"Friday Features"

It's Friday so that means "Features Time!"

I am happy to bring you another talented member of our Etsy community. This week it is a lovely Jewelry maker, Kelsi, from; http://www.ikedesigns.etsy.com/

She has kindly answered some questions for us :)


Tell us a little about how you got to where you are creatively.

I have always been a person who likes to get my hands dirty. When I was young it was finger painting and play-doh. I never considered myself capable of creating artwork until I was at university where I had a professor for an art and religion course who gave each of her students
the gift of self-confidence in their creativity. My eyes were opened to a new world of self-expression, something I have tried to hold on to as best as I can since then. My main medium has been photography until April of this year. I was in Sydney, Australia feeling creatively
drained. I stumbled upon a jewelry supply website and the scale tipped from drained to full of inspiration. It was wonderful to find a new tool of self-expression, one that I can so easily share with others.

Tell us a little about your creative process.

Creating for me is all about the process. If I like the end result - bonus, if I don't like the end result but had a good time getting there, that's good too. With jewelry-making I shop for things that I like. I am incredibly picky so I spend quite a bit of time searching for the "perfect" collection of supplies. Currently I am working on my lounge room table, so I pull out all of the boxes and bags of beads, findings, pendants, etc. and lay them out in front of me and I start
experimenting. Very infrequently is there an end product in mind when I start - I enjoy the mystery of what might evolve from a work session.

What do you love about creating?

I love the inspiration that comes from finding something that I love - how do I incorporate it into my jewelry, how do I photograph it, etc. The inspiration is the addiction. Their is nothing like that feeling in the world. It keeps me going and keeps me creating.

What is your favourite item in your Etsy store right now?

I have fallen in love with the verdigris patina items. The earrings are relatively simple in design but I find them to be so complex. I love the patterns made on the copper by the patina treatment - not one piece reacts in the same way as another.

Domed Circle Verdigris Patina Pendant Earrings.

Why Etsy?

I had never heard of Etsy until I was home in the States visiting with a friend in May of this year. I started making plans that afternoon to get my things together and open up a shop. Etsy is a stroke of genius - I am amazed everyday by how well the site works to promote community and the sharing of ideas, techniques and the unique personalities of its sellers. I am very excited to be part of such a well-designed site with such a talented collection of artisans and crafters.

What do you love about Etsy?

I have never found so many items that I truly connect with in one place! I go to art fairs, markets, co-ops, etc. and I find maybe one or two sellers who have something I really am drawn too. The thing I love most about Etsy is that there are so many people out there creating beautiful work and sharing it with the world. It is wonderful to be able to find their work, pop it in my favorites section for the day when I have the money to pay for them - and it will happen!

Ocean Jasper Bird Earrings - made with recycled glass and sterling silver.

What do you do in your spare time?

I live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world – New Zealand -(I'm not bias or anything... :)) so in my free time I just like to wander around looking at things. Wellington is a great city for creative people. There are always gallery openings to go to, art stores to visit, people to talk passionately about the world with and friends to catch up with. My partner works quite a lot so when he has free time I am more than happy to drop everything and spend time with him. I also enjoy experimenting with my little plastic Holga camera, running and swimming.

Embossed Cobblestone Brass Earrings with Orange Czech Glass Beads.

Tell us 4 things about yourself that would let us peek into your world
or that you think define you.

1). I left the United States in 2005 for New Zealand on a solo journey of self-discovery (sounds cliche but it was exactly what it was:) ).

2). I feel fortunate everyday for the family that I have and my partner - he is my support, my love, and he who keeps the world light and happy when I get a bit too serious.

3). I love learning new things - usually through trial and error.

4). I have an intense desire to help make the world a better place in small and big ways.

If you could, what would be your dream life?

I would travel with my partner 6 months out of every year, living in different communities; experiencing their reality, their passions and their inspiration. The other 6 months I would work to help improve the lives of others who are less fortunate and struggling to make ends meet.
I would have several cameras, lots of film, a good pen and a moleskin journal with me the whole time - photographing, writing and living.

Here are some of the places you can check out Kelsi's work :)

Etsy shop: http://www.ikedesigns.etsy.com/
Photography website: http://www.kelsidoscher.com/

Other Etsy shop: http://www.kjdphotography.etsy.com/

I hope you enjoyed meeting Kelsi! I certainly did. Go check out her shops on Etsy :)

Have a Wonderful Weekend! :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.