LJDesigns- Vintage Meets Inspiration from Around the World

Tell us a bit about yourself..

I am originally from Boston but I live here in Ohio because I am studying at Oberlin College and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. I am majoring in vocal performance and art history with a minor in dance. My favorite color is green, my favorite number is 4 and my favorite word is smock (say it - it is such a satisfying word to say!). 

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Well, since I am a student I am pretty busy studying and going to class but I also work on campus as a sexual health educator and I teach dance classes in Cleveland.

Where do you get your creativity from?

Despite what they might say, both of my parents are very creative. While neither one of them works full time in the arts, they certainly appreciate it; my dad is an avid collector of photography and my mom is a costumer for plays and musicals in Boston.

What got you into the craft hobby?

Ever since I was a baby my mom was always making arts and crafts with me. She would cover the walls with giant sheets of paper and let my brother and I color all over them and occasionally, if I was lucky, I could have a go at her sewing room. I started making jewelry with my grandmother when I was 5 or 6 because she had the most amazing collection of beads gathered during he world travels. Once I started beading I couldn't stop and so I taught myself everything from basic wire work to metal smithing.

 

How would you describe your creative process?

Being an art history major is a constant inspiration; I spend my days studying everything from Dutch masters to modern architecture. Having to analyze and examine such remarkable pieces of art and architecture is more inspiration than I could ever need! I really enjoy traveling (I've been to over 15 countries) and I think I draw a lot of my color palates from the places I visit. I try to pick up some supplies when I travel too - I like the idea that one of my necklaces could have materials from the States, Italy, Japan and Africa without the person wearing it ever knowing. I am also a big fan of recycled and reused materials. I use everything from chains from the '70's to old typewriter keys.

 

What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced?

This is a really hard question because I have gone through so many different styles and techniques of jewelry making. I have to say, I am really proud of this silver ring I made myself. It has little stripes painstakingly carved into it and then darkened. I think I made it when I was 15 or 16 and I doubt that I could make one as nice now!

How did you get your business off the ground?

I started doing holiday fairs when I was 12 because I wanted to make money to give to charities like Reach Out and Read and Heifer International (if you haven't heard of there organizations, look them up. They are amazing!). I think I really became a "business" when I started my Etsy shop (ljyobie.etsy.com) during my sophomore year of college.

What are your goals with your business?

I would love to make more online sales. Right now I use my Etsy shop as more of an online portfolio and I make most sales in person but I am a busy college student so craft fairs and such can be hard to schedule, online sales would be ideal.

What do you do in your free time?

What free time? When I have free time I do a lot of cooking. I love throwing dinner parties for my friends so I can try out tons of new recipes. If you're nice maybe I'll invite you to one...

What's the message behind your work?

I'm not really sure if my work has a message, in fact I think I like that it doesn't. I make one-of-a kind pieces so if anything I'm trying to convey a style more than a message. A lot of my pieces are vintage inspired and it is important to me to recycle and reuse materials but I don't want to beat people over the head with my ideas and philosophy. Wearing jewelry should make you feel good and I just want people to enjoy wearing my jewelry and maybe enjoy the details and materials I put in to it.

Check out LJDesigns this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature 67 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show

Sunday, October 23, 2011, 10:00am-5:00pm

Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church 

5500 West 54th St. 

Parma, OH 44129. 

For more information, contact Becki Cooper, at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Creating "Happy Accidents"- In the Loft Designs

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Laura Dim and I am the owner of In the Loft Designs. After working for 13 years in the marketing/advertising/PR field, I quit my job to stay home with my children. That was 10 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. My daughter is now 17 and my son is 13, I have been married for almost 22 years, and my family is the most important thing to me.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

In addition to designing and handcrafting jewelry, I also work at Bead Q! in Chagrin Falls as an instructor and in sales. When I’m not working there or working on my jewelry, I spend most of my time watching my son play travel baseball and my daughter perform at football games as a member of her high school drill/dance team.  That means lots of time watching sports in my family, which is just fine because I am an avid sports fan!  When I’m not supporting my kids’ teams, I’m supporting the Indians, the Browns or the Cavs.

