Light of Day Jewelry is Helen Benham Gallagher's latest venture. She is a California-based mixed media artist with a love for color and shine. For her jewelry venture Helen takes what is old and brings new life to antique bottles and broken jewelry. She gets a kick out of digging through boxes of "junk" at flea markets on the hunt for gorgeous bits of hidden treasure. Each of her pieces is a unique labor of love. She is a mom, yoga teacher and master gluten-free baker.
SFEtsy: Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?
Helen: I create new jewelry from vintage jewelry. It's a tear it apart put it back together kind of process. One piece of jewelry could have parts of 4 or 5 different things... very Frankenstein ! My favorite part is hunting for the bits and pieces that I will use to create something one of a kind. The more broken and battered the better. I love flea markets, garage sales and thrift stores- really anywhere you can find discarded items that still have some shiny vintage goodness. SFEtsy: What's your work schedule / routine like? Helen: The first thing I do in the morning is to meditate for 10 minutes. It sets the tone for my day. Then I hit the gym or a yoga class to help balance the time I sit working. I find that my creative process is really improved by physical activity. There is nothing like a brisk walk to get through an artistic block. On a typical day I will spend 4 to 5 hours working on new designs, marketing on social media and answering emails. One of my favorite aspects of my work is going on field trips to search for the vintage pieces that I use in my jewelry. I find that a little time away from my studio helps me feel inspired again.
SFEtsy: Tell us about your work space - where do you create?
Helen: My studio space occupies the tiny spare bedroom in my home. What it lacks in square footage it makes up for in beautiful natural light and a view of my garden. There are several crystals hanging in the window that create rainbows all over the place. It is a cozy, quiet , inspiring place for creative work and I really love it. SFEtsy: What tools do you use that are absolutely essential and makes a huge difference in your day today process? Helen: I have an assortment of tools on my workbench. Needle nose pliers, bead crimpers , and diagonal cutters are all essential in jewelry design. I also use my Dremel for cutting metal and then grinding down the sharp edges. ( While wearing my safety goggles of course ) Investing in really good quality tools has made such a difference for me. SFEtsy: How did you get involved with Etsy? Helen: I was having lunch with my friend , Amy Fox ( Foxwild on Etsy) , in April of 2008. She told me that she had found a great website where you could buy handmade items and craft supplies. As soon as I got home I became an Etsy member and then I proceeded to spend the next two hours exploring all the fun things that were available. When I decided to sell my handmade jewelry Etsy was my natural choice. I like that it is a world-wide community of artists and people that appreciate hand-made goods.
SFEtsy: What are your favorite tools or apps that help you with your business?
Helen: I have recently begun utilizing the Shop Update feature which is available on the Sell on Etsy ap. It really works well for letting my customers know when I have a new listing. Also, being able to click on the item and shop makes it easier for my customers. I also like a photo editing ap called Photo Grid . It's great for creating photo collages and resizing my pictures to fit perfectly on Instagram. Of course , I use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to promote my work as well. SFEtsy: Share with us one lesson you have learned as an online seller Helen: I think I have learned that there is no such thing as too much promotion when it comes to your handmade work. Utilize the power of social media!
You can we find out more about Light of Day Jewelry at the following sites:
Website: www.lightofdayjewelry.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/lightofdayjewelry/ Twitter: twitter.com/HelenBGallagher Blog: lightofdayjewelry.blogspot.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/Light-of-Day-188708494517569/
Friday Features are run by Raji of Red Kerria Designs. To see your own shop featured, please contact her.
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Welcome to another edition of the Friday Feature. This week we are featuring MorninGloria's. Owner Gloria E. Rubio-Verduzco is an administrator for an arts non-profit during the day and devotes her evenings to her shop and business. She makes some amazing French Beaded Flower jewelry as part of her beaded jewelry line.
SFEtsy: Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?
Gloria: I make French Beaded Flowers. The reason they are called this is because the beading technique comes from the Victorian Era where peasants would use the leftover beads from the fabulous Victorian dresses, and string them onto wire to shape into flowers, which then they'd place on wreaths or other centerpieces for weddings, funerals, and other special events. I fell in love with beaded flowers while stumbling upon one in a gift shop while on vacation. I used to dance ballet, and would often put silk flowers in my ballet bun, and when I happened upon this beaded flower, I was obsessed and began making them for dance classes and performances. When people saw me wearing them, they began asking me to make flowers for them...and so MorninGloria's began. :)
SFEtsy: What's your work schedule / routine like?
