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

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!

Featured Artist: Polu Moana

 

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Shop Name: Polu Moana 
What you like to go by: Erika 
When did you start your shop? November 2011
Is this your only job? At the moment yes (even though I have yet to sell anything). I plan to go to graduate school next Fall, if all goes well. 
When did you realize you had this talent? This certain talent for jewelry making has been with me for a while. I am very creative and have expressed myself though drawing, painting, fabricating clothes, knitting, and all other sorts of craftiness.
Where do you find your inspiration? Living on Oahu, surrounded by shoreline has definitely been wonderful. Driving to my "spots" with anticipation of what I might find that day is great. Coming home with materials I found, by wading and snorkeling in tide pools, also one of my favorite things to do, and crafting them into wearable form is relaxing.
Who has been the most supportive of your work? My mom, she wants this piece and that piece...."and remember, Christmas is coming up." 
What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? Make my first sale! Haha. In seriousness, I would like to continue to improve my craft and create a more diverse collection, never stop exploring new possibilities.
What are your words to live by or favorite quote?  

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We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

Through the unknown, unremembered gate

When the last of earth left to discover

Is that which was the beginning; 

At the source of the longest river

The voice of the hidden waterfall

And the children in the apple-tree

Not known, because not looked for

But heard, half-heard, in the stillness

Between two waves of the sea.

-T.S. Elliot "The Four Quartets: Little Gidding"

Discussion Post

So I think I have depleted my resources! I've gone to all the local shops in my area and I cannot find the jewelry making supplies that I would like to find. I'm not falling in love with anything while I shop! It's driving me crazy!

Where do you find your bead supplies? Do you buy them at stores, or online? Are there local shops near you that also sell online?

I'd love your feedback! Thanks!

Featured Artist: someplaceelsewhere

 

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Shop Name: someplaceelsewhere
What you like to go by: Melanie or Mel
When did you start your shop? April, 2009
Is this your only job? I'm so excited to say that right now this is my only job. I do occasionally do graphic design work from home on a freelance basis.
When did you realize you had this talent? I have always been interested in art and design since I was little.
I worked for eleven years as a full time graphic designer and realized at that time that I would really like to make my own art without a lot of client direction. That is when I discovered jewelry making from books in the library. It has taken me a long time to acquire all of the tools that I have now, so I first started out doing bead work because all I needed was wire and beads and pliers. I gradually added tools and skills and slowly ended up with the work I'm making today. I still have a long list of things that I want to learn and tools that I want to have. I think jewelry making is going to be a life-long passion for me. The options are limitless.
Where do you find your inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere from nature, industrial design and fashion.
Who has been the most supportive of your work? My family, friends and co-workers have all been incredibly supportive of my work. I am very appreciative of that because at first I was a little bit nervous of putting my work out there for people to see. The encouragement they gave me helped me to overcome self-doubt and energized me to keep learning.
What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? I would like to sell my work in boutiques and galleries. I plan to start applying to a few of my favorite places after the holidays.
What are your words to live by or favorite quote? 
The meaning of life is to give meaning to life.
-(author unknown)

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Excerpt from profile: My style is rustic elegance using nature-inspired textures combined with clean, simple design. I try to make each of my pieces unique and with the energy of an artist's hand visible in them. It is also important to me that my pieces are simple and practical for every day wear.

Featured Artist: EarRenderings

Pamela is a single mom of 4. She is obviously talented in more ways than one! Here she talks about juggling life while working on her jewelry making! You will also find pictures of Pamela's talented work!

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Shop Name: EarRenderings aka ForHerEarsOnly
What you like to go by: Pamela
When did you start your shop? Sept. 12 of this year
Is this your only job? No indeed! I am a single Mom of four children. That is my calling, first and foremost. And of course all of the roles that go along with it.
When did you realize you had this talent? It was in 1996, I wanted to earn some extra 'diaper & formula' money so I sat down with instructions and created my first earring.

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Where do you find your inspiration? From every woman in the world who uses her God given talents to live up to her full potential.
Who has been the most supportive of your work? My children, my sister & my friends. Really very supportive and encouraging.
What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? I would like to travel to far away places that I have read about and seen in pictures and in my mind. I want to stand in those places, meet those people, eat their food and marvel at their culture!
What are your words to live by or favorite quote? Actually, I will leave you with one that I coined myself. 'Always march to the beat of your own drummer, so long as the Drummer is God.'