market yourself? What is your target market?
On every order, I send out a "thank you" notice, along with shipping tracking info, and an invitation to join my mailing list. I think it's also good idea to add each customer or potential customer as a favorite seller and a favorite piece or two as well. I send out email messages ocassionally, and only when I've acquired some exciting new or popular product. My target market is jewelry designers that use quality or vintage components in their wares.

What do you offer that sets you apart from the other supply sellers on Etsy?
I've been told that I am the only seller to offer 26 gauge vermeil ball end headpins, which is nice and thin enough to fit through tiny gemstones. As a jewelry designer myself I noticed in my searches a lack of quality sterling silver supplies on Etsy so I thought it would be a good idea to offer some. I'm pretty picky about products and I believe that the goods I choose to sell should be something I love and would use myself. I am always on the hunt for new treasures and unique and special finds for etsy, that's half the fun!

What is your “real” life like?
Let's see, I live in an old victorian dwelling in SF with tons of character with my husband Mark and my two cats Ferdinand and Isadora. For many years I worked full time downtown with the last couple of years also running an online jewelry business putting in 60+ hours per week, dreaming of the day I can do what I love instead. I eventually decided to try work part time, which was great for a while, until I was layed off. Now, I work full time at maintaining my three etsy shops {antique artisan jewelry, gemstone jewelry & supplies store}, as well as, filling in doing odd jobs, ie. helping friends paint, organize and sometimes gardening. I've been miraculously making it work for about a year now! I also love the movies, entertaining, and am a bit of a foodie.

Any offers you want to give blog readers?
Mention you read about my shop in Debbie's blog and receive free shipping on your first order!

Find seller at...
parisol.etsy.com

MyFriendRoze - Jewelry Artist

I am pleased to introduce you to the work of Rose from myfriendroze on Etsy. Rose specialized in silver work- making bracelets, necklaces, rings and some other fun things in interesting shaped and textures. She is just getting started on Etsy so check her shop out and add her to your favorites as she is always coming up with new ways to make her craft stand out from the crowd.
Read the interview....

Name Rose Braunstein

Business Name
My jewelry line is called myfriendroze. I got that name from my old life in the music industry. I was making jewelry all the time and one of the famousies I worked for asked for a ring for free. He then promptly lost it, so I made another one- he lost that too. He then asked for another one, and I said "you'll have to buy it like everyone else" he then said "don't you want my publicity for free?" I replied "why yes I do absolutely want your publicity for free---what's my last name?" He had no idea. So I said "what kind of publicity am I getting? do you just say "my friend rose made it?"

Location Los Angeles CA - specifically Glassel Park/Eagle Rock

Describe what you sell.
Handmade sterling silver and 14k (usually rose colored) gold with semiprecious and precious stones thrown in for good measure.

What is your real life like?

Real life? well for several (I'm too young to say exactly how many) years I did radio promotion in the music industry...until about a year ago, I had it and quit to travel the world (in no particular order I went to Israel, Egypt, Peru, Argentina, Turkey, England, Ireland and Romania -to name a few) to buy crafts, and make jewelry and sculpture. I was always making jewelry in my "spare" time" but never selling it or anything like that. I was a sculpture major at Parsons, but somehow got caught up in music and lost a few years there. So now I sit at home with my female dog George and cat Puppycat and try to create and not worry about bills. (for some reason they keep coming I can't stop them)

What is your process?

Though I was a sculpture major I am self taught in jewelry- so everything is a happy accident. I hope that I can figure things out as I go- many times I cannot and there are piles of wasted lovely materials lying around. Most recently I tried my hand at making a mold for casting... I used plaster and then poured wax into it... it didn't work as well as I had hoped- although I did get a few pieces of "bubblewrap" jewelry out of it.. so I am going to try rubber later in the week.

Business Goals and Vision...

My bubblewrap and I plan to take over the world. Ok well first I hope to make a few sales on Etsy and get into some more brick and mortar stores. I am looking for a rep but don't know how to find one really. I need one that deals with one of a kind items.. I always want to be involved in making the jewelry so although maybe I should want to be in mass merchants I don't know that it will ever be possible since I can't make 400 items a day by myself.

How do you market your business?
Mostly online with social networking sites (and your blog) and through friends in the music industry and word of mouth.

What inspires you?
I'm one of those people that has some version of ADD- though I think that term is overused- for example I'm hammering circles for something and I go to wash my hands and there are bubbles and then I remember bubblewands from when I was a kid and I want to make something that looks like a bubblewand and then I do, and then I think well how can this be a ring too, and then I see mosaic and I think how can I put mosaic in my pieces and then I have to send something and there is bubblewrap and I want to cast it and then I see something orange and I want my displays to be orange and then I get hungry.


What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
I really do love my new bubblewrap pieces if I haven't mentioned that enough and I also love my new bubble mosaic pieces.

Am a fan of these places...
Facebook
Etsy
Flickr
Myspace
Google
I wish it was Paypal

Find Rose at...
myfriendroze.etsy.com
myfriendroze.com

flickr.com/photos/myfriendroze/
little-corners.blogspot.com/