I was feeling footloose again and I wandered over to the Shop Local area. I entered Seattle to see what would come up (that's such an active Etsy area) and I found WovenChains. I was completely blown out. Read on and you'll see why:Where were you born & raised?
I was born in Cooperstown, NY (home of the Baseball Hall of Fame), but I don’t remember ever living there. I was raised in beautiful Seattle, WA.
Where are you now & what led you there?
Now I’m in Kent, WA, about 20 miles south-east of Seattle. I live here with my wonderful husband and my sweet little girl. I’m here because I love this area, and I didn’t want to move away from my family. We moved out of the city for lots of reasons, mainly because it was cheaper to buy a house. We are very close to our families, though, so we didn’t want to move too far from them. A great bonus of where I live is that I’m only 5 minutes away from my dad.
What types of creations do you sell in for your Etsy shop(s)?
I make chainmaille jewelry. I work mostly in fine metals (sterling silver, and gold-fill), but I’m getting more into copper these days. I make tons of earrings, some bracelets, pendants and a few necklaces. I’m also trying to branch out a bit. One of my latest listings was for stitchmarkers for knitting.
What's your educational background, as it relates to your work?
When it comes to my work, I’m mostly self taught. I’ve taken a couple of classes, but DVD’s, internet tutorials and lots of playing around have been my major teachers.
How'd you get started creating?
I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I feel like I’ve tried everything – crocheting, quilting, origami (with paper and with fabric), and so many other crafts. I got started with chainmaille when I saw that an acquaintance of mine was offering a class (one of those few that I mentioned), and once I tried weaving metal, I was hooked!
Do you belong to any Street Teams? If so, which ones and why?
Yes! I belong to EtsyRain, the Western Washington Street Team. I love belonging to EtsyRain, we have already had a couple of exclusive craft shows (where all of the vendors were EtsyRain members), and we have another one in the fall. We also have some great social events, and a message board where we can discuss all of the important issues regarding Etsy and selling your work. I also belong to the newly formed Chainmailler’s Guild, and I’m very excited to see where that team is headed. There are some exciting things ahead.
What's your favorite thing about selling on Etsy?
The best thing about selling on Etsy is all of the wonderful people I have met, through EtsyRain, through the forums, and the customers. I really like that you can have such a personal relationship with your customers and with other sellers.
Recommend your five favorite shops on Etsy.
worldofwhimm
nicholasandfelice
artbynorm
elinopus
emmakat
Show us your three favorite items from your own shop:
Dragonscale Bracelet
Mysteries of the Sea Bracelet
Silver and Copper Celtic Star Earrings
Unbelievable!! All that from loops. Thanks, Trina.
Carolynn
Trina makes some of the most amazing things - and they all FEEL so wonderful!
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