Arts In Rhode Island

Proudly representing the state of Virginia is Luna Chick Designs, whose intricately crafted chain maille jewelry is just...awesome.

Lunachick Designs

HT: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

LC: I'm 24 and a life-long resident of the New River Valley in Southwest VA. I've been designing and creating jewelry for almost four years now and I've loved every minute of it! Besides creating jewelry, I love animals, sushi, and learning as much as I can every day.

HT: How did you start making jewelry, specifically chain maille?

LC: Well, I began tinkering with base metal wire and gemstone chips after a bad breakup. It gave me the perfect creative outlet and ended up being great art therapy for me. As for the chainmaille, I saw a few pieces of it on DeviantArt and immediately had to try it. I've been a plier wielding maniac ever since!

HT: What inspires your work?

LC: My materials, mostly. I like building pieces around stones themselves. The ideas always start with them.

HT: How did you find Etsy?

LC: A friend of mine suggested that I sell there. Good thing she did, too.

HT: What aspects of your state inspire you?

LC: I live smack in the middle of mountains, and they're really beautiful. The sunsets here are just fabulous, too.

HT: What is most challenging aspect of your work?

LC: Making chainmaille can be both therapeutic and frustrating. After you open and close a bazillion rings making a really large piece, it gets a bit tiresome sometimes. Keeping designs fresh and different is also pretty challenging...there's a LOT of jewelry out in the world today!

HT: What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

LC: Of course, I love when it sells, but I love how it makes the one that bought it feel while wearing it. I've gotten some great feedback on how people enjoy wearing my pieces, so that makes me feel pretty good.

HT: Have you ever visited Rhode Island?

LC: I drove through on the way to Maine once. I was asleep at the time, though. I'm sure it was beautiful!

HT: What is your favorite color?

LC: Purple. All shades of it. LOVE it.

HT: Do you have a favorite item in your shop?

LC: It's really hard to pick a favorite. They all have a special place in my heart but my Cerridwen necklace would be up near the top of the list.

HT: Any items from other Etsy sellers that you are currently coveting?

LC: A skirt by LovePeaceandDye. It's been in my faves since I joined, I think! I'll own it some day. Maybe for Spring.

HT: What are your shop goals for 2008?

LC: I'd love to hit at least 200 sales. I'm sitting at 107 right now, so there's a possibility that it'll happen. I'll also be trying to add new pieces as opposed to just renewing older items.

What's cooler than shopping at an eclectic store filled with a great variety of asian inspired items? Shopping there and knowing that a portion of proceeds go to help underprivileged kids in China get a chance at an education! Bamboo Village Press's shop is filled with everything from photography to gocco prints to yarns, and it's all of top quality! Buy now - Chinese New Year is right around the corner!

Bamboo Village Press

HT: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

BV: I'm Celeste, a 30-something, Chinese-speaking marketing professional and avid maker of things!

HT: How did you find out about Etsy?

BV: My journey on Etsy actually started almost two years ago as a customer. I don't remember how I learned about it, but ended up staying about 3 hours late at work the night I discovered it, I was having so much fun surfing (ok, and buying)!

HT: I noticed that a portion of your profits go to an underprivileged village in China – what a great cause! What inspired that?
BV: Thanks! I've spent quite a lot of time living in China, and last winter I went back to a small village in Sichuan for a visit. While there, I learned that many of the children I knew from just a few years before were feeling a necessity to leave school to go work in sweatshops. The economic pressures are enormous in the Chinese countryside, and it just broke my heart to see these eager youngsters I knew so well going to work under terrible conditions, far from their families.

When I got home, I thought that perhaps by selling some of my photography taken in Sichuan, I could raise money and help the kids stay in school. From there, Bamboo Village Educational Fund and Bamboo Village Press were formed. Etsy was the perfect venue, as it is easy to use, and the administrative costs are low. In July, 2007, we selected our first student, and have committed to sponsoring her through high school!

HT: Your shop has a great variety of items. What is your favorite craft?

BV: You're going to make me pick one? Won't the others become jealous? I think my favorite would have to be photography, followed closely by gocco and knitting. See? I can't choose only one!
HT: What aspects of your state inspire you?

