Interview with Harriete of Harriete Estel Berman

Since joining the Etsy Recyclers Guild team, I have admired designs from our fellow team member, Harriete Estel Berman. Harriete makes gallery quality jewelry and sculpture pieces. All of her jewelry is made from recycled tin cans. I would like to personally thank Harriete for taking time out of her busy schedule to give me an interview for our team blog.





When did you first start crafting/making jewelry?

Actually I have been working with metal since 1971 when I took my first metals class in college. From the very beginning I discovered my material, metal. Since then besides my BFA in metals from Syracuse University and MFA from Tyler School of Art, Temple University.

I supported myself for years with my technical skills working as both a jewelry and a silversmith doing repairs. Using my technical skills from silver repairs has given me the confidence that I can make quality work with just about anything.

Please describe your work in detail. What's your favorite type of crafting/design?

From 1980 to 1988 I made a series of domestic appliances that dealt with women’s roles in our society and social commentary. Scroll down on my sculpture page to view the appliances.

Since 1988, I’ve been working with vintage steel doll houses and recycled tin cans. That was 23 years ago, way before the current passion for recycling and thinking green.

How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

Early work was only sculpture and I only made a few pieces a year. Since about 1998, I have also made jewelry and Judacia.

Recently my use of recycled materials has expanded beyond recycled tin cans to include post consumer pencils, electronic waste, rulers, yardsticks, and plastic. Click here to view more recycled pieces.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from everyday life, advertising and our consumer society. Some of the pieces are actually named from magazine ads or television advertising such as "Nice and Easy, Even if Your Marriage Doesn't Last Your Color Will," Clairol Ad and Measuring Compliance.

Projects from recent years include work about our educational system inspired by surviving as a parent of two K-12 students - Pencil sculpture .

Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

I sell a selection of pins and earrings at Harriete Estel Berman on Etsy, Object Fetish Jewelry at Harriete Estel Berman on Object Fetish and my own website.

In addition, I am experimenting with two trunk shows this spring. Past exposure for my work includes galleries, exhibitions, and museums.

What advice can you give other crafters/artists when selling their items?

I am committed to helping the arts and crafts community. Artists and makers can find years of advice, ALL FREE and available on line. They can read my blog where I provide words of experience on my blog Ask Harriete and the Professional Guidelines.

I also teach workshops and organize the Professional Development Seminar.
There will be a workshop near Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen on April 9th and 10th, 2011.

There will also be a Professional Development Seminar in Seattle at the Society of North America Goldsmiths on May 28, 2011.

Information from past Professional Development Seminars is available here.

ARE YOU WONDERING HOW TO PRICE YOUR WORK?

Last year’s Professional Development Seminar program about pricing continues to be an extremely popular resource. The PowerPoint Presentations by our speakers and the Question and Answer Discussion with the audience were recorded and combined with the Slide Share Presentation so that you can experience the presentations that our audience saw in Houston.

I recommend that you listen to the Slide Share PowerPoint Presentation first, then listen to the podcast.
GO TO THE Professional Development Seminar page on the Harriete Estel Berman’s web site or click here.

PRICING INFORMATION CONTINUES on ASK Harriete.

With a month long series including pricing variables, understanding overhead, indirect cost, cash flow and more when pricing your work. Find all these posts on ASK Harriete .

Describe yourself in three words:

driven, energetic, creative

Is there is anything else you'd like to share with us?

Please consider sharing the resources in the Professional Guidelines at ASK Harriete with your fellow artists and makers to make our community stronger.

You can find Harriete online at the following places:

Harriete Estel Berman on Etsy
Harriete’s own website
Facebook
Twitter
Object Fetish
Crafthaus
Linkedin
Youtube

This interview was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things.

Creative Reuse : Ruti's Roots and Etsy Finds, How Did She Do That?

Ruti'sRoots: 190 Pieces of Recycled Paper Make This Bowl

!

Bowl made from all recycled paper!

This seller, RutisRoots, was on the front page in a treasury tonight. Her green bowl immediately caught my eye, as it was unusual. I had to look twice at her creations, because they were made from recycled paper.  Soon I was reading how she was reusing gum wrappers, tea bag covers, and just about everything imaginable to make gorgeous art bowls and sculptures!

A Swan Made So Beautifully!