Gloria: By day, I work full-time as an administrator for an arts non-profit, and my schedule usually consists of coming home, having dinner, and working on my jewelry items or online work (updating listings, promoting, social media) for a few hours each night. This fluctuates on my mood, and sometimes I'll be on a creative bender and itching to make items, and sometimes I'll be creativity spent, and I focus my energy on the business side. No rest for the weary! SFEtsy: Tell us about your work space - where do you create? Gloria: I recently moved into a new home where I have a studio sized (if not bigger) bedroom, and my creative space is a large section where there are floor to ceiling bay windows. I moved there specifically for that so that I could have as much natural light as possible. I am still organizing the area, but it feels good to have a spacious area for making! ·
SFEtsy: What tools do you use that are absolutely essential and makes a huge difference in your day today process?
Gloria: I could not function without my jewelry pliers and bead spinner. If you don't know what a bead spinner is, it's a contraption that looks like a small bowl with a vertical stick in the center which is used to place my beads on the wire to make my beaded flowers. You put the beads inside the bowl, hold the end of a wire inside the bowl, and use the stick in the center to spin the bowl and the beads climb the wire. It looks like magic...but really it's physics! SFEtsy: How did you get involved with Etsy? Gloria: I've been on Etsy since 2009, right after it began. I began selling my beaded flowers to my dancer friends, and turned online because I've always had a dream to have my own business. I was immediately drawn to the fact that it promoted the handmade community, and created a network for artisans all over the world. It's been a big part of my identity as an artist! SFEtsy: What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop? Gloria: Time. I have just enough time to create, but it takes 4 times more amount of time to photograph, edit, list, promote, (etc....etc...etc.), and I seem to never have enough hours of the day! We all dream that we could "quit our day job" and do Etsy full-time, but I have so much that I want to do in all facets of my creative and vocational self. ·
SFEtsy: What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?
Gloria: There are two events that come to mind. One was last Fall at the enormously attended Etsy Holiday Emporium at Pier 35. A pair of customers spent so much time at my booth ooing and ahhing over each of my items, telling me the sweetest compliments about my jewelry and hair accessories. They later came back and told me that my booth was their favorite of the show (which was a HUGE compliment given the caliber of artists that were present!), and they bought more items. I came home that night exhausted as can be to an email from one of them saying that they wanted to thank me for my work and for being so kind to them. The second was very recent, as I had my first meeting with a store buyer, and they LOVED my items and wanted my pieces in their shop as soon as possible. This was equally special as this store was one that I was a constant shopper of and respected for their high end items, so it felt so validating that they felt my items fit in with their aesthetic. SFEtsy: What are your favorite tools or apps that help you with your business? Gloria: My favorite photo editing app is picsart on my cell phone to create memes or promotional images for instagram, and my favorite Etsy tool is Etsy Rank to let me know if my listings are completely filled with tags, and help me with keywords. SFEtsy: Share with us one lesson you have learned as an online seller. Gloria: I have learned to adapt my expectations! I sometimes will put a lot of time and effort into my Etsy store, and not necessarily get sales, and then I might leave my shop online, and get a flurry of sales...you just never know!
You can we find out more about MorninGloria's at the following sites:
https://www.facebook.com/morninglorias https://www.pinterest.com/morninglorias http://instagram.com/morninglorias/ https://twitter.com/morninglorias http://www.morninglorias.com/ Gloria is offering a 15% discount this month with the code APRILSHOWERS.
Friday Features are run by Raji of Red Kerria Designs. To see your own shop featured, please contact her.
We are featuring Made by Melephant this month. Owner Melissa Fong offers a variety of handmade headbands, scarves and skirts in her shop. She has been sewing for over ten years and it all started when her friend had asked her to make a few skirts to wear to San Diego Comic Con. They were an instant hit and she has steadily added more offerings to her collection since then.
SFEtsy: What's your work schedule/routine like?
