Friday Feature -- Linda B's Jewelry Designs

This week's featured Etsy artist is the Etsyblogger of the month for April -- big congrats to Linda B's Jewelry Designs! Her shop is full of pretty, sparkly, elegant items. I especially admire the wire work involved in this gorgeous Women's Wire Beaded Kippah


Enjoy the interview!


1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I design gemstone and glass beaded jewelry. I am self-taught. I took a few classes in wire wrapping leading to creating my women’s wire beaded kippot (headcoverings for Jewish women), new chain and wire wrapped necklaces and wire wrapped pendants and rings. Also, I create bottlecap and scrabble tile pendants and magnets because they’re fun.


2. Do you participate in any Etsy teams?

I am on the EtsyBloggers team, EtsyBead team, EtsyTwitter team, Etsy Promotional Frenzy Team, Handmadeology team, and I lead the EtsyChai team

3. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I am married to a great man for over 30 years and he encourages my jewelry making and comments on my designs. We love our 3 cats, Buddy, Fritz and Sammy (more pictures are on my blog)



I am an avid reader and a few of my favorite authors are Stephen King, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Steve Martin (yes the comedian). Currently, I am reading books about Social Media, to gather information for How to Guides to Facebook and Twitter.

4. What inspires your creations?

I am inspired by the beads or gemstones: the colors, shapes and how they look together in eclectic or classic designs. The more color the better. I create both balanced and asymmetrical jewelry. I subscribe to beading magazines and challenge myself to pick one design, change the symmetry or bead shapes and colors to create a masterpiece.

5. How did you get involved with Etsy?

A jewelry designer I used to work with mentioned Etsy to me and I decided to try it. I forgot about it for a few months and then starting listing items. I started joining teams and entering design challenges. Then, I met Tim Adams of Handmadeology online and started taking some of his advice.

6. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

It’s tough to compete in the heavily saturated jewelry market. Each jewelry designer has a style. I work in eclectic and classic styles. It’s difficult to know what shoppers will purchase; therefore, I offer a variety of colors and design styles in my shop.


7. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

Today it's my Personalized Swarovski Bracelet

The design is a variation of a design one of my new clients showed me and ordered for Mother's Day. I'm exciting to be offering these custom order bracelets (a little late for Mother's Day), but birthdays and other events apply.

8. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

Join a team! Team members provide support, friendship, and information I promoting other Etsy sellers on my blog; it is one of my favorite blog posts. Also, I am a Twitter addict and I tweet items for team members too.

9. If you had a gift certificate to Etsy for any one item you wanted, what would you buy? (Please provide a link.)

Just one?
Today, I'd like this handmade wearable Turkish bath towel.

10. If you had to be an animal for one week, which animal would you choose to be? And what would you do?

I would be a cat, so I could catnap during the play, be spoiled by my parents and play with shiny beads, milk rings, and other toys.

11. If money were no object for just one day, what would you do?

I would create the jewelry designs I have in the back of my mind and I might take another beadweaving class.

12. What does buying and selling local handmade mean to you, and how has it affected your life?

It means taking the time to design an item, visualizing the gemstones and shapes fitting together in a pleasing design. Putting my heart and energy into each piece I create.

13. Give us some insight on how you personally, or your shop, gives back to your community.

I create jewelry and accessories out of upcycled, bleached bottlecaps and previously owned-jewelry. During certain months, I donate a percentage of sales proceeds to Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Fund.

In fact, right now, if you buy anything pink in my shop, I am putting aside money to donate to Susan G Komen.

14. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

Artfire
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Flickr
Online Shopping
Website

Congrats again, Linda!




Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Mama's Magic StudioSee EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.comGot a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

Mini Monday Featuring Panoptica

Today the EtsyBloggers are introducing you to Jimena of the shop Panoptica. As it says on the store banner you will find "a little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little bit of zest for life". This cheerful way of looking at things show through in the store profile quoted below.

Aloha!! Thanks for visiting Panoptica.

I'm gonna tell you about me, the crafter behind this store. My name is Jimena, and I live in Mexico City. I was born on June 23rd, 1988. I am a college student; my major is political science and international relations. School kind of occupies most of my time (all that homework, papers, research, etc, etc.), but I still manage to party a bit. On that much needed free time I read nice books, draw, watch movies, go out with my friends, and craft.

