The Megan Leone Shop - Interview

by Jo Ferris
Look at this beautiful necklace!

Look closer!

Megan Leone's creative use of upcycled zippers make for an unusual and beautiful piece of art that you can wear.

Her use of color is stunning.

Megan's creativity shows a fun, vibrant and interesting product that is not only eco-chic but stylish as well.

People who are concerned for the environment and the amount of waste being produced by the human species, need not settle for less when it comes to fashion.

Sometimes we just need to look a little further than the closest or easiest place we usually shop and we will find something unique, something beautiful, something that inspires us.

Digging a little deeper into The Megan Leone Shop there are also these fabulous bracelet purses.

She has a whole section of these great purses each is one of a kind and made primarily from upcycled vintage materials. You'll be sure to find something to match your wardrobe among these pouches.

Whatever your favorite color combo or style choice, I'm sure you will be inspired by browsing through the handbags, earrings, necklaces and belts in The Megan Leone Shop. If you decide to purchase anything from her shop you can rest in the knowledge that you have made a great choice for the environment and for the handmade movement. Also you will own a piece that really is a work of art.

Q. What inspired you to begin making accessories made from salvaged materials?

A. It was natural for me to choose vintage and repurposed materials. I have always preferred second-hand items. There are so many benefits to purchasing vintage and repurposed materials... nostalgia, the thrill of the hunt, quality, and most of all making a kinder choice for the earth. I became very aware of how wasteful and unkind we humans were to the earth at a very young age after my parents decided we would clean up a 10 mile stretch of road. That experience really opened my eyes.

I have also enjoyed the thrill of the hunt since I was a little girl. I can remember clearly the first rummage sale I went to with my Mom where I was free to wander on my own. There is just something about second-hand items that new can not emulate. I do spend a lot of time searching for my materials, but it is so worth it! I get so much variety that way. A lot of times the materials inspire me to create something around them which leads to a wide array of designs. It is a rewarding purchase as the items never come in a shrink-wrapped package and I am often helping a local business or charity out with each purchase. It feels good to keep the men and women who sell at flea markets in business because without them a lot of those things would end up in landfills.

Q. What other steps in your daily life do you take to reduce your footprint on our earth?

A. I recycle, of course. It is the least we can do. I always take things that are no longer useful to us to a thrift shop, list it on sites like freecycle/craigslist or put it on the curb with a "free" sign. I enjoy shopping locally at farmer' markets and thrifting for most of our personal items. When purchasing new, I check labels for post-consumer products and how far the item traveled. I am willing to pay more knowing that my purchase is a vote.

Q. What do you hope people will learn from you, or what message are you trying to get across with the items you sell?

A. I have never thought of myself as a teacher. I am just trying to offer beautiful products that were made with care and love while being good to the wonderful place we live.

Q. How much do you LOVE the Etsy Recyclers Guild Team?

A. Etsy has a LOT of different sellers, it is so nice to have a place to go where like-minded designers are making things with the kind of labels I like to find on my purchases. I am honored to be among them!

Thank you Megan Leone for offering your items as a wonderful choice for the environmentally conscious.

Summer Trends

Are you in the middle of designing upcycled jewelry and/or accessories for those hot summer months?  Here are some tips from Real Simple Magazine.  Remember to pick up your favorite fashion magazine to get those tips about colors and trends that are happening right now.  Use that knowledge in designing your jewelry and accessories.

Real Simple states that the summer trends are:

• Sea Blue Touches:  All the colors of the ocean - from  pop of turquoise to a swath of deep indigo - will bring coolness to the simplest of basics.  Think a white linen shirt, easy tan trousers, or a pale gray shirt

.

Big Chunky AQUA Ring by ChersPassion , a real steal at only $5.

• Back To Nature:   Anything olive, tan, beige, brown, rust, or even a spicy shade of mustard - by pairing them with new accents inspired by organic shapes and natural materials.

 Shell Bracelet in natural hues and components is so elegant , $20, by MWGregory .

• Bright Colors:  THE BRIGHTER, THE BETTER! It is a no-brainer that you can punch up any outfit  with a vibrant shade, but why night mix colors for maximum impact and extra versatility?  Slip on green flats with a yellow shirt.  Have a fuchsia dress? Carry an orange clutch.  Or try crimson sunglasses with a purple top.

Gorgeous Bright Origami Scrabble Tile Pendant Jewelry Set by IslandGirlzJewelry, $12.95.

Remember that when you are finished with that fashion magazine...cut it up, tear it up, make a beautiful bracelet and earrings out of it!

