Meet Etsy Metalsmith and Jewelry Artist: jenkahn

Jennifer Kahn "always thought (she) was born in the wrong time. Then PMC (Precious Metal Clay) came along and (she) knew (she) was right where (she) belonged." She graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in Art and English in 2001. During her senior year she worked at Frog Hollow Gallery, where she met renowned artist Celie Fago. "I took one of her classes, then became her apprentice and by the time I graduated, I knew that I was serious about PMC. I moved to Celie’s, as a live-in apprentice, learning PMC and metalsmithing. I’m also her teaching assistant and I get to accompany her in her travels around the country and abroad." She has sold her work at craft shows and galleries across Vermont and has also been featured in National and International exhibits. "I love what I do and I no longer feel like I’m in the wrong time," she admits. "I feel so lucky to be here, now." She has been creating her tribal designs for seven years. "I try to put a contemporary spin on ancient designs, as I’m influenced by both ethnic artifacts and current fashion trends. I’m fascinated by the way things are put together: patched, hinged, riveted, stitched and often incorporate such connections in my pieces...I’m constantly trying to fuse old and new, industrial and natural, urban and ethnic." Aside from design, she also focuses on the craftsmanship of her pieces. "The back must be as compelling as the front. For that reason most of my pendants and necklaces are reversible." Comfort is also key. "Rings must be smooth inside and earrings must not be too heavy." Please check out her shop: http://jenkahn.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: becomeinspired

Robin Bonnell lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and Durango, Colorado with her husband, 4 horses, 1 burro, 3 dogs, and "one very beautiful Ocicat." Creating and designing her inspirational jewelry is not only her full time profession, but also her passion. "After spending 20 years in corporate America as a search firm owner and worldwide executive search consultant, I took some forced personal time and began exploring my creative side that had been dormant for those 20 years," she explains. Like me, she was diagnosed with severe fibromyalgia - but also has damage to her central nervous system due to a brain injury from a motorcycle accident 15 years ago. "I had always been an overachiever and was very driven. I did not know what to do with myself," she says of her lack of energy. "Even though I felt terrible physically, my mind would not stop. I never slept. Partially because the brain injury affects my sleep mechanism and partly because I felt so lost. Frankly, I got very depressed. Then I discovered metal clay." It was then that she realized her calling, and fell in love with it right away. "I felt a new sense of purpose." She has always been very spiritual and often finds inspiration from within as well as in nature. "I started transforming feelings into jewelry," she says. Lately she has even made a few memorial pieces, "something special that...makes them feel their loved one is there with them all the time." Often times her designs are asymmetrical and she admits, "my thought is that beauty is not in a perfection of form, but how it makes you feel. If it feels good, it is beautiful." Passionate and soulful, she is, as a friend once described, a “drinker of life." Despite - or perhaps in spite of - her illness, she has led a full and happy life and feels blessed. "Etsy has been a great thing for me," she says. "I have met fantastic people all over the world and even joined the local Phoenix Etsy Street Team, The Crafty Burritos. They are a special group of people that are devoted to Etsy, art, and to each other." She joined Etsy on my Birthday - Oct 7 (2007) and as of June 15 has amassed 100 sales. "I have loyal customers that come back again and again to have custom jewelry made. I am slowly getting to know them and they all have such great stories of life." She recommends her fellow artists think outside the box. "I think having a great title for the listing makes people curious and want to look at the item." Please check out her shop: http://becomeinspired.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: soulharborjewelry

Joni Doyle-Sims is the creative mind behind SoulHarborJewelry. "Nature is my inspiration and muse," she admits. "My heart has always been drawn to anything that grows from our Earth and everything silver that I could adorn myself with. As a young girl I spent any money I had on either a plant or a silver ring!" Her classic, earthy designs beautifully showcase her complimentary passions. Before Etsy she "spent 15 years as a floral designer feeding (her) love of plants and flowers." It wasn't until 5 years ago when she was introduced to precious metal clay that she combined her passions. "Instant obsession is the best way to describe it. I immediately bought a kiln and starting firing away. I never even told my husband that I had purchased the kiln. He discovered it under my work bench one day, gently asking 'where did the Easy Bake Oven come from?'" Many of her pieces showcase her Irish/Scottish heritage with Celtic themes - or are beautifully accented with colored enamel in natural hues of the sky and sea. She sees her craft as "something that I have to do, it's part of who I am." Of course, like many of us, she has a full time job as well. "I do have this horrible day gig that I'm stuck in for now," she jokes. Aside from Etsy her work can be found at Wisconsin art festivals and Charlene's Gallery Ten in Gills Rock, Door County WI. As an artist she hopes to be an inspiration to her young sons. "I want to be an example to them that you can live your dreams by working hard and having passion for what you do." Please check out her shop: http://soulharborjewelry.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: LinneaSilver

Linnea Milam, the hip talent behind LinneaSilver, was born and raised in Southern California. She has also spent time on the East coast (New York & Massachusetts) as a flight attendant, but missed her West coast roots and eventually moved back home. Her tremendous love and respect for animals led her to become an animal keeper at her local zoo, which she's done for the last 15 years. "One of the loves of my life is a 2 ton rhinoceros," she jokes. Not surprisingly wildlife tends to be a running theme in her work. She even admits one of her hobbies is "raising & breeding exotic animals and children." She reminds fellow artists not to get discourage with a lack of views. "I have found that many of my sales have been items that had few views but just the right person came along who identified with it in some way." Please check out her shop: http://linneasilver.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: anajune

Ana June possesses a myriad of talents: metalsmith, jewelry artist, and photographer just to name a few. Aside from Etsy she also manages to juggles several jobs: Art Director for a newspaper in her hometown of Santa Fe, NM, and graphic design teacher at a private middle school, freelance photographer, designer, writer, and editor. Even more astounding, she also has four kids that "alternately light up (her) life and get on (her) every nerve." As for her style she says, "I'm rather fickle at times, but I particularly love simplicity in any design. I'm into Asian-influenced art (must be my East Indian background) as well as edgy vintage/retro." She particularly enjoys creating personalized pendants. "I think every mom should have a fine silver pendant stamped with her child's name. I wanted one, but couldn't find anything that really fit who I am...so Skye & Soleil was born. Thank goodness for PMC, as I know that metalsmithing involves quite a learning curve." Although she's been creative all her life she didn't pursue anything seriously until 2000. "Crafting hit me when I was pregnant with my second daughter," she explains. "To alleviate my horrendous discomfort as my pregnancy dragged on 11 days past my due date, my midwife and I decoupaged glass bottles and made plaster casts of my belly to paint. I was hooked. I was seized by photography a year later when I went through a painful divorce, and started using PMC last summer thanks to a windfall from a settlement over a photo of mine that was stolen by the State of New Mexico. Thank goodness for copyright infringement...or, at least, discovering that my copyright was infringed upon!" She'd like to remind fellow artists to be patient. "Etsy is a big pool and we're all little fish. Some people are uber successful with it by either kismet or very good marketing...but some, like me, thrill at a sale here and there. Basically, like any business it involves a lot of time, effort, and great product. Good pictures are also a must, and this is a tough one! Even as a professional photographer I have the darnedest time photographing my silver. It takes time, research, a great camera, and good light (full spectrum bulbs!). And most importantly, have fun, be creative...it's a great community!" Please check out her shop: http://anajune.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/