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

Wired Talent

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 June 2010 09:19 Written by MakinTheBestOfIt Tuesday, 15 June 2010 08:20

While many can twist a piece of wire into some sort of shape, few can match the amazing talent of Colette of Colette’s Boutique on the HandmadeArtistsShop!  She is proof that a job loss may not be a bad thing, but instead a lauching pad for an undiscovered talent.  Colette is self taught and has improved her talent steadily since 2004.  Her work is elegant and clean and definitely qualifies as wearable art.

Colette’s pieces combine the richness of sterling silver with the earth elements of natural gemstones.  Each piece has a look all its own that any women would be proud to wear.  Her pieces range from the “WOW” of intricate swirls and wraps to the understated class of simpler designs.

Want to see more?  Check out Colette’s work on the HandmadeArtistsShop and prepare to be amazed.