I instantly came across Melissa Stevenson
After a week straight of watching Annie with my 3 year old son, not only am I singing �The Sun Will Come Out�.�, and �Its the Hard Knock Life�, but being the jewelry hoarder that I am�. I am LOVING Lockets! While getting dressed today, I scoured my jewelry cases looking for a locket of some sort. I looked frantically, but alas, my Daddy Warbucks never gave me one. Sad Face. Oh Well,abercrombie and fitch sale! Its 2010,abercrombie and fitch outlet! I jumped on my mac to hit up my hands down favorite shopping site, Etsy.com, to find one,abercrombie outlet!
I instantly came across Melissa Stevenson, on etsy she is
I contacted Melissa to ask her a few questions , and get to know her better.
frockOn: How long have you been designing lockets, and tell us about how you got your start?
Stevenson: I�ve been creating/designing colored filigree jewelry for about 5 years. Everything I create comes from my heart. I literally feel what I want to make and then that translates into a vision. I started to make lockets about 2 1/2 years ago. I remember being so excited about creating them because I knew lockets would be a more meaningful piece of jewelry to a lot of my buyers. Many of my customers have written me and told me why they purchased one of my pieces and how much it meant to them. Sometimes it was stories of present love and sometimes stories of loss. I�ve cried many times and felt so honored that they choose one of my pieces to incorporate into that chapter in their lives. The truth is hearing their stories do more for me personally then they will ever realize and I am so grateful.
frockOn: Melissa, what inspires you as a jewelry designer, and why lockets,abercrombie clothes? I noticed that each piece you have is different from the next, but seem to tell a story together as a collection. What was your inspiration for this particular line?
Stevenson: My inspiration comes from my personal journey through life. I experienced a lot of hardships growing up. I spent many of my teen-age years, in and out of Group Home facilities. I felt very lost and alone. When I made something it was the only time I felt alive. This might be too much information but I wouldn�t know how to answer this question any other way. All my inspiration comes from my own personal journey through life. Memories of losing people I loved and the happy times I shared with them. For me healing has always come from creating.
frockOn: Tell us about the materials you use� as a designer what is your favorite medium to work with?
Stevenson: I�m a self-taught jewelry designer. I have no formal training at all�. just my imagination. I�m convinced that if I can envision it, then I can make it�. lol,abercrombie and fitch outlet uk, that isn�t always true. It�s not usually until after I�ve waited a lot of money buying different supplies and spent weeks trying to make my vision reality that I�ll finally �give up� but I never really do. I just keep that vision in my head and basically �archive� it for a later date. I get very frustrated with my lack of knowledge of other techniques/mediums to create things I want to make because I know that I�m capable of so much more. I work with very simple mediums�. mica powder; resin, vintage filigree pieces, and image transfer paper. It�s not really what you use more than how you use it. I literally love the challenge of turning something very simple into something extraordinary and I�m not happy unless it�s something extremely unique.
frockOn: As far as advice for aspiring sellers goes- how is selling online helping your business?
Stevenson: I think my advice would be different for aspiring sellers depending on why they want to sell their creations. I create because for me it�s just as important as breathing and without it in my life would mean the end of who I am. I think my customers can see �me� in my work and know that when they purchase something, that in fact they are also purchasing a piece of me too. Put your heart and soul into what you do. Don�t be afraid to try something new�. think out side the box but most importantly search for inspiration within yourself.
frockOn: How is Esty.com helping your business?
Stevenson: Etsy is the only place where I sell my work. I love be able to sell to people all over the world. At first I thought that not being able to see the expression on a customers face right after they made a purchase would bother me but my online experiences with chatting with customers has been so rewarding.
frockOn: What can we expect from you in the near future?
Stevenson: Well, I�m actually really excited to say that next Spring I plan on attending, Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. The school teaches metal smithing, photography, pottery, glass blowing�etc. I�ve wanted to attend for the last couple of years and I�m determined to make it happen in Spring 2011. Lol, I�ve already envisioned things I want to make after I�ve completed the classes so I better make it happen. I think I will finally feel like I can create things that will be completely me and I won�t be limited ever again. Hopefully in a year from now you�ll see a locket line that is extraordinary. Piece�s that tell a story and everyone can relate to.
Thank you Melissa for sharing with the frockOn audience, we see great things to come for you!
frockOn LLC 2010
Copyright (c) 2010 frockon LLC
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