Meet Chelsie of Chelsie Belles

Chelsie of Chelsie Belles is from Sioux Falls, SD. She's a professional model and graphic design student. She's extremely talented and makes really cute clothing and accessories from used/vintage items.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Chelsie. I am a graphic design student at SDSU and love anything arty. I love to sew and make unique clothing and jewelry. I am constantly coming up with new ideas and working on unique projects.

When did you first start crafting?

I have always "crafted". I have been sewing and making jewelry since I was a little girl.

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

My favorite type of crafting is fashion design. I enjoy making designs from vintage clothing or fabric. I have this deep love for vintage that I have been told results from being born in the wrong decade :). I really enjoy taking things apart and turning them into something else completely.

How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

I always work quite a bit with denim but recently I have been working with other fabrics.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from the fabric that I use and the medium that I am reusing. I see the piece and suddenly I know what it needs to be.

Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

I sell my products online in my Etsy shop. Visitors will be redirected to my shop from the address www.chelsiebelles.com.

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

Don't under-price your items. Your time is valuable so is the time of your fellow crafters! When people buy handmade they get a level of quality and personal touch that can't be purchased at a large chain store. Let's help everyone get what they deserve.

Describe yourself in three words:

Fun, Funky, Weird

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

I take custom orders!

You can find Chelsie of Chelsie Belles online at the following places:

Chelsie Belles on Etsy
Facebook
Twitter
Hyena Cart
Art Fire
Zibbet
Bizrate
Dawanda
Bonanza

This interview was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things

Handmade Bliss by the Etsy Recyclers Guild team

Meet Peta of REforma

Peta of REforma is an artist who lives in Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. She makes really cool upcycled/recycled jewelry from plastic.

Tell us a little about yourself.

About myself... I love wind, storms, mist, green tea, red wine, black olives, steam, ping pong, table football, poker, drawing, writing, Jean Paul Belmondo and biting people. I enjoy unusual and extraordinary stuff, so I surround myself with them. I´m quite a collector of everything from sea stones to cheesy gold accessories.

When did you first start crafting?

At age seven, when I equipped my fish aquarium with thoroughly selected rocks. I also created a feeder for hummingbirds and was very sad and disappointed that no one ever came...well they don´t live in Czech Republic, I realized years later.

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

There is so many kinds of trash around.. that means unlimited possibilities of crafting! When I walk around town, I always meet some irresistible pile of garbage and my imagination starts to persuade me to look in it.

Plastic is the most favourite material for me. I realized there is something like a scale of precious plastics... like green plastic bottle is something usual as a copper but non-transparent pink one is really big hit...it´s a diamond between bottles (no surprise there is always some strange artificial soda with horrible taste in it, so there is almost nobody buying it).

How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

I hope my work is getting more simple and pure. On the other hand, I have an idea of the line “Haute Réforme” :) It would be dramatic, rich and opulent.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Hmm...At the bottom of the coffee/wine/blueberry juice/another wine?

Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

In few shops in Czech Republic (Prague, Brno, Hradec Kralove). Online in my Etsy shop, Fler and Yiuco.

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

Be seen and heard. And make nice crafts of course:)

Describe yourself in three words:

Broken-nails, scarred-knees, red-hair.

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

A little bit about ecology. Don´t stop look around and realize that everything is connected with everything. But don´t freak out, keep balance and be happy.

You can find Peta and REforma online at the following places:

REforma on Etsy
Facebook

This interview post was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things.

Meet LC Vintage

Lindsay Van Cleave is the mastermind behind LC Vintage Jewelry . She randomly created an Etsy treasury a few days ago and included one of my 1950s vintage brooches. I took a peek at her shop and fell in love with so many of her pieces. I asked Lindsay if she would be interested in doing a blog interview and she gladly obliged.






Custom Vintage Brooch Bridal Bracelet $175

Photo taken by Tyler Wirken of Wirken Photography

Q. Tell me a little about yourself:

My name is Lindsay Van Cleave, I currently live in New York City where I work in advertising and am passionate about developing my jewelry business, LC Vintage. I have loved design and crafts since I was a little. I was always the girl who had a special craft to make as a party favor for all my birthday parties. My designs are inspired by vintage fashion and my grandmothers – Ida, Constance and Sara – whose vintage jewelry I still wear today. I love the stories behind finding vintage pieces to blend with modern high-quality materials to create a new chic look that can be timeless.

Q. When did you first start selling/creating vintage jewelry pieces?

I have always been fascinated by vintage pieces, but started selling my jewelry three years ago by word of mouth and now I am working towards building a larger business.

Q. Please describe your favorite eras in detail:

I have always been fascinated by the 1950s. The polished ladylike look, beautiful jewels and big full skirts make me melt! My interest in the era was initially peaked by my Mom who talks about my Grandmother, Constance, who passed before I was born. My mom always talked about how she worked in a dress shop, was so fashionable and always wore the big beautiful full dresses of that era. I have been in love ever since! I think it's so lovely that during those days, people took time to dress up for the theater or even just a shopping trip. Since I live in New York, I always find it fascinating to Google pictures from New York in the 1950s to see how the women and men dressed. They just look so dapper. I love it! I use a lot of old pictures and jewelry advertisements from the 1950s as inspiration when designing my jewelry. Of course, I love when I can incorporate time pieces from that era into my pieces. The 1950s feels timeless, sophisticated and elegant.

Goldstone Brooch Triple Strand Necklace $50


Q. Where do you buy your vintage items?

I try to support fellow Etsians by buying vintage brooches and odds and ends on Etsy. I also LOVE A grain of sand. They are based in North Carolina, which I have a sweet spot for since I went to college there, and they always have new unique vintage goodies for crafting beautiful pieces. I also like the thrill of the hunt at flea markets and antique shops. You never know what you will find.

Q. Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

My goal is to get into boutiques, but right now I sell ready to ship and custom pieces on Etsy and Wedzu. The links are below:
LC Vintage Jewelry on Etsy and
LC Vintage Jewelry on Wedzu

I also have a Facebook page if you want more behind the scenes peaks at my creative process. Besides jewelry, I post links and images that inspire me.

Seed Bead Vintage Brooch Necklace $130


Q. What advice can you give others who are interested in selling vintage/vintage jewelry?

I would say to make sure you do your homework and research the time periods so you know what you are getting is good quality vintage items. If you like to create, mix and match vintage pieces to create a new look. If you want to sell a piece as is, just make sure you give buyers detailed information on the era so they know it's a reputable piece.

Q. Describe yourself in three words:

Personable, Ladylike, Fashionable

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

Along with the pieces that I design and create, I love doing custom work for Brides and everyday. It's always so nice to incorporate a family heirloom into a brand new piece that you can wear everyday or on a special occasion. I am getting married in October and am incorporating parts of my Grandmother's jewelry into my necklace to keep them with my on that day and also design something extra special for my walk down the aisle. Thank you for letting me share my story!

This blog post was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things.