Wearable by Design

I am honored that Jennifer Smith-Righter from Redwood City, California of Wearable by Design has allowed us to take a look at her life and process. She has a unique custom jewelry studio that designs and creates individual works of art. I was amazed that her art is made with PMC- it is extremely fine and upscale. It has given me a new view about what is possible with PMC . I can only fit so many pictures here- make sure you check out her shop to see the rest of her work.


What is your real life like?
I'm married, have lots of grown children and a funny fur baby named Gizmo (He's a Shih-Tzu). I'm pretty passionate about my jewelry and so I spend most of my time creating.

What is your process?
I work mostly in Metal Clay. I love the fact that it is reclaimed silver and has a green aspect to it. I also can use every single scrap of it with very little waste. I prefer to work in Lab Created stones so that I know I am not funding questionable activities in third world countries. But I also work with semi-precious stones whose provenance I know well.
One of the reasons I'm so in love with metal clay is that I can do so many things with it using very little space or equipment.



Business Goals and Vision...
I hope to have my work in galleries after the first of the year. I would love to always be a hands on creator and therefore would love to be able to keep the pace steady at a few finished pieces per week.

How do you market your business?
Mostly on Etsy: www.wearablebydesign.etsy.com
I also have a Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30172497@N02/
I belong to two Etsy teams, JET Team and EMC Team

Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
I am a member of the Yahoo Metal Clay Group
Yahoo Etsy Metal Clay Group
I am a sometimes writer of articles for Art Jewelry Magazine -- I have a subscriber only tutorial on their website entitled "Time Machine" and am in the current (November) issue with an article entitled "Arts and Crafts". Their website is: http://www.artjewelrymag.com/art/Default.aspx
I am a member of the Jewelry Artists Network
The Starving Jewelry Artists Forum
I am a member of the PMC Guild: http://www.pmcguild.com/
And the Art Clay Society: http://www.artclaysociety.com/



What inspires you?
I am intensely fascinated with things that humans create -- mechanical devices, architecture, etc. I am equally intrigued with what nature creates -- buds, blossoms, pods, etc. I vacillate between the two worlds when I am creating things.

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
Chain Reactionand Blossoms (pictured above)

Find seller at...
www.wearablebydesign.com
www.wearablebydesign.etsy.com

For The Hipster

I confess- even though I am a jewelry designer- I still own two pieces from Unearthed and have recently inquired about a pair of electric blue lizard earrings circa 1983. I love the dyes that they use on their pieces. I now have a new favorite...it's this grey crocodile cuff. Me want want want (said as I stomp my feet like a toddler). This is one of their more expensive pieces and sells for $155.
unearthed.etsy.com

Tinctory

Today I am featuring the lovely Eva of Birmingham, UK from tinctory. She sells smocked textile jewelry. Having once been an avid sewer, I have always appreciated the beauty of smocking but have never learned it- I guess I couldn't see how I could incorporate it into what I was doing. Eva has made smocking modern and possible to wear as an adult!

What is your "real" life like?
I live with my boyfriend of 8 years. I've always lived in flats and my big dream is to have a garden with fruit trees, a vegetable patch and a place for dye plants like madder and japanese indigo. There would also be a wildlife area of unmowed grass and a little pond. I once studiedEnglish literature and still like reading long novels. I'm a coeliac and enjoy the challenge of gluten-free baking. I like knitting, sadly I haven't had much time for it lately.

What is your process?
Most of my jewellery is made from repurposed silk. This means that each fabric has a slightly different character and creates different texture even when smocked the same way. I'm interested in natural dyes and occasionally use silk that I've dyed myself. A good thing about smocking is that no special equipment is needed, just fabric, needle and thread (and a lot of time and patience).

What are your goals and vision for your business?
One immediate aim is to improve my marketing. I've been researching magazine and online ads and looking at other online selling venues apart from Etsy.

How and where do you market your business?
This is something I'd really like to improve. Currently I post photos
on Flickr although that's more for socialising than marketing reasons.Next month I'm taking part in an online exhibition at papernstitch. The website has launched recently and I'm excited to be part of the project.

Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
I don't subscribe to it but always look at Craft magazine in the library to get an idea of the fine crafts scene in the UK. The marketingseries on Modish is not to be missed - it's full of tips and information I wish I knew
long ago.

What inspires you?
Museum collections of intricate textile work, costume dramas, reading
blogs, browsing through Selvedge,
complicated dreams, fairytale moments in real life, archetypes,
autumn, combinations of colours...

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
Right now it would have to be the Jane
necklace and (Pictured above) Sage
which sold but I like it so much I'm planning to make another one.

