Featured Artist: Frawn

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Shop Name: Frawn

What you like to go by: Fran

When did you start your shop? I opened my etsy shop July 2010 and have been selling in shops since January 2010.

Is this your only job? No, I am a commercial interior designer by day and jewelry designer at night. I enjoy the creativity of interior design but it is confined to the built environment. The jewelry design provides me with a more creative outlet where I can use my design skills in a different way.

When did you realize you had this talent? I have made jewelry ever since I was a kid. I wove bead bracelets and made FIMO beads and necklaces in the 90's. I have always loved working with my hands and the intricacy of jewelry making.

Where do you find your inspiration? I find it all around me in nature, the city, and in my own home. That's the beauty of the laser cutter is that it can work with any image and capture the tiniest details.
 

Who has been the most supportive of your work? My mom and my husband have both been extremely supportive. My mom has always encouraged creativity and she has helped my with numerous shows and has supported me throughout the years. And my husband picks up the slack when I have to go into production mode before a show and we have also collaborated on some of newer geometric pieces.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? I would love to see one of my items in a TV show or movie. That would be so amazing to see something in film.

What are your words to live by or favorite quote? One of my favorites is 'Design is where science and art break even.'— Robin Mathew

Featured Artist: Fleur De Lee

 Shop Name:Fleur De Lee Design

What you like to go by:

 Lee

When did you start your shop?

May 2010

Is this your only job?

No, I work full time as a school secretary at a high school

When did you realize you had this talent?

I have always dabbled in arts and crafts, but never settled on a specfic discipline until I asked an artist friend to set a stone I had. He asked if I knew what wire wrapping was and

when I said, "no" he told me to look it up on the internet and handed me some pliers! I was hooked.

Where do you find your inspiration?
The stones seem to dictate the design and I have always loved pretty rocks. I can't seem to walk across a parking lot without checking the ground for pretty stones.

Who has been the most supportive of your work?

My husband has been amazing! He will cook dinner and do laundry so I have time to work on jewelry when we get home from work. There is no way I could do this without him.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet?
I keep discovering new techniques that I want to learn. I started working with wire and am now doing more with metal sheet and every time I walk by a gallery I see more techniques I want to learn.

What are your words to live by or favorite quote?

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,totally worn out, with a glass of champagne in one hand and a box of

chocolate in the other screaming, "Woo-Hoo! What a ride!"and

In the words of John Wayne, "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway!"

Related articles

• How to Wire Wrap a Herringbone Ring (beadinggem.com)
• Wire Wrapped Heart With Healing Crystals (cutoutandkeep.net)
• Handmade Wire Wrapped Bangle Bracelets (healthhappinessandlove.wordpress.com)
• How to Make Triangle or Triangular Jewelry Tutorials (beadinggem.com)
• The DIY Stone Photo Holder: Make a Rad Photo Display for Under $5 (content.photojojo.com)
• beading basics continues with essential tools for beaders!! (missfunes.wordpress.com)
• Black and Gold Chainmaille Necklace with Wire Wrapped Rock Pendant (echolace.wordpress.com)
• Feature Friday: Briarosedesigns! (underestimatedmom.wordpress.com)

Gearing Up!

I've been into rings lately. When I say "into" I mean obsessed. At the moment I have more rings than anything else in my shop, with more sitting on my coffee table, patiently waiting to be listed. All the supplies for these rings were hand chosen by myself, and each ring is one that I would personally want to own and wear. In fact, I can say that about every item in my shop. So I am happy to bring you these items and more to follow them in the very near future!

I can't even express how happy I am that St. Patrick's day has come and gone. Working as a full time server/supervisor at an Irish "Pub" St. Paddy's day is kind of a BIG DEAL. I was dreading the holiday as it approached. After over $1000 dollars in sales as a server, starting at 2pm and ending at 12:30, my 10 hour shift finally ended and I was allowed to go home "early". Oh my legs! How they ached and still do! To top it all off I'm working six days in a row this week so I won't get any actual rest until Friday! I was able to take a nice long bath when I got home and then I slept for a good 10 hours!


The coming of St. Patrick's Day means that April is just around the corner and that warm weather is approaching here in South West Florida. Spring has almost sprung and the flowers I planted are about to bloom. When the weather gets hot and humid it means one thing! The snow birds can't dish the heat and they start to fly back up north! Busy season will be ending soon and I will return to a 5 day work week and we will no longer be short handed at work! My stress level will return back to a some what normal level and I will be able to concentrate more time on my shop! Although I think I do I pretty good job of it even when season was here. I will be happy to be in a more relaxed state and spend more time on what I'd like to be doing instead of life's obligations.


My boyfriend and I also plan on moving this summer. Come July we have the option of renewing our lease or finding a new place to dwell. We have been here for a while as it is and although it's not bad diggs we are looking for something larger. I believe will be able to find something comparable if we keep our eyes open. I am excited for a move because it means getting rid of a lot of old stuff and the possibility of gaining a larger work area. Instead of the living room as a hobby area/catch all. Two bedrooms has become too small and I would love to have an office work area to spread out in once again.

 I will leave you with this update for now and will make sure to update more often with further details about how I plan on improving the shop and what else has been going on in my life! More DIY's and Shop Item's coming soon so stay tuned!

and more Supplies!

I just bought these pretty puppies today! I can't wait for them to come in! They should come in handy, and they are purple! My favorite color! You can't create a quality product without the right tools. Since I have small hands I find that the "mini" tools are a nice fit for me. My last set were also mini's and I'm sad to see them go but there were getting a little rusty! So tonight I decided to treat myself. This kit has everything that I'll need plus a nice little carrying case with elastic bands to hold the tools in place if I ever need to travel with my supplies! Looks like Christmas is going to come a little early for me this year!

Featured Artist: BriShay Designs

Kristi and her two daughters have high aspirations for their passionate work and some great designs to go with it! Check out their shop and what Kristi had to say about turning their new found craft into an exciting family business!

I have been a stay-at -home mom for fifteen years and have loved every minute of it! This is my only job and we hope for our business to take off and to eventually sell wholesale and expand and mass produce our jewelry. We are just learning about jewelry design and excited about expanding our creativity and designs!

We are honored that you have chosen to blog about our creations!

Shop Name: BriShay Designs - named for my daughters, Brittany and Shayna

What you like to go by: BriShay Designs (Kristi, Brittany and Shayna)

When did you start your shop?
October 8, 2011

Is this your only job? Yes

When did you realize you had this talent? We are still learning jewelry design and crafting.

Where do you find your inspiration? We find our inspiration everywhere...nature, architecture, art and imagination.

Who has been the most supportive of your work? We have an amazing support system! Daddy being number one, and my sister and best friends have been very supportive, encouraging and not to mention they have been our first customers!

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet?
We dream about our shop becoming very successful and eventually becoming our sole income. We are very passionate about learning and designing quality jewelry!

What are your words to live by or favorite quote?
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Robert Frost