Melissa Fong: I am currently working two part-time jobs and taking classes in addition to running my shop, so my schedule changes up all the time and can be a little hectic. I usually work in the day, and I work on my shop at night, whether it's completing orders or creating new products. I don't have a set routine of the exact amount of hours I work on my shop every day, it's just trying to find small pockets of free time to sew when I can. SFEtsy: Tell us about your work space - where do you create? Melissa Fong: My "studio" is basically a hobby room where I also have a TV and a computer in addition to my sewing machine and fabric stock. I would love to have a space where I could freely spread out and dedicate all to my shop, but space is limited so I try to make as much use of all the free spots in the room as possible. I only have one table in the room to use freely for sewing, gluing, etc. so whenever I need to sew or cut, I need to rotate my tools around depending what I need at that very moment. My fabric is stored in bins around the room labeled with each particular theme or fabric.
SFEtsy: What tools do you use that are absolutely essential and makes a huge difference in your day to day process?
Melissa Fong: I would not have a shop at all if it weren't for my Kenmore sewing machine. I bought it over ten years ago from Sears and it's still going strong! Other essential tools include my titanium fabric scissors by Fiskars, pin cushion and pins, measuring tape, an iron, and cutting boards. When I make headbands, I use a bodkin and a Turn-It-All set, which makes sewing headbands so much easier. I'm not a fan of the safety pin method to turn fabric tubes inside out, so thank goodness for the Turn-It-All! SFEtsy: How did you get involved with Etsy? Melissa Fong: I've known about Etsy for a long time, and I always had the desire to open up a shop, but for the longest time, I didn't know what I wanted to make. Then a few summers ago, my friend asked me to make her some skirts for San Diego Comic Con. She loved them and got lots of compliments on them, so I decided to try my hand at selling them on Etsy. From there, I expanded to headbands, scarves, and mouse ears. SFEtsy: What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop? (optional) Melissa Fong: My biggest challenge at the moment is time management and dedicating enough time to run my shop. There's so much I want to do to expand and grow my business, yet I feel like I never have enough hours in the day to keep up with the work I want to do for my Etsy shop. My business is primarily a hobby and I love it, but perhaps one day I might want to grow it into something bigger. I would love to start doing craft fairs and shows this year, but dedicating the time for that is something of a challenge.
SFEtsy: What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop? (optional)
Melissa Fong: One of my proudest moments has been hitting 100 sales and realizing how far I had come within that time span to be able to sell that many items. Imagining 100 customers coming up to my virtual website and actually having an interest in what I've created is just mind-blowing. The positive feedback I've received as well has been so wonderful and meaningful, and I'm so grateful and happy when my customers are excited and ecstatic about my products. My business has grown so much in the last year and a half, and I hope to expand and grow more over the next year. SFEtsy: What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite? Melissa Fong: It's hard to pick one favorite, but probably my R2-D2 mouse ears is one of my favorite items I sell, just because he's my favorite character and it was one of the first mouse ears I had created. I also adore the fabric, and am still debating on what to make with it for myself (possibly to wear to the premiere of the new movie). SFEtsy: What are your favorite tools or apps that help you with your business? Melissa Fong: I use the Sell on Etsy app to run my business on the go. It's very easy to use and it's super convenient and handy. I also have an Instagram account for my shop that I use a lot to promote my business, and whenever I need to take product photos or pictures for my Instagram, I use Camera+ to edit my pictures. I also use Microsoft Excel for my bookkeeping, and I order my business cards from Vistaprint.
SFEtsy: What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?
Melissa Fong: I love sewing, but someday I wish to build upon my sewing skills and perfect my alterations skills. I have lots of dress patterns, specifically vintage, that aren't exactly my size, and I'm mostly self-taught so I wish to dedicate some time one day to learning the art of altering patterns. SFEtsy: What's next for you? Melissa Fong: I'm always working on new designs for the shop. Someday I would love to sell in person at a show, but for now I'm sticking to online because it works better for me and my schedule. Made by Melephant can be found on Instagram @madebymelephant https://instagram.com/madebymelephant/
Friday Features are run by Raji of Red Kerria Designs. To see your own shop featured, please contact her.
Welcome to this years last Friday Feature. This week we are featuring the shop Beautiful Jean. Bonnie Jean makes beautiful feather acessories which include hair clips, headdresses, earrings and shoes.