YanniCreations creates gorgeous jewelry out of paper, like this decoupaged Map Bangle, $18!

AnBláthPáipéir AN BLATH PAIPEIR

Shop Name: AnBláthPáipéir

Owner: Becki

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Etsy Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AnBlathPaipeir

 

This shop is full of gorgeous paper products - flowers that have been made from upcycled and recycled paper.  Some could pass for real! Treated with special paints and sealants, these are so lovely and require no water!  What a wonderful way to upcycle!  Flowers are affixed to pendants, rings, necklaces, hair barettes and so much more!  Be sure to check out this wonderful shop!

 

Please be sure to visit this shop TODAY!

Or, check out her blog:

http://beckisdesigns.blogspot.com/

Check out her Facebook Fan page!

She also would like you to visit her other Etsy shop!

http://delightfuldeceits.etsy.com/
http://entyqua.etsy.com/

Buster and boo

Shop Name:  Buster and boo

Owner:  Sara

Location:  Tuscon, Arizona, USA

Etsy Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/busterandboo

Buster and boo offers unique upcycled jewelry and wearable art accessories, with a huge line of old typewriter key jewelry! You never know what you fill find here, a bit of this and a tad of that, from vintage coin pendants to scrabble tile pendants, to upcycled artisan earrings and pendants. 

Many designs of the typewriter key pendants are available, as are the huge array of wooden charm necklaces.  Be sure to check out this store often as stock is always changing.  I really like the playing card pendants too!

  
Visit this cool shop NOW!

Visit her blog http://woolies-woolies.blogspot.com/


Check out her other shop with all natural stuffed animals and dolls: http://woolies.etsy.com/

luvvinjewels

Shop Name:  luvvinjewels

Owner: Ellen

Location:  Memphis, TN

Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/luvvinjewels

Ellen loves to sell everything vintage - - from jewelry to household items.  Are you a crafter? You'll find a great assortment of vintage fabrics and crafting supplies. Ellen says, "I truly cannot stand to see usable items go in the trash. I regularly comb through curbside offerings."

When time allows, Ellen also makes one of a kind handmade bags and upcycled jewelry. She says, "I also try to repurpose fabric in my tote bags. I am using old tablecloths, dish cloths and upholstery samples."

                                            

Ellen loves to recycle and upcycle.  "My biggest repurpose projects are mosaic jewelry pictures made from old broken jewelry," she explains.

                                        
 
Be sure to check out her shop as stock is ever-changing!

SashaTierney

Shop Name:  SashaTierney

Owner: Sasha Tierney

Location: San Francisco, CA

Shop Link:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/SashaTierney

Sasha recycles broken jewelry into whimsical creations. She gives new life to vintage costume jewelry by repurposing broken strands of pearls, broken brooches and lone clip-on earrings into one-of-a-kind necklaces.

She scours estate sales and flea markets for vintage costume jewelry.  This is used both in her creations or for resale under the vintage section of her shop ---this is why you should check in often, you never know what you will find in this shop.  Rest assured, it's all beautiful and ready for gift giving!

Visit Sasha's shop NOW!  Or, catch up with her on Facebook www.Facebook.com/SashaTierneyJewelry

An Interview with Harriete Estel Berman

Spotlight *Guest* Member for May 2010

Harriete Estel Berman:  The Interview

Introduction:

It's only appropriate that Harriete Estel Berman be our Spotlight member for May, when she has taken so much time to answer our group member's questions in the below interview.   A guest to our group, she is a world reknown artisan who ironically uses recycled tin in her work. (Resume Here)   Aside from having her art in permanent collections in museums worldwide, and having been featured in more books than I can fit on my bookshelf she has been a dynamic force to be reckoned with. 

The reason I really love her is that she helps fellow artisans with helpful advice--not many others do such a thing.  She offers free advice on her AskHarriete blog, which I read frequently to find out new information and you should too.  Harriete has been working with different organizations to better artisans everywhere, but is known for her "Professional Guidelines".   These guidelines have helped artists for years, and I too have used them.  She has now announced there are helpful videos, podcasts, and slideslows available which is wonderful news to us all. 

Official Announcement From Harriete:

Not Just Another Pricing Lecture: A Dialog About Pricing Your Work was the featured program at the 2010 Professional Development Seminar held recently at the SNAG Conference in Houston. The PowerPoint Presentations by our speakers and the Question and Answer Discussion with the audience were recorded. These audio recordings were combined with the SlideShare Presentation so you can experience the same PowerPoint presentations that our audience saw in Houston. The Podcast is a continuation of the discussion with our speakers and the audience (audio only.)