BV: Pennsylvania has been my home for the last 4 years, and it's where I learned to knit! Local yarn shops like Rosie's Yarn Cellar in Philadelphia and the quilt shops in Lancaster County would be among the top inspirations, as well as my closest friend “knittah” and sister Laurie.

HT: What is the nicest feedback you have ever received for your shop?

BV: Feedback is so important to me, and I look forward to reading the recipient's reaction to my hard work! The ones that go straight to my heart are personal, and talk not only about the product, but about how it's used:
“These are our favorite glasses. They were a gift for my DH and he teared up when he got them. Beautiful etching on a top quality glass.”
“Thank you, dear girl, for getting me this yarn ! I now have the most wonderful 'stash' from which to pull my next fun endeavor!”

HT: Have you ever visited Rhode Island?

BV: Yes! I grew up in Massachusetts, so RI was right around the corner! It's a beautiful state., and Providence is definitely the friendly sister to Boston.

HT: Do you have a favorite item in your shop?

BV: It would have to be the Cricket notecard & Moleskine design. I pondered this 2-color Gocco print for a while and was very happy with how it came out. The response to Cricket made it my best-selling design ever! I created this design as a tribute to the courage and tenacity of our sponsored student, Zhang Lin.

HT: Tell us one surprising fact about you.

BV: I was raised to consider myself a citizen of the world, and began living that concept by spending a year volunteering at an orphanage in the Amazon (Manaus) region in Brazil. From then on, I knew that children, international development and social change would be central to my life.

HT: What is your favorite color?
BV: Black to wear, and brown to knit with, and red to print with! So many colors to love!

HT: What is your biggest Etsy goal for 2008?

BV: I'll be going through some personal change in 2008, including a long-anticipated move to Oregon! I'm looking forward to keeping the momentum I've built with Bamboo Village Press and keeping it cruising during the move. I intend to continue to develop interesting new products with an Asian theme throughout the year.

One of the many things I love about Etsy, is that you can literally find a handmade version of everything you need. Spa Therapy's bath and beauty products look so yummy and luxurious!

Spa Therapy

HT: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

ST: My name is Jussara and I live on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in Maryland with my wonderful husband, 2 loud birds and a spoiled puppy. I was born and raised in the beautiful country of Brazil, and even after years living here, my tropical blood still has a hard time adjusting to these cold winters.

HT: How did you find out about Etsy?

ST: I read about it on a message board I used to belong to. (Don’t have time for it anymore) Once I clicked on the link to Etsy, I was hooked, and I never looked back.

HT: How did you get into the world of Bath and Beauty?

ST: I always had a fascination for beauty products and I've been making my own skin products for over 16 years now. I started out making facial scrubs, masks and such when I was just a teenage. I have always loved spa treatments and having a massage therapist/esthetician as a mom, the desire to work creating products to pamper, relax, and rejuvenate for an at-home spa just came naturally, and so Spa Therapy Works was born.

HT: Do you find it difficult to compete with “chain” B&B manufacturers?

ST: I actually don’t even consider them as competitors. Handmade bath and body products are on a different level. The amount of thickeners, detergents, solvents, and stabilizers found in many of these commercial products just make them so much more inferior than my products, which are handmade with love and abundance of natural ingredients.

HT: On a related note, what are some of the upsides to buying from a small, handmade B&B shop such as yourself?

ST: At Spa Therapy Works, everything is made in small batches to assure quality and freshness. I offer spa quality bath and body products that are all about pampering and relaxation to create and maintain healthy and beautiful skin, using skin-loving, detergents-free ingredients with no harsh chemicals. I love what I do and I'm dedicated to creating the finest handmade bath and body products, and this dedication is reflected in every product item I sell.

HT: What aspects of your state inspire you?

ST: Oh, it has to be the water! Strolling down the promenade along the pristine Susquehanna River, surrounded by nature is the perfect setting to get inspiration from. It’s so relaxing and beautiful!

HT: What is the nicest feedback you have ever received for your shop?

ST: Oh that’s a hard one. I have many wonderful return customers that have left really amazing feedbacks. It’s so rewarding to hear that the things you made actually made a difference in someone’s life. One email I’ll never forget came from Mikiye.etsy.com, my first return customer. She has extremely sensitive skin and my goat’s milk soaps worked so wonderfully on her skin that she wrote at least 3 blog entries about them.