Tea Bag Wrapper Bowl

Her name is Ruti and she is 25 years old. She was born and raised in Jerusalem and is currently studying Occupational Therapy in the city of Haifa, Israel.  Her love for paper, artistry, and creative reuse show in these gorgeous designs.

I thought I was seeing things as 1050 gum wrappers transformed into this gorgeous swan like sculpture!

Ruti says, "These colorful stylish products can add a lot of grace and peace to your home or work environment. Moreover, since the items are sturdy, and have a durable cardboard lower part, they make perfect storage solutions for precious tiny items, such as: jewels, change, remote controls, CDs, game pieces, stationary, small cloths or whatever you feel like. "

This would look lovely holding a small potted herb plant atop saucer in the bottom.

Bowls range around $35-$40 and swans range between $50 and $80 on average, with very good shipping rates to the USA.  

Congratulations to Petite Hermine!

At the beginning of January, we announced a blog link contest we were going to have here at the Etsy Recyclers Guild.

The object of the link contest was to blog about another blog and link their blog to your blog to create backlinks.

Timothy Adam from Handmadeology was our guest judge and announced the blog link contest winner yesterday via video. Petite Hermine was announced as the winner of our link contest. A big congratulations goes out to Petite Hermine! Thanks for participating in our blog links contest!

Meet Susan of SM.art Designing

Susan makes really amazing one-of-a-kind purses out of used book covers. Her book purses are all super cute and all have character because they're made from vintage books. She lines each book purse with lovely fabric and adds extra details to make the bags stand out.

Tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Susan Temple and I live in Connecticut with my husband Charlie and our two corgis, Peanut and Tulip. I am a Graphic Designer by profession for over 30 years. I design marketing materials for all sorts of client including banks, hospitals, even a WNBA team, and I love my job. And I also LOVE to make book purses!

When did you first start crafting?

I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember. I always knew I would do something creative. When I was young I wanted to be the person who illustrated the sewing pattern catalogs. The ladies at the fabric shop would save the out dated catalogs for me and I would draw the pictures over and over. I learned to sew when I was 13 and I made all my clothes for years. I made coats, suits, even a bathing suit once. I love to hand make! The satisfaction of saying I made that, the choosing of the materials, the creative process, it’s all therapy for me.

Please describe your work in detail. What’s your favorite type of crafting/art?

Right now my favorite craft is my book purses. But I have gone through periods of different crafts. I do a lot of jewelry. For years I cross stitched. I love decorative painting. My husband bought me a jig saw one year! But my first love remains fabric and sewing. Although I don’t really sew the book purses, my understanding of construction has really helped.

I hunt for books in used book stores, salvation army depots, yard and tag sales. I never, ever use new books because I respect the original intent of a book. It’s meant to be read and cherished. But after that, why should it sit on a shelf collecting dust? However, rare and fist edition books are also a no-no in my book (pun intended). Those are special and should remain intact. There are some gorgeous old readers I found that would make incredible purses, but no way. They need to remain intact as a reminder of our heritage.

My creative process is Zen like... I get into a groove and before I know it hours have passed and I hardly knew it. I have a little transistor radio that I put on NPR and just zone out. I am incredibly lucky that I have a ‘craft room’. I am also extremely lucky that my husband is a very talented cabinet maker. I had a craft cabinet that was around 25 years old and it was literally falling apart. He recreated (and improved on) a new cabinet for me. And come to think of it, having that new cabinet gave me the space and comfort to really explore my craft. I am very blessed.

How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

In terms of my book purses I have become faster, my decisions are easier to make because I’ve paid attention to the process. I know what works and what doesn’t, and I know that I need to stay true to myself. I have only been doing these purses for a year and just recently I feel as if my “apprenticeship” is over and now I am reading to explore the next level. I’ve been experimenting with embellishments and options for handles. I am working on designing my own handles out of reclaimed wood. It doesn’t take a lot of fabric to make a book purse so I’ve been keeping my eye out for fabrics from thrift stores. If a shirt is made of a beautiful fabric, why not? The more recycling the better.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I was inspired to create my first book purse by my sister, who is an avid reader and aspiring writer. For her birthday her husband gave her a Kindle. My thought was-- what a perfect way of transporting a Kindle than in a purse made from a book cover. I gave her the purse as a gift and she loved it. Her reaction made me decide to make a few more, just for myself. But then an obsession was born! What keeps me inspired are the covers of the books and fabrics, some are plain but to me I see the possibility of adding this fabric and that ribbon, envisioning the final purse. Nature inspires me, I find the seasons in New England to be my inspiration lately.

Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

I sell my book purses online in my Etsy shop. They are also available at a gallery in New Haven, CT called Elm City Handmade. And I am very excited to announce that they will also be available this spring at The Flying Pig Gallery and Greenspace in WI. I also sell by word of mouth, and through connections on Facebook. It’s growing everyday.

What advice can you give other crafters when selling their items?

I’ve sold things that I’ve made on occasion, but nothing I made was ever accessible enough to market. My father was always encouraging me to sell my crafts, but it’s really hard to make any money from crafting. You have to work super fast with materials that don’t cost a fortune to be able to meet a price point people can afford. My book purses were the one thing that put me where I could make a modest profit and put out an affordable product. But the best thing about any craft is the enjoyment of doing it and I really enjoy making the purses. It marries all my skills as a graphic designer and crafter in one unique item. Plus my love for books! If there is one thing I am guilty of it is I WILL judge a book by its cover. As a graphic designer I just can’t help it.

One thing I know for sure is if you want to succeed, you must love what you do. You also must be the best at it and price it correctly. Never, ever sell work you are not proud of.

Describe yourself in three words:

I was going to say Very, Very Loud... but instead... Caring, Logical and Talented

Is there is anything else you’d like to share with us?

I think the best thing I learned about this particular journey is to overcome my fears. I worried that people wouldn’t like my purses, or they wouldn’t be good enough. I really had to move though that in order to set up my Etsy shop. My friends and family are incredibly supportive with their advice and compliments, which really helped. I cannot stress this enough-- do what you love. If you love it, and that’s all you get out of it, then you are far ahead in the game. That’s my advice... Oh and always keep a bowl of ice water on your craft table when using a glue gun! Happy crafting.

You can find Sm.art Designing online at the following places:

Sm.art Designing on Etsy
Sm.art Designing on Facebook

This post was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things.

Interview with HeidiMoon of Highland Fairy Clothing and Accessories

Doing interviews gives me the opportunity to learn about really cool artists, designers and vintage resellers. I started interviewing people for my own blog several years ago. This has been not only a great networking tool, but I've also found out about many awesome new designers/people I would have otherwise never found out about if I had not started interviewing. Most people want to be interviewed because it's free exposure for them. All you have to do is ask!

Today's interview is from our own HeidiMoon of Highland Fairy Clothing and Accessories. She reclaims and recycles fabrics to create one of a kind garments and accessories.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a mother of four, born in the Highlands of Scotland and of Hungarian, Irish, Scottish decent. I love making things and recycling is a big part of this.

When did you first start crafting?

I have always made things, from a very young age. My parents are both artistic and creative so this was passed on to me. I suppose it was inevitable that I became like them and I see it as being a vital part of my life.

Please describe your work in detail. What's your favorite type of crafting?

I work in various different materials, from reclaimed fabrics, plastic containers, found objects through to clay and paint. I make clothes, jewelry, accessories and I also make ceramic art pieces and I love to draw and paint. I don't think I have a favourite craft, as I enjoy everything I do. If I'm not happy making something I will stop and move onto something else. If you don't love what you do in life I don't see the point in doing it! I see my work as being continuously experimental and always changing.


How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

I think my work has improved and evolved over time as does everything you work at, and I feel that my eye for colour and detail has become more refined. I also think that the more confident you become about your own work the more you want others to see it and sharing my work, especially online, with others has been very motivating for me.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I can be inspired by what ever is around me..I can look at a tree and all it's textures and shapes, or a pavement, a stone, a colour that someone is wearing. I collect seedpods, and look at organic shapes and textures in nature. Other artists inspire me...I love to see how other people work and it's wonderful to inspire others too.

Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

In my Etsy shop, which is my only online shop. Having too many online stores only confuses me! I sell my work in various shops in Scotland, and I am hoping to find other places wider afield who will take my creations.

What advice can you give other crafters when selling their items?

One of the things I am learning about selling is to price my work realistically. I forget how much time and work I put into one piece and sometimes people tell me my prices are too low for all the effort I put in. I think it's important to remember your self worth and that you are selling a part of your self and your creative expression, especially if it's a one off item.

Describe yourself in three words:

Sensitive, creative, loving

Is there is anything else you'd like to share with us?