This is the Professional Development Seminar's inaugural attempt to record the program and share this valuable information with a larger audience. The audio has been carefully edited by Harriete Estel Berman. We sincerely hope that this information will prove useful to any artists who access either the Podcast or the SlideShare Presentation .

~ Both are now available on line for free at these two locations:~

Professional Development Seminar page on the SNAG website:

http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/Events/Professional_Development_Seminar/

Professional Development Seminar page on Harriete Estel Berman’s web site.

 http://www.harriete-estel-berman.info/profguidelines/ProfDevSeminar.html

Learn more about pricing your art or craft in a continuing series of articles on ASK Harriete at: http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/pricing-your-work/

THE INTERVIEW

From Harriete Estel Berman's Lips to Ira Mency's Ears....

 

Question #1: From Don @ DoLoBoJewelry:  Many artists go through their entire life never making it a profitable career—some possibly not having been marketed properly or not having enough faith in themselves. Some are only discovered by others when they are dead. If you could give one piece of advice to a starving artist, what would it be?

ANSWER: It seems that artists make work either for their vision or to make money. If you want to really pursue your unique vision, you must extend yourself without anticipating what other people will like or buy. The outside influence of the marketplace, whether it is Etsy, a gallery, or a museum curator dilutes the artist’s unique vision.

The most important issue is to pick your priorities. Maybe some work can be focused on making money and separate work can be for being the best artist you can be. It is rare the that same work can achieve both results at the same time. I am not very successful at this combination. I do silver repair, lead exercise classes, teach professional development workshops, lecture, and teach as an artist mentor for earning additional income.

Question #2-#3:  From Adrien @ AdrienArt : Do you find your work to be a way of dealing with the frustration of a disposable materialistic society, or is it arising out of inspiration at all the amazing things out there that people just toss out?   What is the essence of what you want people to receive from your creative gift?

ANSWER: My work is inspired by BOTH. I try to raise awareness about the costs of our disposable, materialistic, wasteful society. I am also inspired by the cultural value revealed by the tins/trash that people throw away.

Question #4:  From Anna @ AnnaBGreen:  How did you get started with tin (tin cans?)

ANSWER: .Starting in high school I collected tin cans. At the time, it was just so I had a tin to store my pins and needles, or art supplies, maybe flour and sugar in my kitchen when I started cooking.

This collection of tin cans served both a practical purpose and awakened an interest in vintage advertising.

Years later (in 1988) with the birth of my son, I radically changed my work and started using tin cans, and vintage steel dollhouses as my raw material.  SEE TINS IN STUDIO HERE.

Question #5: From Cheri @ ChersPassion What is the #1 most effective way to promote your shop/product?

ANSWER: Selling on Etsy is a tough way to gain visibility, same issue with tweeting, and on line social networking. There are just so many other vendors and a mixed brew of messages bombarding people. While I feel, that the online community offers amazing opportunities, I also think that you are better off developing visibility for your work at other venues, exhibitions, books, volunteering for local art organizations, teaching and activities at local non-profit opportunities. Join local groups, help organize a show, write an article, volunteer, people get to know you and your work somewhere else. Then your Etsy shop can be a way for people to buy your work after a show or after meeting you.

My personal experience on Etsy is that most people who buy my pins or earrings, find out about my work somewhere else, and then go to my online Etsy shop as an opportunity to own a piece of my work. Very few purchases are made because they “discovered” me on Etsy.

Question #6:  From yours truly @  RetroChalet and RetroChaletStudio  Where do you draw the line between crafting what you love to craft, and what others will buy. Should you ever sacrifice your style and what is in your heart to appeal to others wants and needs (and if now, how do you make your product desirable to others?)

ANSWER:   I get really upset at myself when I make/craft something to appeal to an audience. My work is always better when I make EXACTLY what I love. If it doesn’t sell, I can at least know I followed my heart and my intuition.

It is very hard to put on your blinders and follow your inner core, your heart, your own intuition, but anything else seems to always turn out bland, conservative, or inferior.

The Below questions #7-#12 come from TranzendentalArts and Manique Depression (Cyn has great questions!)

Question #7- #8:  Where do your initial design ideas come from? Are they concept first or do you visualize raw materials, color and form then discover their meaning after the project is complete?

ANSWERS:  I usually think about how and why I am going to make a piece for years, YES, years. Sometimes it is working out a technical problem, thinking about how it will go together.

My sketchbook is full of ideas that I accumulate research and information about a particular project over time.

