Today I'm proud to have an exclusive interview with Jamie from
Jamie's Jewels on Etsy. This is the first of my several (I have quite a few lined up!) interviews with Etsy sellers. It's a good way for me and hopefully you to learn a thing or two about your fellow Etsy Artists.
For a little fun trivia about Jamie: her favorite color is yellow and loves donuts as a breakfast food. If she could go anywhere in the world right now it would be “Always Bermuda! My home away from home.”
Her process to start off on Etsy is a longer one, and probably not unlike many of the fellow Etsy sellers. She has a bachelor's degree in economics. After she graduated she worked in the family business of insurance for five years. Deciding she wanted to try something else, she returned to school to work in an operating room as a surgical technologist then later as a teacher for Medical Assisting. And, in Jamie's own words “Now, I've finally found the most rewarding job ever, taking care of my darling daughter, Cambrie Rose and finding a creative corner for myself on Etsy. I hope you enjoy all my creations.”
I gave her some questions to answer below:
1)What started you in your art/craft? I love learning new things, so jewelry was always a big interest for me because I love wearing different types of jewelry. I knew this was something that I could achieve while being a stay at home mom.
2) What are your favorite materials/tools?My favorite materials right now are Swarovski crystals and glass pearls. I love how just a little touch of a crystal can change the feel of the entire piece.
3) Who's your biggest inspiration? I would say my parents. They raised me to believe that anything can be achieved if you really believe in it, and work hard at it.
4)How long have you being producing your work/How did you get started in it? Actually being a buyer on Etsy inspired me to open my own store. Thats how it all started. I’ve been creating pieces in my head for awhile now, but actually making them into jewelry pieces, a few months now.
5)Where do you hope your art will take you in the next year? As much as I would love to see increased sales, I’ve only been open a couple of months now, being recognized for my work is most important. I would love to be featured on an Etsy homepage within the next year. Seeing others enjoy and wear my pieces to express themselves is really important to me too.
6) Is there anything you want people to get/take away from your work?Yes, that I create all of my pieces with everyone in mind. You will always find an array of different styles. I think its important to let your jewelry tell a little story about yourself, or how your feeling on the day you wear it.
7) What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?Never give up, and most importantly believe in yourself. Never let people discourage you, even if they are close friends and or family members. Being new myself, its important to remember that everything in life takes time and patience. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to others and be outgoing, not only will it help your business, but you will make many new friends.
The items above are her the
beautiful blue locket,
buzz buzz earrings, and
classy cloissone flower bracelet. Visit Jamie's blog
here. Make sure to head over and check out the rest of Jamie's wonderful store
here.