HT: Have you ever visited Rhode Island?

ST: No, I haven’t but I’d love to one day.

HT: Do you have a favorite item in your shop?

ST: I do. It’s the Cinnamon Sugar whipped body frosting, followed by the Decadent Chocolate Scrub. I love how sweet, and soothing they make me feel.

HT: Tell us one surprising fact about you.

ST: Um…..I don’t like to work with beeswax. I do, but I don’t like it. It’s so hard to clean it off my pots!

HT: What is your favorite scent?

ST: This changes a lot as I’m always looking out for new oil blends, but right now my favorite scent is a blend of Ginger Lemon and Sage. So much so that I have created a few products in this scent.

HT: What is your biggest Etsy goal for 2008?

ST: I don’t really have a set goal for 2008. It’s been so amazing that I just want to continue to expand my products line and my business.

The Arts In RI team and the Etsy Rain team are teaming up for some cross promotion. I am really excited about this because there are some really talented people on the team. Etsy Rain is based out of Seattle, so they're a local team as well.

scarywhitegirl
is one member of this group. She has some uber-unique items.



especially for Valentines Day.

This info from her bio really tells a tale of someone who loves what they do:

"I've been doing crafty stuff of one sort or another since I was a kid. My mom has always been very crafty, and she would let us play around with some of her leftover materials. I started cross-stitching very young, and sewing soon after that. I learned to crochet several years ago, and yarn has since taken over my life."

Check out her shop!

When searching for a New Jersey representative for our Etsy Rhode Trip, I could not help but be struck by Urban Heirlooms innovative and stylish designs. She is definitely an Etsy stand-out!

Urban Heirlooms

HT: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

DB: My name is Dana Osborne-Biggs. Originally from Virginia, I now live in the spicy Cuban city of West New York, NJ. I’m a graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Arts and have been in the fashion industry for over 15 years; I spent the first 10 years in the childrenswear industry in NYC, and the past 5 years in the intimate apparel industry in NJ as a Senior Graphic Designer.

A dear husband, a funny dog, and a small sunny home studio where I immerse myself in what I jokingly call my Urban Heirlooms empire help keep me well entertained.

HT: How did you find out about Etsy?

DB: I first saw Etsy mentioned in 2005 on SuperNaturale.com, a website dedicated to independent art and DIY culture. In January 2006, I decided to set up shop and list a handbag I made. When it sold in less than 24 hours, I was totally hooked.

HT: How did you become involved in your craft?

DB: My love affair with fabric began early. I’ve always made things by hand--at first it was by necessity since as a child with siblings I just didn’t get everything I wanted for Christmas. I would get a doll but she would only have one or two outfits, so I remember always asking my mother and grandmother for old fabric scraps to use to make more doll clothes myself. I also made fabulous split-level dollhouses from cardboard boxes, with curtains and a fake fur couch for my Barbie. I think not having a lot of luxuries early in life primed me to become resourceful, inventive and more creative.

Once I learned my way around a sewing machine, which wasn’t until I started college, I begin making clothes, then hats, and finally handbags. Haunting thrift shops for funky vintage accessories to add to my outfits, I began to take notice of old leather coats…that beautiful, broken-in patina they acquire over time, the leather aroma that never quite dissipates even after years of wear, and the beautifully tailored details and rows of stitching on vintage jackets that you just don’t find too often anymore. I wanted to resurrect some of those qualities in my own work, so I started easy…I started with a simple wallet.

HT: What aspects of your state inspire you?

DB: Oh, the brownstones! I spent many years living in Downtown Jersey City, and there are neighborhoods where you’ll find majestic brownstones that wear their architectural details like fine jewelry. Intricately carved wooden doors, sweeping staircases, decorative wrought iron gates and plate glass windows veiled with panels of old lace. Whenever I strolled my neighborhood, I always imagined the people who first lived in these houses--the clothes they wore and how they decorated their homes. Every detail seemed so worthy of showcasing and preserving. I love that!

HT: What are your favorite materials?

DB: Heavy linen, high-quality leather, fine crochet lace, vintage bark cloth, silk, wood, antique skeleton keys, carved mother-of-pearl and abalone buttons, oxidized silver… I could go on and on!

