Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business
I’m Andrea with Jewelry by
Andrea. I have been making jewelry for 6 years. I hand make Spiritual, Yoga and
Zen jewelry. I love using pieces that are made through Fair Trade by
traditional and old methods. I also love to create with spiritual symbols. For
the most part I am self-taught. I have taken a few courses in metal fabrication
but found I enjoy creating with beads and components so have stuck with that.
I have always loved to travel
and collect unique jewelry. After having children I wasn’t able to travel as
much or as far. Making jewelry started as a creative outlet for me. I was drawn
to materials that reminded me of an exotic vacation and creating with those
pieces gave me a feeling of connection to something bigger. I started selling
through home shows and then expanded to selling on line. In the last few years
I have taken my business from hobby to full time. I now have several wholesale
accounts, sell on Etsy and through my own site. I write a weekly blog exploring
the meaning behind the symbols I use in my work.
I get inspiration from the
materials I use. I love using spiritual and symbolic symbols. I may not know
the full meaning behind each piece but I do my best to learn about them. I
focus on finding amazing quality items with beautiful finishes. I use the
spirit and vibe of my materials to inspire my designs. I love to open a package
from a place like Nepal or Thailand and wonder what life was like where they
came from and think of what I am going to make with it. Equally inspiring is to
open a package with stunning components and vibrant colored beads... then my
mind spins with ideas for them! I often have pieces sit for years before I
figure out what design to use them in. I’ve learned rushing the process never
works for me.
What has been your biggest successful moment so far?
Last year one of my designs,
“Garnet Moon”, was worn by Nina Dobrev on The Vampire Diaries. It was really
exciting to see something I created on TV. Definitely a high point for me!
What challenges do you face selling online?
Selling on line is all about
getting found, having wonderful photos and being able to convey your message
about why your items are unique and what they are going to bring to the buyer.
It’s a process figuring out how to tell your story and how to stand out in the
crowd.
What advice would you give someone just starting out on
Etsy?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed on
Etsy by all of the amazing other items for sale there. My advice for someone
starting out selling on Etsy is to do your research, allow yourself to get
inspired but never copy. Customers purchasing on Etsy want to know your story,
your inspiration and purchase from “you”. It’s important to be authentic. Great
photos are a must. Photograph with good lighting and close up shots showing
lots of detail. Know your prices and what you need to charge to make some
profit. You don’t want to be too high or too low. Don’t be afraid to play
around with your prices as well. Put thought into your packaging and
presentation. Think of what impression your packaging gives when a customer
opens their purchase. It doesn’t have to cost a ton but a nice wrap in tissue
paper, business card & handwritten note go a long way.
Want to see more of Andrea?
Thank you Andrea for sharing
your story with us.
Well that wraps up another
edition of Artist Spotlight. We run this
column every Monday and we’re always looking for artists to spotlight. So if you are interested or know someone that
we’d enjoy reading about please pass on the information.
Thanks for stopping by,
Until next time…