Major pieces may gestate on a nugget of an idea for months to years. Only when I am ready to start the actual fabrication, do I start making the decisions about materials. My focus in recent years, more and more, is to let my ideas dictate the appearance and choice of materials, rather than letting the materials dictate the outcome.   See example videos HERE.

The Fulsome Game, courtesy Harriete Estel Berman  

Sterling silver charm bracelet with framed gameboard display. Frame constructed using pre-printed steel from vintage doll houses and recycled tin containers with 10k. gold and aluminum rivets.......

Question #9-#10:  What are your thoughts on designing something like, say, the Bermaid/Bracelet board game (PICTURED ABOVE or read full description HERE) and then having it mass produced? Would it appeal to you to have the sentiment spread further?

ANSWERS: I have never been particularly interested in production or even limited production. I make only one of a kind…even in the April Flowers group of work, each flower represents a separate set of decisions.  

Harriete's Tin "April Flower" Brooches - See the full set and individual details by clicking HERE.

Throughout the series, the flowers are assembled in different ways. After I sell these (at least, I hope to sell them), I have new ideas for how to fabricate different flowers. My work constantly evolves.  See more examples in my shop HERE, or by clicking the FLICKR set HERE.

 

One of the many gorgeous tin flower brooches.

I really don’t think about repeating something that is popular. Instead, I want to think of how to build upon ideas and create something even more unusual. The act of making a one of a kind marks the work’s place in time and it will remain unique. The fact that only one exists is a strength.

Question #11: Where/how do you collect your tins and how much time do you spend "finding" materials to recycle?

ANSWER: Rarely do I go looking for tins. ….but I can’t help myself if I see something interesting in a “Scrap” place. My studio now contains 1,000’s of tins. People still give me tins, so I will never run “dry.”

   Harriete'sStudio with  Wall of Tins

Question #12:  I loved watching the video on the making of the grass - what a joy to have all those people to help get it done! I assume a few were apprentices and/or students? What are your suggestions on inspiring others to help out on such a large scale project?

ANSWERS:  I am so glad that you liked watching the video, but working on large projects like that are a real challenge. To get people to help, I advertised at local colleges within 90 minutes of where I live. I paid everyone $50. to work for the day. Some friends worked for free, but not many….most people were paid.

It was the most tiring two days of my life. My assistant, emiko oye *, helped the two days…slept over and kept on working. It was an expensive and tiring undertaking. Making the grass took over a year of cutting. Most of it was paid labor. 

*Interviewer Note: Be sure to check out Emiko's website HERE which also upcycles common elements into gorgeous wearable jewelry.

Harriete's Grass aka "Gras".... took over a year in the making and was very labor intensive.  Pardon the pun but I think it's very "cutting edge" and gutsy, an inspiration at that!

The whole project sent me to the therapist. Spending so much money and time on one project was really scary.  You have got to be a little “nuts” to work on a big project like the Grass/gras.  

I still show the Grass/gras about once a year if I can find an exhibition space that will pay for the shipping. Just taking out each of the 36 panels and blowing off the dust after exhibiting is a grueling day.

There is little inspiration with a big project, it is nearly all perspiration.

I am doing another big project with pencils, weaving a gigantic bell curve 27 feet wide and 12 feet tall… thousands of pencils, tons of time, and money. I think that I must be insane to do this over and over. Here you can find information about this work in progress.

Question #13:   From Erin @ ABeachBreeze  Can you describe your design process? It takes me several prototypes and sketches before I get the design I want. I was wondering if “real” artists have a better process.

ANSWER: I have thumbnail sketches in my sketch book but when it comes to making the work, and it is an important or bigger piece, I make models out of cut up cereal boxes and hot glue. Sometimes I will spend weeks making models….which is very frustrating…but I know from experience that it will save me time and precious materials later during the actual fabrication in metal.

Question #14 -#15 come from Lindsay @ BuffaloHeart, but also 10 other members of our group were wondering the same thing.  I want to know if it is hard to stay motivated sometimes, and if so, how do you stay motivated as an artist?  How do you maintain your creative vision after so many years and come up with new ideas all the time, what is the secret?

ANSWERS:  It is really hard to stay focused. Usually, I work on several things at the same time….just so I have time to think and reevaluate during the fabrication, and keep on working. I don’t like to be rushed into making decisions without time to consider the choices.

My sketch book is filled with ideas for “dry” moments . If I ever feel stuck, I work on cleaning my studio or finishing incomplete work. Eventually or all of a sudden, I am back to work inspired.