HT: What is your favorite part about being an Etsy seller?

DB: My favorite part is that I get to make things that I love, then sell them to other people who love them too, people who live in places I may never get to travel to in my lifetime. To ship a skeleton key wallet to Italy or a leather key clutch to Tasmania is a real thrill for me. And then those same people will come back and compliment your work! I feel so appreciated as a designer and artist.

On top of that, I’m in the company of such amazing artists, it sometimes takes my breath away. I just have to shake my head as I marvel at the things people make everyday with their own hands.

HT: How do you go about incorporating vintage items into your work?

DB: I love to use vintage items in unconventional ways when I make things, for instance, the way I use antique skeleton keys as a closure on my signature leather wallets, or the way I string small vintage tatted doilies together to make scarves. I want these vintage components to be well showcased on my work, so I like to make sure they play a major part of any design.

HT: Have you ever visited Rhode Island?

DB: Not yet, but I would love to; I must see WaterFire!

HT: Is Etsy full time or part time for you right now?

DB: Etsy is a part-time venture for me right now.

HT: What are your Etsy New Year's resolutions?

DB: I’m so excited about this New Year on Etsy. Each year has gotten better for me. My first resolution was to get a couple of wholesale orders under my belt, and that has been accomplished. The next is to increase Urban Heirlooms’ exposure and get some tongues wagging. Working on it!

Our featured Etsian from Connecticut is none other than my massively talented mother! I swear I'm not biased, even if I didn't know her, I'd still be blown away by her amazing and innovative one of a kind designs!

Uniquely Nancy

HT: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

NT: My name is Nancy Tanguay and I'm a professional seamstress. I've been sewing for 50 years and I've been working as a costumer for the last 15 years.

HT: How did you find out about Etsy?
NT: My daughter, who is an artist, told me about Etsy, and I felt the immediate pull to try it out. I've been doing craft shows for 30 years and it felt like it was time to try something new!

HT: How did you become interested in making handbags?

NT: I love sewing and quilting, but I wanted to expand my work into something more three dimensional, so I tried designing a handbag and I was hooked!

HT: What aspects of your home state inspire you?

NT: I live in a very rural area with my husband and son. There are a lot of crafters in the area (there's not much else to do!) and they inspire me to keep trying new ideas. We are all fabric-aholics, and enjoy taking day trips to fabric stores across the state. We are like kids in a candy store!

HT: What are your favorite materials?

NT: I love all fabric. I really can't choose one type of fabric that I love more than any other - I use everything from cotton to wool to dupioni silk to batik!

HT: Do you currently have a favorite item in your shop?

NT: I love my new teapot handbags and catch-alls, especially the yellow one with the blue flowers, and the pumpkin! I put potpourri in the one in my personal collection and sewing notions in another, using the lid for a pin cushion.

HT: Have you ever visited Rhode Island?

NT: I visit Rhode Island about twice a year since my daughter moved there. It's a beautiful state with inspiring scenery. I often visited the beaches there in my youth.

HT: What is your favorite color?

NT: I do have a tendency to choose a lot of fabrics in the blue family, but I also love the vibrancy of reds, oranges and yellows.

HT: What are your Etsy New Year's resolutions?

NT: I'm hoping to develop a dozen new patterns this year, and maybe something completely new and out of the box!

When deciding on which talented Etsian should represent New York on our Rhode Trip, I had to pick Linda Stoddard of The Keeper's House. I purchased two of her baskets for Christmas gifts this year, and I was completely blown away by the craftsmanship.

The Keeper's House

HT: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

LS: This is the hardest of the ten questions for me to answer. I am 52 years old. How do I condense that into a few sentences? What is it you would want to know about me?

My name? I am Linda Stoddard-Leonard. I am a wife, mother, gardener, floral designer, and basket maker. I wear my hair too long and my skirts too short for my age. I have never voted Republican. I was born outside of Cleveland, raised in Chicago and Houston and fled to the East Coast for college. Upon completion, I took my B.A. in Philosophy and ran a Florist and Greenhouse business for about 7 years in Concord, New Hampshire. It made perfect sense to me, although I am not sure my parents agreed.