As this is aimed at recycling, I think it's important to encourage people to recycle, re-use and re-create as much as possible because there is far too much of a 'throw away, buy a new one' attitude in the world!! It makes me mad and sad that we waste so much and some people just don't have the imagination or motivation to change how we live and to make our planet a better place to live. I like to imagine that one day we will all be using less or no packaging, making our own clothes from our old ones, re-using containers, making our own paper, driving green cars, flying less, live in natural houses, growing veggies, etc, etc... x x

You can find Highland Fairy online at the following places:

Highland Fairy on Etsy
Highland Fairy on Facebook
Flickr

This post was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things.

Interview with Stephanie of Naturally Heartfelt

Stephanie of Naturally Heartfelt lives in Cornwall, UK. She makes really amazing jewelry using reclaimed, found and vintage materials.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I live in beautiful South West Cornwall, care for my mum, help out with my grandchildren, and walk for miles with my beloved lurcher Molly. After leaving my work in Adult Education in Norfolk three years ago to renovate/ rebuild a bungalow here in Falmouth, a change in circumstances meant that I needed to work in a way that gave me control and flexibility. My lifetime love of making came into its own and now if I’m not crafting I’m thinking about it!

When did you first start crafting?

I’ve always crafted, since I was a child I always had a project on the go. I was an avid collector as well, everything from stamps to stones.

I scour the local charity shops, car boot sales, and any other sources I can find to uncover worn, discarded, dirty pieces of jewelry that have echoes of the finery they once were. Once I get them home I carefully clean them and think about their stories or their secrets. Quite often pieces stay in my stash for weeks or months before something else comes along that seems to belong with that piece, then they demand to be made into something new and special.

Please describe your work in detail. What's your favorite type of crafting/art?

My favourite thing is finding say a brooch that immediately connects in my mind to a poem or a text and I can’t wait to find the right words to complete the piece. I’m also very aware of the energy that everything has, and I try to connect with that energy in my work.

How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

My work is constantly evolving as I have more and more ideas all the time. One thing sparks another and off I go. When I began incorporating poetry and other text with salvaged materials that’s when I found my ‘voice’ in the making.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Sometimes the materials themselves inspire my work – a lone earring that just asks to be matched with a pretty chain and text from a certain poem, sometimes I hear a few words, or the title of a song and it gives me an idea to go with. I’m currently working on a collection for spring inspired by my favourite book ‘The Secret Garden’.

Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

In addition to my Etsy shop, I have another online shop, Naturally Heartfelt, where I also sell journals and other items made from recycled materials. I also have products in two fabulous shops in Falmouth: ‘Two Little Birds’ Vintage Boutique and ‘Tyto’ Boutique, as well as ‘The Story Cellar’ bookshop, café and craft shop in Penzance. I was commissioned in August last year by an artist in Edinburgh to produce 15 pieces to be sold alongside her work in her gallery.

What advice can you give other crafters when selling their items?

I would say to other crafters definitely work on your photos – I’m still learning how to produce the best pictures to show my work. Connect with the Forums. You can get great advice on every aspect of selling. Take everything you read and make it your own – give it your own touch. Also, join a Team! You'll get support and encouragement.

Describe yourself in three words:

‘creative, independent, artisan’

Is there is anything else you'd like to share with us?

Believe in yourself and your work- as it says in my favourite book: ‘The Magic is in me … It’s in every one of us.’

You can find Naturally Heartfelt online at the following places:

Naturally Heartfelt's own site
Naturally Heartfelt on Etsy
Facebook

This post was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things

Her Two Cents : A Talk With Cindy Caraway of CarawayCache on Etsy About Social Networking and Running Multiple Shops

Cindy Caraway is an award-winning artist, who has three shops on Etsy right now.  This is called "Tea Rose Garden Party" incorporating several techniques.

As you all know, I'm pretty active in social networking. For the winter I spend a lot of time promoting my products, writing articles, blog posts, tweeting this and Facebooking that, and I've often wondered if it would be easier just to spend that time in my Etsy shops.  My one shop is neglected, and I often wondered about the pros and cons of keeping more than one. So I asked a fellow Etsian, Cindy Caraway, her thoughts on the subject, for she is a pro with three shops on Etsy!

