Tell us a little about the items in your shop. What do you make?
I became "addicted" to glass close to a decade ago, beginning with what is known as lampwork or flameworked glass beads. After a few years, I also became addicted to kilnworked and fused glass. My shop contains both flameworked glass bead pendants and earrings, as well as kilnformed glass. Eventually, I would like to put some of the larger kilnworked home accessories (plates and bowls) in my Etsy shop.
I also use my stash of gemstones, metals, pearls and vintage items in my jewelry, and enjoy making bright, colorful items with a quirky sense of humor. I also have a stash of vintage findings and charms, which I am gradually letting go onto Etsy (such as my vintage rotary dial phone charms that have become earrings)
What is your creative process?
I get to play with both propane and oxygen at the same time! Sometimes this involves a bit of swearing when a little bit of glass attaches itself to my skin or shirt. I must admit that working with glass can be a dirty business, but someone has to do it! My work involves mutliple kilns, multiple firings, and temperatures up to 1500 degrees farenheit!
Which Etsy Teams do you belong to?
When I joined Etsy as a seller, I went a bit TEAM mad! Obviously, I am a proud member of TEAM BPAL, and smell wonderful with my many bottles of BPAL to choose from.
One of the more interesting teams I belong to is the Etsy Expats team. No, am not currently an expat, since I was born and currently reside in the U.S., however feel I have a bit of expat mentality as I was in graduate school in the UK during the mid 1980's!, and I return to the UK to visit friends whenever possible! They should know they just can't get rid of some roomies! The Expats team has a wide variety of people from all different countries and it's interesting to find out about where they're living now, wanting to travel, and their situations!
When you are not creating things, what do you do?
Drink endless cups of decaf coffee, peruse the BPAL forum, contemplate when the next switch witch will be, watch Top Gear on BBC America, contemplate road trips, and think up new things I could be doing!
Tell us two random, interesting things about you.
I smell pretty smoky, or sweet, depending on the day , and the BPAL! Currently contemplating getting a tattoo(my first) not related to glass.
What has been your proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?
Each and every order makes me squee out loud, and the really kind words of feedback I've received from forum people makes me go all squishy! Overall, the support from the BPALER's has been fantastic, and I really enjoy knowing that one of my items gets to be adopted by far flung BPALers round the globe! My shop is switch witch friendly (and I have a switch witch discount) so it's lots of fun to see what gets picked out and where it goes! Of course, I'm also all in favor of treating yourself and others even during non switch witch days!
What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Introduce yourself around, and join a team or two or three. Try not to compare your sales to those of other shops. Everyone's circumstances are different, as are their shops. And enjoy yourself!
What handmade possession do you cherish?
As a child I was really influenced by the book Fifth Chinese Daughter, by the artist (potter and enamelist) Jade Snow Wong, and (thanks to ebay) I have been luckhy enough to have several of her enamel bowls, and they really mean a lot to me. She struggled with being a "good girl" and "making it as an artist, at a difficult time. She died a few years ago, well into her 80's, and it gives me pleasure to hold something she created.
If you could have any item on Etsy regardless of price, what would it be?
This Blue Vertigo Plate. Of course, if I allow myself to really look at the moment, there's always lots of favorites!
What other skill or talent do you wish you could possess, if you had not taken this creative path?
I would like to have studied subjects in the sciences, and have a more scientific background; and of course, would like to have studied music. However, there's still time!
Where else can we find you on the web?
On Facebook, I have a fan page under the name Joystreet.
And I recently started on Twitter.
That's all for this time! See you in two weeks. :)
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