Beloved Bijou's Craft Blog

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Interview of Lindsay Lein

I have another fabulous interview for you dear readers. You're going to <3 her work because I know I do! Meet Lindsay Lein ~

She says~

What is your art/craft and how long have you been doing it?
I design and make jewelry. I have been doing it for as long as I can remember, probably since I was about seven years old.

What got you started?
My ex-stepfather worked for the phone company and had a van full of wires that were every color of the rainbow. I loved to mix and match the wires, twisting and tying them into different designs. Then in grade school macrame friendship bracelets were all the rage and I sold my first pieces to classmates.

Are there any other arts and crafts that you would like to try your hand at? If so, why?
Quilting. I have always admired quilters and have thought about taking that up as a hobby but I know it gets really expensive and every quilt is a time-consuming project....I don't know if I have enough patience or money for that!

What are your favorite materials to use?
I love vintage crystal buttons and costume jewelry from the 40s and 50s that I can take apart and refashion. I also love wire, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, brass filigree, and pearls of all varieties whether real or faux.

What and/or who inspires you?
Etsy artists really inspire me as do all the creative gals I work with at a beading/jewelry craft store. I also love browsing flea markets and antique shops for interesting pieces that spark my imagination.

Etsy Shop: www.lindsaylein.etsy.com
Blog: midwesthandmade.wordpress.com (under construction)
Facebook: Lindsay Lein

I hope you enjoyed this week's interview and stay tuned for more artists and crafts people that I consider to be a cut above.

<3 Myria

Monday, August 8, 2011

Interview of Shanis Jewellery

Once again I have discovered another awesome artist. I love her chic and simple use of lace in her jewelry! I think you will agree that this is haute couture :-)

Shani says - Thank you for this nice opportunity.

Q. What is your art/craft and how long have you been doing it?
A. I create silver jewellery with semiprecious stones, sometimes combining them
with other materials like leather and lace. My designs can be romantic, mystic
or very clean and can fit people with different styles. I make custom designed
pieces from other metals as well. I love working on custom designs and involve
clients in design process. From time to time I also give jewellery making
courses in my studio in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Q. What got you started?
A. It's started with a lost earring. I have borrowed a pair of silver earrings from
my friend and one got lost. I couldn't find the same in any shop and decided to
make a new one by myself. Fortunately it was just a simple wire work. I went to
a local jewellery suppliers shop where I was amazed by variety of stones, silver
details, chains and interesting tools.
I made the earring and gave it back to my friend admitting that it was made by
me. She was very impressed and asked me to make a matching necklace for her.
That's how I discovered this profession.

Q. Are there any other arts and crafts that you would like to try your hand at? If
so, why?
A. I really would like to try some crochet and engraving. I like ornaments and I
think these two techniques can add an extra esthetic value to my designs.

Q. What are your favorite materials to use?
A. It really depends on the project. I usually start with an idea
and carefully choose materials that fit my concept and design. I like to
experiment with non-traditional materials. For example, I dip lace in
transparent rubber and create "Lace stones" for setting.

Q. What and/or who inspires you?
A. I often visit jewellery exhibitions and trade shows. There you can always meet
new designers and get updated in jewellery trends, technologies and stones. This
summer I went to very inspiring Jewellery week in London.

Q. Do you have a Coupon Code for your Etsy Shop and/or website?
A. Yes, I have a Coupon Code with 15% discount. This the code 519427SJ. I have also
free basic shipping.

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/shanidesign
Website: http://www.shanisjewellery.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shani-Jewellery-Design/282435467250
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ShaniJewelry

Friday, July 29, 2011

Interview of Made of Carpet

It's interview day! Irina with Made of Carpet has introduced me to her WONDERFUL carpet bags. These are literally made out of rugs! For those of you who know me personally know that I am a purse-a-holic, so hopefully I will be able to use the wonderful discount that Irina has given us for a new bag :-)

NOTE to readers: Irina is giving away a 50-pound Gift Certificate to one lucky person! Comment below to enter the drawing.