Cindy's main shop is her vintage shop on Etsy, CarawayCache , has been open since June 2008. It has over 1000 sales. A year later she debuted her handmade jewelry shop (CindyCaraway) is on her way to 30 sales, and this contains some of her award-winning designs and jewelry creations. She is a Beadweaver who uses several techniques in her work and incorporates upcycled or repurposed items in her designs.   Add on Cindy's Garage Sale, which offers low price great destash finds that just opened in September of 2010, and she's almost at 50 sales. .She also has a destash shop, that she is unsure if it will remain.

Cindy titles her jewelry shop by her name, proud of her creations such as this Chameleon Necklace, $650.00

THE CINDY CARAWAY INTERVIEW

: Many of us are struggling with one shop much less two or three!  Do you really think this is worthwhile and if so, how do you manage?

:My first wish is that we could have a personal hub from which we could run multiple shops - where I could just sign in and access everything from one page. Blogger works that way - you can run several blogs from a central account. That would make it SOOOO much nicer. As it is, I have gotten used to jumping from one shop to the next and have a decidedly imperfect system of dealing with the 3 storefronts. I have a vintage shop and then a shop for my handcrafted jewelry and beadwork. The third is destash shop which has only been open for a short time - I haven't decided if it will stay or not.

As of now, her 3rd shop is still open and has great bargains!

: Do you think that you need multiple shops because there's just not enough categories to do it all out of one? 


:The problem of categories could be slightly alleviated if they would let us have sub-categories*** I probably wouldn't need separate shops for my jewelry and vintage if there were the possibility of sub-categories. I do agree that MORE categories would be a nice option but I find my biggest need is for sub-categories.

SOAR Necklace by Cindy Caraway, $30, here!

For instance, in my jewelry shop I struggle with how to organize the categories (by color, type, size of piece, theme, ???) as I want to help people find what they want easily. It's hard because you have to pick just one. So, it would be nice if under "Necklaces" we could sub-categorize by color, or type, or material. I realize the tags should take care of that but...


***(It should be noted I talked to Cindy in December, and Etsy has initiated "sub categories" to help with the listing process, but not with the sections/materials like we are talking about...)  

Pushing Luck Bead Statement Necklace, has so much work and is lovely. See it here.

: I have a hard time when an item fits into two top categories, like an item that is vintage yet it is a supply item.... : I used to sell vintage on eBay (and I am NOT a current fan of that site by any means but I did make a nice living there for several years) and liked that I had the option of listing in two categories if I really wanted to. The extra charge was worth it if it helped the item to sell. On some items, I would be happy to pay an extra 20 cents to list in more categories. Cheer Up Cards by CarawayCache, $5 : I know you have a blog, and I'm wondering if social networking has helped grow your stores? :  I have often wondered about the effectiveness but nothing beyond that. I am an inactive Facebook and Twitter member. I link my blog posts automatically to them and don't visit very often. When I do it is simply to respond to friend requests and the like. I can't honestly say that I have made any sales from Facebook or Twitter. I also don't think my blog has brought traffic to my shops or sales but I enjoy the community aspect of blogging and find it worthwhile on a personal level. I also think it's important to have a web presence of some sort. The first thing anyone does when trying to find someone or something is do a Google search. My personal opinion: if you aren't online, you pretty much don't exist. Cindy is an award winning artist! : Thanks for the honesty Cindy! What else do you want people to know about you?   :  I am an artist, musician, actress, mighty fisherwoman, purveyor of vintage goodies and collector of cool stuff from Dubuque, Iowa!  As an award-winning bead artist whose jewelry has been featured in juried shows and galleries across the US, I specialize in bead embroidery and also enjoy bead weaving. As a musician, I perform as one half of an acoustic duo with my guitarist husband. We enjoy playing at wedding ceremonies, private parties, coffee shops, wineries and art galleries. As an actress, I am usually busy learning lines for my next appearance in a community theater production. As a mighty fisherwoman, I spend many hours out on the Mississippi River sacrificing worms to the fish gods in hopes of snagging the "big one"! As a purveyor of vintage goodies, I drive my husband crazy with my inability to part with anything beautiful, handmade, or which might be useful for something someday. You never know what you will find in Cindy's Garage Sale!  This whole lot is only $1.99 plus shipping! : Catch up with Cindy here:

CarawayCache Vintage Shop on Etsy
Cindy Caraway Jewelry Designs on Etsy
Cindy's Garage Sale Destash Shop on Etsy

Cindy's Website
Cindy's Artful Living Blog