It is a terrible phase to be in,….when there are no ideas in your head. This is the time to “experiment” without any expectation for an outcome. DO NOT LOOK AT BOOKS AND OTHER PEOPLE’S WORK to get ideas. The ideas need to come from inside your own head.

Think about the book/movie Harry Potter. Remember how the Wizard pulls the “thread” of an idea or memory from his head? You have to be able to do something like that too. While it may not be easy to pull that thread from your head, you can do it if you work at it. It gets easier with practice.

Creativity is like exercise. If you aren’t exercising those muscles, then they will get out of shape.

Question #16 from Elizabeth @ SerendipiT  What was the turning point when it was clear that you would make art your life's work?

ANSWER: I have always been this way. There was and never has been a “turning point” when it was clear that art was my life’s work. I am never satisfied and always driven. I have achieved my earlier goals, but new goals are already calling. I am only on a path to success…but never there, at least not yet.

Question #17-#18 from Colleen @ ColleenAttaraStudio I would be curious to know how much of her time is spent creating versus the business of art (marketing, planning etc...).Also, was there one event for her that changed everything; for instance, the first time her work was in a museum. ie: Was there a defining moment when she knew she was successful...

ANSWERS: There is no defining moment of success. My definition of success is always evolving to another goal.  I spend at least half my time, at my desk, more like 75%. This is still with the help of a part time secretary 8 hours a week. The desk work is never done.

That is simply what it takes to do the paper work, work on my web site, work on the Professional Guidelines, work on ASK Harriete, and more. There is a lot of paperwork that goes with exhibiting your work. Artist statements, descriptions, reaching out to curators or exhibitions spaces, proper packing, condition reports and more.


I also give a lot of my time to volunteer services in my neighborhood, or community of artists, etc. This is what I think comes as a responsibility to pay back or “pay it forward.” Not enough people realize that they need to do this too. Everyone has something to contribute.


A new Slide Share presentation with audio and a separate podcast about pricing your work are available now--I taught myself how to do all the audio editing to edit the Professional Development Seminar at the last SNAG Conference titled “Not Just Another Pricing Lecture: A Dialog About Pricing Your Work.”  See them here on the Professional Development Seminar page on Harriete Estel Berman’s web site--or at the Professional Development Seminar page on the SNAG website here: http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/Events/Professional_Development_Seminar/

*For supplemental information and pricing information, visit the Ask Harriete blog. .

NOTE FROM Interviewer IRA MENCY: I received over 30 questions for Harriete, and some were redundant or similar to others, therefore the most concise were taken. Thank you to Harriete for helping us out with this interview. If you have additional questions, or yours was not covered here, feel free to read and / or ask her on her AskHarriete blog .

GreenBeadz

Shop Name:  Green Beadz (Design)

Owner:  Helen

Location:  Modesto, California

Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/greenbeadz

Just what is GreenBeadz Design all about?  Helen says it best in her shop announcement.  She explains,  "The green in GreenBeadz is that nearly everything we make has an element of re-claimed, re-used or re-purposed material. Some call this 'up-cycling'. We will state this as a percentage. The higher the % the greater the green; and for us, the more satisfaction. You get a beautiful, one of a kind item, and the knowledge that it has made much less of an impact on the earth's environment."

Visit her store HERE.

MWGregory

Shop Name:  MWGregory

Owner Name: MW

Location: Roxboro,Timberlake,Hillsborough,Chapel HIll,Durham,  (North Carolina)

Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mwgregory

MW has been creating since the 8th grade.  Her love for jewelry combined with using upcycled, recycled, and discarded goods make for interesting one of a kind items.  Here you may find  lovely unique broken china pendants, upcycled magazine earrings, button key fobs, and other gifts for all occasions. 

Visit this lovely shop NOW!

Southern Silverworks

Shop Name: Southern Silverworks

Owner: Tommy Conn & Family (Online contact is Paul)

Location: Oakland, TN

Etsy Shop: http://www.southernsilverworks.etsy.com/

This shop features unique handcrafted jewelry made out of gorgeous antique silverware! Paul describes the shop as a family owned business. His father, Tommy Conn, started the business and makes most of the pieces. When the family steps in to help, the pieces must earn a Tommy Conn seal of approval.

Read more about them in this Etsy shop announcement: " The artists at Southern Silverworks utilize antique silverware in designing and constructing one of a kind jewelry. The techniques involved have been developed over time and involve the highest quality of craftmanship. This high quality, unique design, along with hand picked stones qualify this piece to be branded a Tommy Conn. Whether it is a cross, keychain, bracelet, ring, pendant or earrings you can be assured that much care and thought has been put into each and every piece."

Check out the Etsy shop HERE.