Where do you get your creativity from?

There’s a lot of artistic talent on both sides of my family – my father is a talented amateur photographer and my mother owned a knitting and needlework shop for many years, and still creates beautiful hand-knit pieces. Beyond that, several of my great aunts and uncles dabbled in all kinds of arts, from illustration to painting to beadwork and even music.

What got you into the craft hobby?

When I quit my job in advertising, I decided I needed a creative outlet, so I began exploring different crafts. Nothing really stuck until my father and I decided to take a metalsmithing course together. We both love jewelry and he was also looking for a creative hobby. After that, I enrolled in a six-week beading course, followed by another advanced beading course. By then, I was hooked. What better than to be able to design and create my own jewelry instead of buying it from someone else?!?

How would you describe your creative process?

The best way I can describe my process is that I let the beauty and properties of my materials inspire me. Sometimes I will sketch ideas, but for the most part, I will sit in my studio with beads and wire and metals in front of me and just start “playing” with them until I get inspired. A lot of my work is what I like to call “happy accidents.” I will often start out with an idea in my head and begin to work, but then I’ll see an interesting quirk develop in the metal or a brilliant color appear while working with my torch, and that will lead me in a whole different direction.

What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced?

My favorite item is a bracelet made of textured copper washers and little turquoise beads, wired together with sterling silver wire. I love the contrast of the copper and silver, and turquoise is my favorite stone. I love to create pieces with a lot of texture, and this piece is a great example of that. The bracelet also incorporates several of my favorite techniques, including wirework and metalwork, and allows me to use lots of my favorite tools – I love tools! The end result is a simple, yet elegant piece that highlights the beauty of the materials, brings in lots of color and texture, and is different from any other piece I’ve encountered.

How did you get your business off the ground?

Once I began making jewelry and giving it as gifts, my friends and family encouraged me to begin selling it. So, I got a vendor’s license and started by doing home shows and selling pieces on consignment at an art gallery. Once I got my confidence up I began applying to art festivals and over the last several years have exhibited at many indoor and outdoor shows from Cleveland to Columbus. I also developed my own website (www.intheloftdesigns.com) and I have an Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/intheloftdesigns).

What are your goals with your business?

My short-term goal, while my children are still home, is to be profitable enough to allow me to support the business and continue creating. After my kids are off to college and beyond, my intention is to expand my efforts by participating in more shows, selling my work through boutiques and galleries and focusing more on marketing my website.

What do you do in your free time?

Free time?  What’s that?  As I mentioned earlier, I am an avid sports fan, so I enjoy going to games or watching them on TV. I enjoy reading, although there’s not a lot of time for that, and I also enjoy doing crossword puzzles. That’s one thing I always find time for – my morning crossword puzzle!  And after all that, I do try to get a little exercise once in a while!

What’s the message behind your work?

When I’m creating, I don’t really look to convey a message. I just like to highlight the natural beauty of the materials. I keep my designs organic and simple so the natural properties of the materials take center stage.

Check out In the Loft Designs this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church at 5500 West 54th St. Parma, OH 44129. Show time runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. This eclectic show will feature 65 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Twitter: @AvantGardeShows

Facebook: Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows

Mystic Minerals, The Magic Behind Darcy Angell's Work

Tell us a bit about yourself.. I am completely cat crazy – I share my home with 5 – all rescues. They are my greatest joy. I try to repay that joy by doing whatever I can to help animals. I can’t work in a shelter or foster cats – because I fall in love hard and want to keep them all. So I rescue those that I can and donate 10% of the proceeds from my jewelry business to animal rescue charities. In addition to my jewelry http://www.mysticmineralsjewelry.com, I design, build and show hot rods with my husband http://www.houseofmouseracing.com.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I live in Twinsburg and work as a Business Manager for an electronic media content company. I drive my hot rods to car cruises & shows and try my best to keep up with my extensive flower gardens.


Where do you get your creativity from?
I taught myself most of the arts & crafts that I have done through the years, which include macramé, candle-making, embroidery, enameling and glass fusing as well as jewelry-making.