Q. What is your art/craft and how long have you been doing it?

A. I design and completely supervise manufacturing of large Victorian vintage-style tote Carpet bags.

Because my bags are made not from a velvet- or velour-kind fabric or thin tapestry, but from real thick piled Oriental rugs that originally have been made to be used for their intended purpose, I had to adapt and update 150-years old Victorian technology of Carpet bags craft to be used today. It probably seems pretty simple but in reality there are plenty of tricks and pitfalls.

Rugs are also made especially for my purposes – they do not have anti-slippery cover but have couple of other special features (if I tell you which, I would have to kill you. Just kidding! J ), but it took nearly 8 months to figure out first of all what type of modern rugs will do the job and then find right adequate supplier. Considering that all my bags and materials they are made of manufactured in European Union and this was one of my main intentions (can you imagine Victorian-style bags, made in China? Ha-ha!), it was not easy.

I am not actually big fun of handmade products (except Savile Row level of quality, of course) that is why my bags are of the highest manufacturing quality standard.

The collection is very new – it is only 3.5 months old.

Q. What got you started?

A. Bags are my big (no, HUGE!) passion and I always wanted to create them, but I never had time and appropriate conditions - been a gipsy somewhere deep in my soul, I lived in six countries on three continents, until finally settled on our little rainy island, widely known as Great Britain. It was quite far back – one husband ago – but only now I managed to get deep enough to create a brand.

As to particular Carpet bags, besides they are beautiful and very pleasant to touch, I also don't have much (if any at all) competitors.

Q. Are there any other arts and crafts that you would like to try your hand at? If so, why?

A. Honestly? NO! I've spent 17 years as a Graphic Designer for print (and still do it yet) to be able to pay my living. Enough! No more client's amateur tests and filthy "visions".

I love bags, especially fuzzy ones. I have an idea of bags made of fringe, but it will be next level of my business and most probably different brand.

Q. What are your favorite materials to use?

A. Carpet so far.

Q. What and/or who inspires you?
A. An inspiration mainly came from the Victorian Era's fashion and art. Here in Britain, even today, we experience a huge influence of that past – bridges and furniture, architecture and patterns... all come from there. Not to mention the achievements of [industry] of that time.

Then my inspiration was replenished with the impression of such charismatic literature characters as Mary Poppins and Miss Marple.

And finally the elegance and romance of the key style icons of the sixties, such as for example Jacquie O, to complete the picture.

Q. Do you have a Coupon Code for your website?

A. Yes I do! I have Voucher code line on Basket page of my online store http://www.madeofcarpet.com/

Coupons:

The codes vary and right now, till end of July we have summer birdie discount for 20 British Pounds (approximately 30 USD), code is MoC-Sum11.

Free delivery – 30 British Pounds. Code will be created tonight and will be Myria-BBA This code will be valid till the end of August.

Website: www.madeofcarpet.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Made-of-Carpet/125411940872079?sk=wall
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=A1F83G8C2ARO7P&me=A2RBFI5PY6LZZ8

As I mentioned before - Irina is giving away a 50-pound Gift Certificate to one lucky person!

Comment below +1 entry

Share on Facebook +1 entry

Share on Twitter +1 entry

Purchase from Made of Carpet +5 entries

Purchase from Beloved Bijou +5 entries

Good luck! <3

Myria

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Interview of Uniqlets Jewelry

Hello Readers,

I'm back again with my weekly artist interview. Today I will feature Lisa with Uniqlets Jewelry. I love her stuff - especially her bracelets! She uses vintage and antique odds and ends (and BUTTONS!) to create truly unique statement pieces. I think you will enjoy her work and her story :-)

Q. What is your art/craft and how long have you been doing it?

A. I make jewelry using vintage/antique materials from the Victorian era through the 1970's I have been doing it on and off for about 15 years and the look of my pieces has evolved over time. It was mainly a hobby for most of that time, I started my web site this year.

Q. What got you started?

A. I began by making vintage button bracelets. My grandmother sewed all of her life and saved any interesting buttons. When she died, I wanted to do something with her buttons because they were attached to so many memories. I don't make clothing, but I love jewelry so the solution was obvious.

Q. What are your favorite materials to use?

A. I like using a mixture of materials and to try to stick with things that are vintage and re purposed. I still use a lot of buttons in a wide variety of materials including bakelite, carved glass and wood. Now I like to make my designs more interesting by also using old jewelry parts, game pieces, buckles and anything with an interesting form, texture and color.

Q. What and/or who inspires you?
A. I am inspired by the bold vintage jewelry that I have been collecting for many years. The other inspiration comes from the materials. The designs come from what I see when I put them next to each other and play around. I also love to create custom pieces jumping off a customer's favorite look, colors or the look of a single earring or piece of broken jewelry that holds special memories.

Q. Do you have a Coupon Code for your Etsy Shop and/or website?

A. I am happy to offer a discount for readers of this blog.

The code BLOG will get the reader 15% off on any piece of my handcrafted jewelry. Shipping is free on anything priced more than $200.00

Website: http://www.uniqlets.com/
http://handmadeartistsshop.com/shop/Uniqlets,%20Jewelry%20by%20Lisa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniqlets-Jewelry-by-Lisa/129228897137575

Thank you again,
Lisa

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Interview of brandMOJO

Hello Readers,

This is the first of a series of interviews that I'm going to be doing on artists and craftspeople that I find to be exceptionally interesting. I hope you will feel the same :-)

Today you will read the interview of Marisa of brandMOJO Images:

Q. What is your art/craft and how long have you been doing it?
A. I started taking pictures when I was a kid with my Polaroid Rainbow SX-70. Fast forward through many years, many various cameras and many excursions to today. I have been shooting professionally for over 13 years, both fine art and commercial photography.

Q. What got you started?

A. I took a Photo 101 course in college which led me to start working as a photojournalist at the college paper. I loved the thrill of being in the mix of capturing life as it happened. Being in the right spot at the right time. This continues to be a common thread among all of my photos: being in the moment. I rarely stage my photos, but rather I move myself to get just the right image.

Q. Are there any other arts and crafts that you would like to try your hand at? If so, why?

A. I would love to start working with wood. My husband builds fine furniture (brandMOJO Interiors) and has slews of scrap wood for me. My goal for this year is to decoupage my photos onto wood, to build birdhouses, to carve burl bowls, and anything else I can tackle. Nothing is as cathartic as getting immersed in an art project.

Q. What are your favorite materials to use?

A. I absolutely love using vintage and antique cameras to take black and white photographs. They were used before color film was the norm and they create detail that is so tactile. I do tend to use my Nikon D90 to photograph most things now, as films are getting harder to come by. But my favorite black and white film is Agfa Scala, a gorgeous slide film.

Q. What and/or who inspires you?

A. I am inspired by so many current photographers and artists, there are too many to name, but those who I admire most are Henri Cartier Bresson, Lewis Hine, and W. Eugene Smith.

Q. Do you have a Coupon Code for your Etsy Shop and/or website?

A. I tend to run select specials where a certain percentage of the sale of an image will go to a reputable non-profit, such as the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund and also Animal Rescue Kansai.

Etsy Shop: brandMOJOimages (http://www.etsy.com/shop/brandmojoimages
Blog: http://brandmojoimages.blogspot.com/
Website: [my new site is under construction, but here's my first one] http://brandmojoimages.webs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/brandMOJO-Images/145821875431245

Thank you so much for this great opportunity, Myria!

The best to you as well.

The warmest of regards,

Marisa

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Vote for your June Favorite...

Hi ladies,
One of my necklaces was nominated again! :-) (see below for the contest link)

I didn't win last time but maybe this time...
Please share with your friends/family.