I moved to New York after my marriage twenty three years ago and have been here ever since. We live in a big old 1889 rambling Victorian house that we have been restoring for 20 years. I long ago made peace with the fact that the house will probably never be completely finished. For anyone who has ever watched the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, that is my house, my husband and my town. Sappy, I know. But, I can’t watch the movie without being struck by the similarities.

After opting to stay home with my children , I only ventured back out into the retail crafting world doing a few juried shows a year, as my sons grew older. I also continued the floral design work , freelancing for florists when they needed the extra help. When my sons were old enough not to need a babysitter, I opened my own brick and mortar shop. The shop, called the Keepers’ House, sells not only my own works, but everything from pottery to weaving from other local NY artisans as well. The shop is now in its 8^th year. Along the way, I have also taught adult education classes in floral design, directed a library reading/ arts program for preschoolers, lived in a lighthouse (where The Keepers’ House name comes from) and I write a weekly column on life in my small rural town for the local newspaper.

HT: How did you find out about Etsy?

LS: Because Henderson Harbor is a teeny tiny town which is also very seasonal, a good friend of mine suggested that I check out Etsy to expand my selling season beyond Labor Day. She is a spinner and she had heard about the site on one of the fiber sites she frequents.

HT: How did you become involved in basket coiling?

LS: I have a room in my house that my family knows is best left with the door closed. In that room is a lifetime of creating. Behind that door is a kiln, florist supplies, beads, vintage linens and costume jewelry, acorns, pine needles, a sewing machine, rug braiding stands, stained glass supplies, buttons, deer antlers, grapevine, a large assortment of dried herbs, flowers and oils, soap making supplies, cookbooks, beeswax, candle wicks, paints and more fabric than anyone should be allowed to own. There isn’t much that I haven’t tried to do, and I relish it all. My husband claims that even if I never sold another thing, I would still make things with enthusiasm. It seems to be part of who I am. My now grown sons take great joy in retelling childhood memories of being asked to drink homemade ginger ale that set their throats on fire, begging to buy clothes rather than wearing the ones I made for them, coming home to find the bathtub filled with soaking twigs and tales of dragging huge pieces of driftwood from the back of the boat because I just had to have them.

The textile art baskets have just kept my interest the longest (10 years). Just when I think that I have made every style possible, a customer will request something that I have never tried and new doors open.

HT: What aspects of your state inspire you?

LS: When people think of New York, it is usually with New York City in their minds.

However, New York is a big and diverse place. I am in Northern New York State. If I stretch out my hand, I touch one of the Great Lakes. Stimulated by the daily changing beauty of Lake Ontario, surrounding pasture land and an abundance of stars , sunsets and wildlife ,it is hard not be inspired. Since what I do is a lot about color, living where I do gives me endless opportunities to coil up my world in a basket. I have a special fondness for the lake inspired, water themed baskets. That lake is what keeps us here despite the long New York winters.

HT: What are your favorite materials?

LS: For me, it is all about the fabric. I have made traditional reed and pine needle baskets, and that gets boring for me. The fabric gives me endless possibility in terms of color combinations and textures. I really like experimenting with different handle options, and one of my favorite activities is to go gathering in the wild places around my home. I also hunt down materials in flea markets and antique stores. I guess my favorite material will be the next one I find.

HT: What is your favorite part about being an Etsy seller?

LS: Etsy has been really good to me! I don’t have a negative thing to say about my experience so far, so I don’t really have a favorite part either. I have had a website of my own for years and it never even came close to the attention that my Etsy shop receives. Etsy has far out sold all of the other avenues I have tried. Crafts shows are great, but that is only one weekend. Even my own physical shop runs hot in the summer and cold during the winter months. Etsy has been steadily consistent and I have found some wonderful repeat buyers here. I tend to be rather guarded and a bit of a loner by nature, so I have not participated in chat rooms or street teams, nor have I been too active in forums. I lurk there a lot and gather a lot of good information on other sellers and activities, but I rarely post. So, there is a lot about Etsy that I still have not really experienced. When I have the time, I do love the Treasury though.

HT: Do you currently have a favorite item in your shop?

LS: I don’t really have a shop favorite. It would be like choosing which one of my sons I liked the best. I have made baskets that have sold before I was really ready to let them go, but I wouldn’t say that they were my favorite. If I had to chose something, it would be a bowl. Whether pottery or textile, there is just something about a really good bowl. And, I enjoy making them the most.