What got you into the craft hobby?
I learned to make jewelry a long time ago. People would buy my jewelry right off of my ears & neck – time and time again. So I started selling my jewelry at high end shows and stores – and then the internet.


How would you describe your creative process?
The ideas just flow into my head – at all times of the day and especially when I’m making jewelry. I always have three or four designs in my head for every one design I actually have time to make. I sit on the living room floor surrounded by my gems and beads for inspiration – and my cats to help me.

What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced?
I made a labradorite necklace and earring set for my niece for her college graduation present. We both share a love of labradorite and these stones were the most beautiful I have ever seen. I made it as an heirloom that she will hopefully keep her entire life and pass down through her family.

How did you get your business off the ground?

People kept buying my jewelry as I was wearing it. I always wear my own jewelry as a demo and I always carry a back-up to wear in case it sells. I also started an Etsy store – but I do much better when people can see the jewelry in person. The colors, shapes and movement just don’t show as fully in a photo online as they do when they are physically in front of someone.

What are your goals with your business?

As I stated before, I love to make jewelry and I love to help animals. The money I have left after I make my donations allows me to locate and buy beautiful stones and beads with which to create more jewelry. Any extra cash is icing on the cake.


What do you do in your free time?
Between working full time, making jewelry, doing the hot rod thing and trying to maintain a house, I have no free time. I guess you could consider the jewelry my free time – that’s what I’m always working toward – time to make jewelry.

What's the message behind your work?
I feel that the charity element of my work adds an extra quality of beauty to both the jewelry and its wearer.

Check Darcy and Mystic Minerals out this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church at 5500 West 54th St. Parma, OH 44129. Show time runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. This eclectic show will feature 65 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Twitter: @AvantGardeShows

Facebook: Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows

Natalie Rose Designs.. The Art of Natalie Freedman!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Natalie Freedman and I am a Jewelry and Metal Artist based out of the Cleveland area. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jewelry and Metals from Kent State University in the Spring of 2010. I currently work at Bella Design Jewelers, a custom Jewelry store in Bainbridge, Ohio, as a Bench Jeweler and a Cad Designer. Most of the jewelry that I make is made from sterling and fine silver and I specialize in the technique of filigree.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

When I am not working on my jewelry, I spend as much time as I can with my family. I try to take time to relax and enjoy the simpler moments in life. I am a singer as well. Not professionally, but for fun. I’m one of those people you see singing at the top of their lungs driving down the road.

Where do you get your creativity from?

Most of my creativity comes from a desire to create beauty. My mother is an inspiration to me and she has always supported my craft and encouraged me to utilize my talents.

What got you into the craft hobby?

My mother. My siblings and I grew up on arts and crafts. You name it, we did it. So I’ve always been an artsy type of person. When I started college my sister was taking a jewelry and metals course. I was intrigued, so I took the course as soon as I could and that’s when my love affair with metal and creating jewelry began.

How would you describe your creative process?

I usually just go into my studio, pick up a piece of metal or my tools and start creating whatever comes to mind. At times I will do sketches if I’m inspired or if I am designing a specific piece for someone.

What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced? 

My favorite item that I made is Magnolia: Perseverance. It is one of my larger show pieces created in the spring of 2010. The piece forms to the wearer’s body and was created using sterling and fine silver wire in the technique of filigree with a hand forged neckpiece. This piece deals with the relationship between women and flowers. A magnolia flower stands for ones perseverance.

How did you get your business off the ground?

I’m still working on it actually. I’m working on getting my name out there and acquiring a larger fan base.

What are your goals with your business?

I hope to create and sell as much as I can. My hope is to one day have my own store/studio where I can sell my own work and other artists as well as teaching classes and doing repair and custom work.

What do you do in your free time?

I don’t have a lot of free time but when I do I like to relax.

What's the message behind your work?

Beauty...

Check Natalie out this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church at 5500 West 54th St. Parma, OH 44129. Show time runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. This eclectic show will feature 65 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Twitter: @AvantGardeShows

Facebook: Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows