Featured Artist: Isabeau

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Shop name: Isabeau
What you like to go by: Keren
When did you start your shop? I stumbled upon Etsy a few years back, when I was looking for a comprehensive online community for jewelry artists. I first joined Etsy in April 2007, and opened my shop in November 2007. At first it was called Isabeau Bijoux, after my favorite movie character, but lately I have decided that the shop should bear my own name, so I changed it to Keren’s Jewelry. I believe this gives my customers a sense of the real person behind the creations.
Is this your only job? Yes. I'm doing my best to combine being a jewelry designer and a stay-at-home-mom for the moment, which isn't always easy!
When did you realize you had this talent? I started making jewelry almost seven few years ago, when I

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decided to go into a new bead store in town. I bought some beads, thread, and a pair of pliers. That day I made my first bracelet, and thought "Well, this is kind of fun... Maybe I should try making a necklace!" After that, there was no turning back.
I learned beading techniques from books, magazines, and crafting forums on the internet. I loved it, but I wanted to learn more, so I took a beginner’s and an advanced metalworking class. This really opened a new world of creative possibilities for me. I love working with metal, and I’m continuously striving to learn and evolve as an artist. My goal is always to create a thing of beauty that would delight the wearer.
Where do you find your inspiration? I try to draw inspiration from everything around me, and the things that influence me most in regard to my jewelry designs are nature, books

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and materials. Nature is an endless source of beauty found in patterns, colors and moods. I can have a new design idea just from looking at a bare tree branch, a bird feather, or a mossy stone. The materials themselves, such as gemstones and glass beads, often give me a pretty clear image of the jewelry piece. Books and movies also provide a lot of inspiration by way of associating characters with certain styles and color schemes.
Who has been the most supportive of your work? My husband is definitely my greatest supporter. He offers me invaluable advice regarding my business, and always picks me up when I'm feeling down or insecure.
What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? There are many things that I still would like to accomplish, but one would definitely be learning more metalwork techniques, such as casting and wax carving, to be able to create more exciting pieces!
What are your words to live by or favorite quote? Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. Thomas Merton