HT: Have you ever visited Rhode Island?

LS: Oh yes. I have been to Rhode Island many times, with a concentration on Newport. My family is water based, with my sons and husband being avid small craft sailors. We have spent way too much money at Newport Marine!

HT: Is Etsy full time or part time for you right now?

LS: Etsy has become full time for me. So much so, that I have actually drastically shortened my local physical shop hours to better handle the Etsy work.

HT: What are your Etsy New Year's resolutions?

LS: I know that many people might answer this question by listing ways to grow their business. My Etsy New Year’s resolution however would be to find a way to pace myself. Mine is a labor intensive craft. Not only does it take a lot of time to make each basket one at a time, but it can be physically demanding. This is especially true when it comes to my hands. I need to find a way to give myself more time to complete orders so that I do not overtax my hands to a point of no return. At the same time, I do not want to discourage sales, so I am not sure what the solution will be. My family helps me with the shipping aspect, but the baskets themselves are all me. It is a bit of tightrope walk at the moment.

Shop Clementine (aka Cassie Gray) is proudly representing Massachusetts on our Virtual Rhode Trip, and rightly so! Her simple, classy jewelry is artfully crafted. You are sure to find something for everyone in her lovely shop!

Shop Clementine

HT: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

CG: My name is Cassie Gray and I live in the tiny town of Ashfield, Mass. I grew up here, moved away for college and then spent 7 years in NYC, and just recently moved back. I love the rural beauty of this area—and the fact that if I need to go to Manhattan for supplies, I can make a day trip, like I did yesterday!

HT: How did you find out about Etsy?

CG: I first learned about Etsy from a Daily Candy feature back in January 2006. I had been selling on Ebay and had become so discouraged at the (lack of a) market for quality handmade jewelry there. I immediately went to check it out, but there was so much traffic that day the servers couldn’t handle it. I found my way back to Etsy later in the month and I’ve been a seller ever since.

HT: How did you become interested in jewelry making?

CG: I can remember making lanyards and friendship bracelets in elementary school. I guess I probably learned at camp. Around sixth grade, I discovered the joy that is a bead store. I made lots of jewelry after that, mostly for friends and my mom. The hobby fell by the wayside when I got to high school. On vacation a couple years ago, I walked back into a bead store for the first time in a long while and fell back in love.

HT: What aspects of your state inspire you?

CG: Massachusetts is so varied and gorgeous! From the lovely Berkshire hills where I live, to the wide, green river valleys and the Quabbin Reservoir, to the rocky coast and the cranberry bogs—there’s so much natural beauty here. I draw a lot of energy from natural beauty. It sustains and invigorates me. I’m lucky to live where I do.

HT: What are your favorite materials?

CG: I love playing with silver—heating it, bending it, shaping it. And though the smell is terrible, I’m continually amazed at the dramatic changes you can create with Liver of Sulfur. But gemstones are my true love.

HT: What is your favorite part about being an Etsy seller?

CG: The feeling of community is tremendous, and I often feel like I’ve joined a really cool club. But mostly, my favorite thing about being an Etsy seller is being able to sell my work worldwide. There’s nothing like opening your email to find you’ve sold a piece to someone in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Finland, Brazil, or Belgium. The international aspect constantly blows my mind.

HT: Do you currently have a favorite item in your shop?

CG: The Snow Blossom earrings are my current bestseller and I have to say, I’m pretty partial to them. They’re quite delicate and lovely. But I generally feel like my one-of-a-kind pieces are the underdog, in some way. Since I can’t relist them, I root for them to be noticed, and I’m so happy when they sell.

HT: Have you ever visited Rhode Island?

CG: No. Can you believe it? I had planned a trip to Providence a few months ago that got cancelled. I’m dying to visit the jewelry suppliers there. And I’d love to see the mansions in Newport sometime.

HT: Is Etsy full time or part time for you right now?

CG: I do Etsy full time, but it’s not my only job. I generally spend part of every day—7 days a week—listing, photographing, and creating. I’m also a freelance writer. I write book jacket copy for Random House. And I waitress on Sundays. You could say I’m busy.

HT: What is your favorite color?

CG: All of them. Except yellow. Sorry, yellow.