1. What is your Shop Name and URL ?
www.beautifuljean.etsy.com 2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong? SFetsy 3. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process? I have been creating feather hair accessories, feather earrings, hat clips and headdresses since 2008. I started making hair accessories one fateful night of crafting with my girlfriends. It must have been a hidden talent waiting to be born because once I started using feathers to create a hairpiece I just got really into the creative process. I created three pieces for myself to wear at a festival for my birthday. After all the compliments and seeing other talented artists work as inspiration, a lightbulb went off and I started making more with the intention to sell at my local farmers market. I rest is history. My process is mostly about preparation. For me it's all about having the materials ready, organized and a chunk of time in my day to work with ease. Once my work station is prepped, and I typically start each piece with an idea for a color scheme, or size or concept to incorporate a particular type of feather. It's all about working with a "mistake", going with flow and making each piece work and look beautiful! For the past few years my main focus for sourcing feathers has been mostly from bird owners. I have access to naturally molted, "cruelty free" and incredibly vibrant colored feathers.
4. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.
I am a dancer, yoga practitioner and teacher, and currently in the process of completely a hula hoop teacher training program, so my breaks from making pieces and jewelry typically consist of a hula hoop dance session. Movement is important after sitting for hours and focusing on intricate work. My most awesome achievement was when I was in NY selling at a show in Brooklyn a few years back, and a young women by the name of Trixie Whitley, singer/songwriter had bought a hairpiece to wear at the Juno Awards in which she was nominated for an award. One of my pieces walked the red carpet, which was by far a huge highlight in my design career. 5. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations? www.facebook.com/lvbeautifuljean I have tried to photography every piece I've ever made, so my facebook album is kind of like a timeline of my progress. 6. What inspires your creations? Flowers and colors of nature are my inspiration.
7. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?
I wish to learn new skills and be more comfortable using a sewing machine. I would like to dabble in millinery, and see what comes through and if I take to it. I tend to pay close attention while creating and trying new creative skills because it's important to notice what "turns on" my creative fire. If you had a gift certificate to Etsy for any one item you wanted, what would you buy? 8. What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop? Every sale on my etsy feels like a success, and makes all the time and energy to get a listing up so worth it. I particularly feel so proud when someone from out of country purchases a piece. Etsy has connected me to wide world audience and clientele. 9. If you had to be an animal for one week, which animal would you choose to be? And what would you do? A mermaid fairy, or as I like to call them a "Merairy". The would like to have the ability to be both in the underworld community and sky community. I like the idea of being multicultural in the realm of fantasy and magic.
10. What does buying and selling local handmade mean to you, and how has it affected your life?
Buying local handmade goods is how I vote and place my values. I love to know the story, and where my clothes, beauty products, etc..., came from. I love feeling the energy of the person that made it. The quality of touch, attention to detail and artistry is something that can be sensed and transferred from one to another. Selling locally has helped me develop and be part of community. The community I'm in because of contributing and caring for local handmade has brought in an abundance of resources, support to do what I do, and I get to also be a mentor and assist others in the field of DIY. I vision a world of trade, where everyone is living a life of quality products, food and resources. Where everyone is in touch with their true gifts, talents and abilities and giving back to their communities what they were designed and love to do. 11. What's next for you? My efforts with materials are higher quality metal and gems and being totally 100% cruelty free feathers. My favorite show, this being my 5th year of vending, is the Edwardian Ball in SF. I have lined up a couple local holiday shows, but the Edwardian Ball is my favorite. I feel I get to create with 100% creative freedom, and people totally get my work with no explanation. My dream is to break into the market in Europe, especially the London fashion hair fascinator scene.
Happy Friday Everyone !!! If you are still looking for unique gift check out this week's featured artist. Lynn Cobb has been making jewelry from fine silver metal clay for about 10 years, before that she was a painter and polymer artist. She was a finalist in the prestigious Saul Bell Design competition with a piece from her Flower Series. It and other pieces fromher Flower Series have been widely published including in the Lark Book: Showcase 500 Art Necklaces.
She also has had items featured in numerous magazine articles. When asked about her preffed medium, she said " I really feel as if silver jewelry is “my” medium. I really love its sculptural qualities! "
1. What is your Shop Name and URL ?
www.etsy.com/shop/lynncobb 2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong? Metal Clay Heads and Etsy Metal Clay are the two I am most active in. 3. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process? My jewelry is made using silver metal clay, a revolutionary pure silver product. I sculpt, texturize, mold, form the clay in wet form, fire in the kiln at 1650F for up to 2 hours, and voila, in a modern alchemy, the clay is transformed into .999 pure silver (more pure than sterling which is only .925). I am a certified PMC Artisan, Level 2, many classes. I am inspired by nature, sea life, ancient and indigenous architecture, and the sensual flower paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe.
4. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.
I was awarded a finalist position in the prestigious Saul Bell Design competition. My work has been published in numerous books including Showcase 500 Art Necklaces and also feature articles in several art jewelry magazines, most recently Sept 2015, Art Jewelry Magazine, regarding a series of silver castle charms.
5. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?
https://www.facebook.com/Lynn-Cobb-back-porch-clay-works-282213065175168/ https://www.pinterest.com/lynncobbpin/ https://instagram.com/lynncobb22/ 6. What inspires your creations? My most exciting work is inspired by the sensual flowere paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe and feminist installation The Dinner Party, by Judy Chicago. My acclaimed flower series of necklaces, earrings and bracelets, hand sculpted by me into pure silver interpret these artists' feminist work into beautiful wearable jewelry. I am also inspired by ancient and indigenous architecture, my series of Castles and Huts rings, earrings and necklaces have been featured in several art jewelry magazines. I also love using leaves, sea urchins, sea stars and other natural items as inspiration.
7. How did you get involved with Etsy?
Some friends were selling there, so I got on board. 8. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop? SEO, it's very hard to get found among the millions of listings. 9. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite? https://www.etsy.com/listing/97126779/luxury-necklace-garden-wedding-floral?ref=shop_home_active_11 This piece GLOWS! It's my current favorite! 10. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday? I would like to do more enameling, and more nuno felting 11. What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop? I am very proud and humbled to be named a finalist in the Saul Bell Design competition, 2011. 12. Tell us about your first sale ever? I sold a painting, about 35 years ago. I was just amazed that someone else saw my vision. This weeks Friday Feature is for two stores. Devika's Art and The Indigo Paisley. Both stores are owned by Devika Keskar. Devika is an architect by profession and a full time artist now.
Welcome to another edition of the Friday Feature. The Holiday season is right around the corner and Amy Cole owners of The Pink Camellia has some new goodies for her customers. She will be participating in the SF Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium 11/28 & 11/29 and her new products are going to debut there. She will also have treats for your K9 friends, so stop by and say hello!!!
1. What is your Shop Name and URL ? www.thepinkcamellia.etsy.com 2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong? SF Etsy Team, CCCOE Team, Etsians of Facebook 3. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process? I primarily make one of a kind special occasion Swarovski hair pins & combs, as well as semi precious jewelry using both new gold/silver, semi precious gemstones, and upcycled vintage brooches. I am self taught, and actually started on Etsy in 2009 by selling handmade baby gifts. While I still incorporate some of these items, such as boutique style night lights and baby wipes cases into my shop, I have moved away from the other gifts to focus on my true passion; jewelry and accessories! I look for inspiration for my pieces at a few local suppliers, and it usually begins with an interesting finding or stone, and blossoms from there. I prefer making mostly one of a kind pieces, but even those that I make more than one of are original, because each stone is different and unique! I find the whole process really therapeutic, actually. Welcome back to the latest installment of Meet the Makers, where you get to "pre-shop" the SF Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium. We're finishing up accessories with 15 more unique vendors! Since Sass: Unique Gifts & Accessories, Totes, Wine Bags, Pouches daFunkyButtons: Handmade Jewelry + Accessories by Claudia LIX PERLE: Handmade Accessories
It's almost time for the SF Etsy 2015 Indie Holiday Emporium, coming up in just a few short weeks! Join us at Pier 35 on Nov. 28-29, from 11am-5pm, to shop over 200 handmade vendors. We're kicking our "Meet the Makers" series with accessories! For the entire selection of accessory makers at #IHE2015, visit our SF Etsy #IHE2015 Accessories Pinterest board. Keep checking this blog to see more of our makers! Happy Bobbins: Simple, Convenient, and Stylish children's accessories Squisheeeee: Squishy P's Sew Shop GritsNHokum: HANDMADE AMERICAN LEATHERCRAFT
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Welcome to SF EtsyWe're a collective of over 2700 Etsy sellers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Archives
November 2020
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