Although I've been crafting for a long time, it wasn't until recently that I decided I was going to make it a business, a serious one. I had sold my stuff before, but I wasn't consistent. So on my 20th birthday, I finally asked my Dad for his credit card so I could register on Etsy as a seller. And TA-DA, here I am, and here is Panoptica.

So, what IS Panoptica anyway? First of all, it is not my concept. It all started with Jeremy Bentham in the 18th century when he wrote a book about a prison called the panopticon. Although the concept is kind of grim, the ethymology of the word simply means 'to see all'. I thought that was a pretty neat idea, so I repurposed it to the meaning of seeing all the interesting things there are in the world.


So, I strive to make and do interesting things, even if I can only do it part-time. I walk around the city; I smile at people on the subway. I eavesdrop. I like colors, the sky, sunny days, but I also love rain and umbrellas. I spend hours on the internet. I read magazines, but I also read the newspaper. I type on my typewriter. I go to museums and concerts and events. I think all day long, and that is how the stuff is made.


Most of my products are handmade, but I also sell some vintage because it is so fun to hunt for it. The handmade stuff is designed, made, photographed, packaged, listed, sold and sent by me, Jimena. I don't like others having the same things I do, so I extend that to my store. I try to make innovative products and make them unique too. I use recycled and upcycled materials in a teeny tiny effort to help the environment.

I am very enthusiastic about cooperating in fun projects. I am open to trades. I am open to wholesaling. If you have any question, comment, proposal, please convo me, and I'll be sure to answer back on a timely manner.
Panoptica, or rather the shop owner Jimena, is part of what makes the EtsyBloggers a global community. She joins us from Mexico and tells more about living there in her blog. I will have to admit that somehow this blog wasn't on my Google reader list but it certainly is now. Go on over and take a look!

etsyBlogger Mini Monday Featuring...

III Rexexs Jewelry

Latin for (Three Kings) - Symbolizing the Wisdom & the Beauty of "all" cultures.

From Los Angeles, Tara has been an active member of the etsyBloggers Team since August of this year, and a very active artisan with a unique Etsy shop and beautifilled Blog!

The Eros pendant was worn by the beautiful Tyra Banks on her talk show!
OFFERED FOR $108.00 - (You can customize this piece)

A few celebrities who have worn Tara's jewelry: Tyra Banks, Kristy Swanson, Miss America Carolyn Sapp, Ian Atsbury (The Cult & The Doors)

Mini Monday - Jersey Girl Design

"A self proclaimed craft addict, dabbling in Jewelry design, knitting, graphic design and illustration, card making, scrapbooking, and anything else that I can think of! "

Shop: .: Jersey Girl Design :.

Blog: .: Jersey Girl Design :.

Lauren Brownlie- Proprietor

Lauren, a Baltimore based jewelry designer joined Etsy February 2007 and later the etsyBloggers Street Team April 2008.

Lauren said that she is an aspiring designer and illustrator working to put together her first portfolio, while attending the Art Institute for a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. This busy lady already has a marketing degree from Virginia Tech. She has always loved to create, and claims career ADD. Oddly (pun intended), Lauren is an "even numbers" fan, apparently biological. 2,4 6,8, who do we appreciate? LAUREN!!!



This week the mini is brought to you by Tulip's Treasure Box

Design by Nora

Design by Nora is the shop of a multitalented woman from Southern California. From her own blog profile she tells us -

"Besides Graphic Design, I have lots of other interests like making anything with paper, making jewelry, painting, reading, writing, and being a total geek fooling around on my laptop!"

Not only does she do all these crafty things she is an active team member as well. You can always get a cheerful greeting from her on the team message board or our team threads on the Etsy Forums. Enough talking - take a look at her shop!

Belated Birthday and Mini Monday

Today's feature is MOHDesigns. This shop features handpainted wood accessories inspired by nature. There are charming animals, pencil toppers and hair sticks that all have fish, bird and animal themes.

Visit the shop and let her know you found her on the EtsyBloggers blog.



I missed posting a birthday mini for Butterfly Jewelry yesterday. I am sorry. I do hope that it was an enjoyable day for you.