My latest local find...

Greetings! I was perusing the Portland Saturday Market on Sunday and stumbled across this gorgeous ring from South American artist Edwin G, who runs Bella Vista. It's completely hand forged of sterling silver with blue Peruvian opal. I usually go for smaller rings, but this one was so stunning I HAD to have it. I wear it everywhere now - even just bumming around the house in my PJs. Next time you're in the Portland area please check him out - as well as many of fine, talented artists - at the Portland Saturday Market...

-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: 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 Metalsmith & Jewelry Artist: aloka

Lakshmi Sonbuchner, the talented artist behind Aloka, is also a medical student living in New York City. Aside from creating her elegant designs, she manages to find time to work on her PhD, researching the organism that causes malaria. "I enjoy science and medicine, but I also need a creative outlet, and that happens to be jewelry design and metalsmithing. I love the fact that I can manipulate a flat piece of metal into a 'supple' flower, and, of course, I like playing with torches," she jokes. Starting Aloka was not only a way to showcase her work, but also to give back to those in need. "Any profit that I make from the shop will be donated to Asha for Education (ashanet.org), which sets up and funds basic educational projects for the underprivileged in India," she explains. In fact her own Indian heritage has been a profound source of inspiration to her. "I draw from images you would commonly see in India -- flora, fauna, and the swirly script of the Indian languages. I want to achieve a look that is sleek and modern, at the same time evoking a sense of the exotic. Indian fashion is known for being ornate and colorful -- I like to take details from Indian textiles and ancient buildings, focus on the basic lines and shapes and incorporate them into chic designs." While she has only been metalsmithing for two years, she is serious about her hobby. "I run my shop as if it's my 'job', just on a smaller scale." She hopes to make enough of a profit in the next year to donate at least $500 to Asha for Education. Please check out her shop: http://aloka.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artists: StarOfTheEast

Mother and daughter team Esther and Estella, started making jewelry about 3 and a half years ago. While they both currently reside in Turkey, Esther was born in Spain and Estrella in Holland. Esther has a Civil Engineering degree and her daughter is an Interior Designer, but their true passion is jewelry. Mostly of their designs are co-conspired, but every now and again they create something on their own. Due to their age, culture, and taste differences their pieces display a wide variety of styles. They describe their designs as "Baroque, eclectic, exotic - anything but boring," and I'd have to agree. They believe the real art to jewelry making "is that it should look good and that the person who wears it looks great." Because they buy their supplies in such large amounts they soon had to rent a workplace - and were also able to begin selling supplies. They are especially renowned for their beautiful Sea Urchin Collection and they hope their gaining notoriety enables them to pursue Etsy as a full time career. They know the value of continuous improvement and recommend fellow artists pay close attention to their pictures and descriptions. "Check out what kind of pictures get more attention and what kind of items sell quicker so that you can follow that road," they suggest. "It takes commitment." Please check out her shop: http://staroftheeast.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: CSerdan

Charlene, a mother of two, is the amazing talent behind CSerdan. She is passionate about gemstones, colour ,and texture - and finds inspiration for her earthy style in nature. "I love to look at really big things like the sky, the ocean, (and) trees," she admits. She is also an avid traveler and frequently draws upon memories of the exotic places she has visited. Once you see her jewelry you may be surprised to know that she has only been making jewelry for the past four years. She has also tried her hand at painting and photography. Etsy has helped her passion become a part-time job. She plans to create new pieces every week and continuously evolve her craft. "Do something you love," she advises. "(It) will show in your work." Please check out her shop: http://cserdan.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Metal and Jewelry Artist: BShehu

Bela, the hip young talent behind Etsy shop BShehu, is an up-and-coming jewelry and fashion designer, who had her own retail boutique in Center City Philadelphia for three years. "Being in love is the ultimate inspiration for me," she admits, which is expertly reflected in her elegant and romantic style. It may seem hard to believe, but she has only been selling her beautiful jewelry pieces for two years. At the moment Etsy is both a hobby and a job - and she hopes to get more exposure this year. She knows the importance of promoting on and off Etsy and reccomends her fellow sellers be dilligent in getting their name out there. Please check out her shop: http://bshehu.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: KraftChains

Aside from Etsy the Ohio artist behind KraftChains is a busy single mother of a toddler. She

started crafting with beaded cellphone charms and then "got adventurous and started making simple jewelry good for most ages. I'm slowly working into sterling silver pieces...but I couldn't have gotten so far without little helpers who started to buy my items and still do. I thank them everyday." She found Etsy through Myspace contacts. "They begged me to check it out and here I am!! I meet the most wonderful people here!" Her style is simple, elegant, and affordable. Although Etsy is just a hobby for now, she'd like to "sell enough to pay my Etsy bill. LOL" She advises her fellow Etsy sellers to "keep crafting and do what you love best!" Please check out her shop: http://kraftchains.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/