Friday, February 25, 2011

Featured Crafter: Celia Boaz from Glitz Glitter




I am thrilled with today's featured crafter, Celia Boaz from GlitzGlitter on Etsy. I own two of her pieces, and have recently fallen in love with the necklace featured at the bottom of this post. Her jewelry definitely has, as she says below, her own voice. I hope you enjoy her interview. Also, please note the detail in her photos--she really knows how to show off these pieces.


(I have these! My mom bought them for me, for my birthday!)



I love my soap bubble earrings! Those beads are unique. Do you do a lot of research to find your beads and baubles, or do you have one or two trusty suppliers?


I am like a dog with a bone when it comes to searching for new supplies. There is only so much one can do with a bead or briolette so keeping an eye out for new and different beads is a huge part of what I do. I spend hours researching and have more suppliers than you can shake a stick at. It's probably my favorite part of my job and I get giddy with excitement when I find a new place. Some times it doesn't work out and you have thrown money away for something that isn't quite what you had imagined, but that's all part of the process.







How much time do you spend on research, compared with the time you spend making things?

I spend as much time researching as making new things. I feel like if you concentrate only on making, your designs could get stagnant. I tuck away treasures and some days when there is no money for new, magic beads, I will find a stash and still have something fun to use to make new designs.






I am very interested to know if anyone in the world is making a full-time living from crafting. Are you? Are you close? Is that a goal of yours?

I am not making a living, yet, but I am getting there? I quit my day job in April of last year and have tried very hard to not take any money from my little business for myself. I have been stretching out my 401k to live on so I can keep re-investing. Is this all a pipe dream? Maybe, but I would kick myself if I didn't give it a shot.



(I own these "soap bubble" earrings! Squee!)

Describe your main work space. How much did you spend to get it functioning?

My main workspace is a 9ft wooden bench that was once used for my mom's gun hobby. Where bullets and casings were once strewn, there is now a giant, messy pile of beads, wire, pliers and findings. I love that it is a mess. I may be sitting there with no inspiration and my eye will fall on some bead that I never knew what to do with and inspiration will strike. It's a magpie's nest of sparklies and I refuse to straighten it up.





What 3 pieces of advice would you give to aspiring jewelry crafters who want to make it a business?

Do your own thing. That is my best advice. Jumping on the bandwagon will put you in competition with people who have been doing what you are trying to do for so much longer and who have so many more resources at their disposal from trial and error. Your jewelry should have a voice and it should be yours. I like simple jewelry, so I make simple jewelry.


Pictures are important! Work on your pictures! But, your craft is more important. That should be the priority. Macro is a cruel magnifying glass of every flaw and mistake you have made. Make sure you are taking a picture of something pretty, not just a pretty picture.

Make friends. Network. Working from home is a lonely business and having friends and a support group of people who know what you are going through is imperative to your mental health and can have a side effect of helping out your business as well.


Thanks so much to Celia for the interview and advice. Please click the photos--all are linked to her Etsy shop. I have also discovered modest Celia's new Etsy shop, TheSlyFox.

Readers, what advice would you give to others who are considering a craft business?

7 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the feature and your sweet words, I am honored :D

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  2. Her pieces are so lovely~
    Great interview!

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  3. these pieces are lovely.

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  4. Wonderful and her jewelry is so pretty!

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  5. Shwow, is this jewelry beautiful! She has a great point about good photography too.

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  6. What a great shop to feature! I love Celia, and both her shops are to die for!!!

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  7. Anonymous6:34 PM

    Celia is my hero! I love her to death!

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