I am a fan of....
jessitaylor
duckduckGoosestuff
yorktownroad
benconservato
lolley

Find Seller....
Etsy
flickr
I also have a (neglected) account on
Ravelry

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

MyImaginaryBoyfriend

Today I am featuring Erika Kern from Bakersfield, CA of my imaginary boyfriend. She makes bags, pillows, logs and such. Most items feature felt, embroidery, and hand applique. All items are inspired by my love of vintage goods and traditional techniques . I stumbled across her work while on somebody's blog (forgive me- I forgot who it was) and her log pillows were shown in an Etsy mini of the bloggers favorite items on Etsy- I saw these log pillows and I was in LOVE!

What is your "real" life like?
I started the business when I lived in Brooklyn and worked during the day in the city. About a year ago, I moved back to my home town of Bakersfield, CA so that I could work on "the boyfriend" full time. Since I've been here I've just been sewing like mad!
Other than the boyfriend. . . I live in an awfully cute little house with a very understanding roommate and 2 sweet dogs we're fostering for a local no kill animal shelter.
On the rare occasion I'm not working on items for the boyfriend I like to cook, watch tv and movies and listen to all sorts of music (though I do a lot of them while working), ride my bike, haunt the thrifts, collect all sorts of odd do-dads and knick-knacks, and decorate my home.

What is your process?
I usually start with the thought "Wouldn't it be funny if ___?" which is usually followed by "was made of felt." Or I get an idea for a bag or I see a fabric that wants me to make something out of it. I usually start with sketchs for bags and embroidery pattern but for something like the logs or the rocks I just sort of organically start painting or stitching. I use a ton of felt and boxes and boxes of DMC embroidery floss but I also love to work with vintage fabrics that I find at thrifts, from old clothes, at flea markets, or on eBay. As for special techniques. . . I use a lot of blanket stitching to construct my more soft sculpture items (like the logs or rocks) and I also screenprint my own material for the logs. I used to hand paint them but my friend, Hannah, of "Made with Love by Hannah, showed me the light and taught me to print.

What are your goals and vision for your business?
I'd like to become more focused on my work. I get a bit scatter brained at times. I'd also like to update the shop more often and more regularly, maybe pick a day every week to do updates. . . like every Friday is date night with the Boyfriend! Make it an event. I also need to figure out a way to deal with demand. Especially with the logs. . . people LOVE the logs and it's hard to keep up. I get a lot of wholesale requests that I have to sadly turn down because I just can't fill them printing and sewing all of them by myself by hand. My mom has recently started to help me which has been a huge relief but it's just a drop in the "I need help!" bucket.
As for long term. . . I honestly don't know. I know it's bad but I'm the least business saavy person you'll ever meet. I dream of meeting someone who knows all about business and who will help me make this into something I can truely do as a living. Right now, though this is my only "job" I rely a lot on help from my family and roommate and the random odd job here and there.

How and where do you market your business?
Again, I'm bad here. I've been lucky enough to get a lot of blog attention without even looking for it and with each blog post I get sales. I also do a lot of indie craft fair all around the country. Every show helps me get more press and fans. I know. . . I'm really lucky!

What inspires you?
Nature, trees and wildlife, especially when I lived in the city. One summer, I went with friends to Hunter, NY and the picks from that still inspire me. I also have friends in Woodstock, NY and I always get ideas when I visit there. I'm mad about bright colors, especially greens and yellows. I love going to close-out fabric stores to find kooky fabrics and to run my hands through the big bins of buttons and zippers. I love Christmas and old Christmas decorations from the 50's and 60's. Actually, I love all sorts of things about the mid-century aestetic and collect vintage fabric, magazines, clothes, home decor items, and books from the period.

Who is your favorite musical artist? (click on the artist name to see a video)Only one!?!? Okay. . . easy. . .Elvis Costello! I'll link to "Alison" since my only tattoo says "my aim is true."

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
Robot Christmas Ornament: pictured above
The Happy Day Tote:pictured above
If this doesn't sell this year, I'm sooooo taking it for myself!

I am a fan of:
Tell us 5 of your most visited websites, on-line stores or Etsy stores (include links):
www.televisionwithoutpity.com - For my TV based snarking needs.
www.jezebel.com - For all sorts of lady related awesomeness.
www.dinosaursandrobots.com - So many wonderful things live on this blog!
www.craftzine.com - The folks who currate this site find the most wonderful craft projects from all over the web.
www.ebay.com - For all sorts of collecting finds, especially when I don't have the time to poke around in the thrift stores around town.

Find me:
Website and clearing house for all things MIBF related: www.myimaginaryboyfriend.com
My blog: myimaginaryboyfriedlovesme.blogspot.com
My shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=14938
I also blog about crafting and post projects on over at www.craftstylish.com