Follow your Desires

Last Updated on Monday, 9 August 2010 06:51 Written by MakinTheBestOfIt Monday, 9 August 2010 10:41

There are full time artists in the world…and then there are the rest of us!  Desirable Intentions is one such multi-tasker.  She and her husband actually lay floors as their “day job,” but her real passion lies in jewelry.

She experimented with many things; cake decorating, refinishing furniture, cross stitch; before stumbling upon the joy of creating beautiful pieces of wearable art.

Ready to see more?  Check out DesirableIntentions on the HandmadeArtistsShop and prepare to be amazed.

Elle’s Beads – Funky, Eco-Friendly Fashion

Last Updated on Friday, 30 July 2010 07:26 Written by Elle Friday, 30 July 2010 07:26

Hi everyone!  I’m Elle, the creative force behind Elle’s Beads.  By day I’m a public interest paralegal and by night I’m a committed player in the Handmade Movement!  No, it’s not as exciting as if I donned a cape and roamed the streets fighting crime, but it’s an integral part of my life and something I’ve grown to truly love and cherish.

Elle’s Beads was never intended to be a business venture.  I started beading and making jewelry as an outlet for dealing with some of the depression and anxiety I was going through after starting my first “real” job in a new city after college. After a few months of encouragement from family and friends, I decided to open shop on Etsy and I’ve been selling my work ever since.

The designs I make are almost always one of a kind and reflect my personality and eclectic sense of style.  I have a line of LGBT pride jewelry as well as dozens of other funky, colorful pieces.  This year I’ve added lines of metal bookmarks and beaded cell phone charms, perfect even for those who don’t wear much jewelry.  I also make fabric accessories, including brooches, pins, and barrettes.

Environmental responsibility is a big issue for me and so a lot of my work reflects that.  I only use scrap fabrics for my accessories and often incorporate broken vintage jewelry, vintage buttons, and other second-hand embellishments into my work.  I make beaded and resin magnets and often use recycled bottle caps or even creative items like old keys and eyeglass lenses in my creations.  

You can find Elle’s Beads (and me!) all over the web.  I have shops on Handmade Artists Forum, Etsy, Zibbet and my own website.  I have an active Blogger blog, Tumblr blog, YouTube channel, Twitter, and Facebook page.  I’d love it if you stopped by and dropped me a line.  One of the best parts of starting this business is the wonderful friendships I’ve made with other artisans and lovers of handmade!

Until next time,

Elle

When Talents Collide

Last Updated on Monday, 21 June 2010 12:12 Written by MakinTheBestOfIt Monday, 21 June 2010 11:45

Some collaborations are just amazing; and Copper Dancer Designs is just one such example of a collaboration that works!  Julia Benson-Slaughter and Andrea Winkler are both talented glass artists who came together thanks to their love of glass as well as the gift of combining glass with metal into amazingly lush designs of both finished pieces and loose glasswork beads in a variety of colors and styles.

Face it, this shop is like a candy store for anyone wanting to add handworked glass into their own designs but doesn’t possess the tools, time, or talent to make it themselves.  The rich colors and stunning finish is enough to make any jewelry designer drool.

Not into designing your own jewelry?  That is all right.  Copper Dancer also finds time to make some finished pieces for your pleasure.  Chainmaille pieces as well as those that combine metal with their stunning glass will definitely get you noticed and envied.

Ready to see more?  Check out this talented team at Copper Dancer Designs on the HandmadeArtistsShop.