HT: What are your Etsy New Year's resolutions?

CG: I don’t have any! I have to get my state sales tax in before I can think about New Years resolutions.

Arts In RI has it's next meeting on January 15th.

To start of 2008, we bring you a talented jewelry designer, Wendy Thatcher. Her lovely, eco-friendly pieces are inspired by nature. Wendy, in turn, inspires us all! Visit her shop to see her exquisite pieces (any one of them would make a perfect Valentine's Day gift).

designsbywendyt

DB: Give us a little background on yourself.

WT: My name is Wendy Thatcher. I was born and raised in RI and will most likely stay here forever. I come from a tight-knit, very supportive family. I am very happily married to the greatest guy on the planet and we have two great kids, girls, ages 20 and 14. We are a “Brady Bunch” of sorts, having met 11 years ago. Me, with a 9 year old, Dave with a 3 year old, and we have pretty much been inseparable ever since.

I am an animal lover to a fault. We currently share our home with two very lovable, obnoxious dogs, who have entitlement disorders, and two very loud, talkative parrots. (They yell at us and the dogs all day!) Its chaos, but it’s my chaos and I love it.

I am a lover of the outdoors, wildlife and nature in general. Some of my favorite times are spent out exploring anywhere with my husband Dave. Most recently, it was our trip to the Rocky Mountains. (See the pic of me with a Mountain Jay and a chipmunk.) To me, this is Heaven.
Evenings and weekends are when I am best able to concentrate on my jewelry. I have a great little workshop area in my basement that I spend countless hours in.

DB: When did you first become interested in your art form?

WT: It seems that I have always been interested in jewelry making and beading, but it was not until several years ago that I decided to finally act on all of the ideas that had been with me for so long. Once I started, I was like a freight train! I guess I never really spoke of my ideas, because friends and family were truly surprised by my work. Sometimes, I still surprise myself. At times, I have so many design ideas and color combinations on my mind, that I have to write them down or I feel like my head will pop!

DB: What inspires you?

WT: I am very much inspired by nature. My favorite materials to use are natural, semi-precious stones, sterling silver and wood. I love to just gaze out the window or go for a walk and to take a close look at the colors of nature. I am truly fascinated by the thousands of different colored natural stones that are out there!

I also very much enjoy creating custom pieces for friends and family that match that persons style and personality. This can be incredibly challenging, but I love the look on a persons face when you know that you nailed it!

DB: Does living in Rhode Island influence your work in any way?

WT: I believe it does. We are so blessed to live in a place where there is water, whether it is ocean, lake or stream, in almost any direction you go. I myself live only two blocks from the bay, and can’t imagine not having these natural resources to look at on a daily basis. A nice walk on the beach or a long hike in the woods is a perfect way to get the creative juices flowing!

DB: What techniques do you use the most in your work?

WT: I am a beader by nature. I spend a large amount of time planning color schemes, combinations and choosing appropriate stones and findings for my projects. I am learning many new techniques, including wire construction, perfecting my soldering, and am working with precious metal clays. I tend to be my own biggest critic, and will not present these items at shows or on my website until I am comfortable with the quality of my work. I’ll get there, but in the meantime, check out my bead work!

DB: What do you find most challenging in your work?

WT: You tend to see a lot of the same things out there when it comes to handcrafted jewelry. It is currently flooded with people trying to sell their craft. I am always trying to stay a “step ahead”, and have unique and unusual pieces available, but at the same time, I try to offer a “something for everyone” type table. I work very hard to think “outside the box” and to even have pieces that do not necessarily fit my style, but will fit someone else’s.

DB: How did you find Etsy?

WT: I was wandering a small country fair one summer day, and stopped to browse at a crafter's table. The vendor who was selling her items handed me her business card and I noticed her web address. She was excited to tell me all about it, and soon enough, I was hooked on Etsy!

DB: Apart from your Etsy work, what do you do?

WT: I am a Licensed Practical Nurse working in the field of Developmental Disabilities. I have worked with this very special population for 15 years, and most likely, always will. I have learned more from these folks than I could ever have learned anywhere else.


DB: What's your favorite place in Rhode Island?

WT: Anyplace outdoors where I can go off and explore nature with my husband, is a great place to me.