Thank you, INCrowdteam, for your enthusiastic response to my call for interview subjects! I'll be posting them in the order I received them. Today, take a look at jewelry by Linda Chandler!Where were you born and raised? In a small town called Milroy, Indiana, where you could leave your doors unlocked and open all the time. No stop lights or police station; we were lucky enough to have a post office, small bank and grocery store.
What's the origin of your shop's name? lchandler I wish I could say it came from something creative, but it's just the first initial of my first name and my last name! It came about with my very first email address many years ago.
What types of creations do you sell in for your Etsy shop? I enjoy designing and creating unique pieces of jewelry. Working in multimedia keeps me entertained. My work mainly includes metalsmithing, resin, precious metal clay and wire work.
What's your educational background, as it relates to your work? Being formally trained as a graphic design artist has helped me in many ways to become a self-taught artisan.
Does creating stuff run in the family? Were you taught things on purpose or by osmosis from prior generations? Creating art doesn't run in my family. I have no idea where my creativity came from! I've always liked creating beautiful things and was encouraged by my grade school art teacher to pursue my art.
How'd you get started creating? I grew up as an only child. I began drawing at an early age and found that I had a natural gift. As time passed, I found myself dabbling in whatever arts and crafts that interested me at the moment. My love of jewelry, and the unique and unusual, landed me in the jewelry making arena. I loved it and have settled into creating jewelry and always have the desire to learn new and different techniques.
Where are you now, and what led you there? My kids wanted me to do something to get out of their hair while they were growing up and leaving home. I guess it started with beads and wire, on to wire wrapping, that lead to metal forming and then metal smithing. At the moment I’m a metalsmith but also love Precious metal Clay, resin, weaving, braiding and glass fusing, just to name a few.
What's your muse, or what turns that little creative light inside you on? Having seen and grown tired of standard traditional jewelry, I find great pleasure in creating the unique and unusual. I enjoy making a piece that will gain attention from all who see it. I enjoy someone asking, "How did you do that?"
Do you yourself have certain pieces of jewelry that you always, always wear? If so, please tell us about them. Not really, I usually will wear something new I've made until I come up with another idea. I only wear something for a while to see how well it wears and to get others' opinions of how it looks. Comfort and durability are my main objectives.
Do you belong to any Street Teams (other than the INCrowdteam)? If so, which ones and why? I also belong to Starving Artists (SATeam), many fabulous artists that share their work and ideas.
What's your favorite thing about selling on Etsy? I enjoy being able to display my handmade work with other wonderful artists, as well as making new friends and exchanging design ideas.
Recommend your five favorite shops on Etsy.
1) trolltracks
2) blindspotjewellery
3) carameljubilee
4) happylake
5) tiptopapplesauce
Show us three of your own favorite pieces, from your shop and work.
Urban City/Annotate Pendant - This piece is Precious Metal Clay; I love skylines and carving in clay.
Basket (textile) Weave Bracelet - One of my exclusive designs that receives compliments like "exquisite," which really thrills me!
40 inch chain AS - I like making long chains and working with argentium silver.
Do you sell on consignment? Not at this time.
Where else can we find you online? My website and on flickr.
Anything else to brag on? Featured Artist in Jewelry Artist Magazine in 1999 "Weaving." Co-author and artist of Woven Wire Jewelry, Getting Started Making Wire Jewelry, and Jewelry Studio: Wire Wrapping. Winner of the PMA Benjamin Franklin Award. Featured in gallery section of Mark Lareau's book, All Wired Up and in Teach Yourself Visually Jewelry Making and Beading by Chris Franchetti Michaels. I enjoy teaching at non-profit schools.
If you had to describe yourself (or your personality) as one particular gem or stone, what would it be, and why?
I would describe myself as an opal because of its inner beauty. Deep inside are many small pieces which all make up one beautiful piece. Each small piece of my opal are the techniques I've learned and have executed in the designs I make as well as the many colorful friends I've made as I have traveled down this golden road of jewelry design. By the way, this stone is my birthstone.
Last question... what’s the best piece of advice you’d give a new Etsy seller (like me)? My motto is, "Enjoy what you do, have fun with it." Let your mind wander. Kick the sides out of that design 'box' and come up with unique ideas that make you stand tall above the rest. Never allow it to become a job because it is then that the enjoyment and creativity will suffer.
What's the origin of your shop's name? lchandler I wish I could say it came from something creative, but it's just the first initial of my first name and my last name! It came about with my very first email address many years ago.
What types of creations do you sell in for your Etsy shop? I enjoy designing and creating unique pieces of jewelry. Working in multimedia keeps me entertained. My work mainly includes metalsmithing, resin, precious metal clay and wire work.
What's your educational background, as it relates to your work? Being formally trained as a graphic design artist has helped me in many ways to become a self-taught artisan.
Does creating stuff run in the family? Were you taught things on purpose or by osmosis from prior generations? Creating art doesn't run in my family. I have no idea where my creativity came from! I've always liked creating beautiful things and was encouraged by my grade school art teacher to pursue my art.
How'd you get started creating? I grew up as an only child. I began drawing at an early age and found that I had a natural gift. As time passed, I found myself dabbling in whatever arts and crafts that interested me at the moment. My love of jewelry, and the unique and unusual, landed me in the jewelry making arena. I loved it and have settled into creating jewelry and always have the desire to learn new and different techniques.
Where are you now, and what led you there? My kids wanted me to do something to get out of their hair while they were growing up and leaving home. I guess it started with beads and wire, on to wire wrapping, that lead to metal forming and then metal smithing. At the moment I’m a metalsmith but also love Precious metal Clay, resin, weaving, braiding and glass fusing, just to name a few.
What's your muse, or what turns that little creative light inside you on? Having seen and grown tired of standard traditional jewelry, I find great pleasure in creating the unique and unusual. I enjoy making a piece that will gain attention from all who see it. I enjoy someone asking, "How did you do that?"
Do you yourself have certain pieces of jewelry that you always, always wear? If so, please tell us about them. Not really, I usually will wear something new I've made until I come up with another idea. I only wear something for a while to see how well it wears and to get others' opinions of how it looks. Comfort and durability are my main objectives.
Do you belong to any Street Teams (other than the INCrowdteam)? If so, which ones and why? I also belong to Starving Artists (SATeam), many fabulous artists that share their work and ideas.
What's your favorite thing about selling on Etsy? I enjoy being able to display my handmade work with other wonderful artists, as well as making new friends and exchanging design ideas.
Recommend your five favorite shops on Etsy.
1) trolltracks
2) blindspotjewellery
3) carameljubilee
4) happylake
5) tiptopapplesauce
Show us three of your own favorite pieces, from your shop and work.
Urban City/Annotate Pendant - This piece is Precious Metal Clay; I love skylines and carving in clay.
Basket (textile) Weave Bracelet - One of my exclusive designs that receives compliments like "exquisite," which really thrills me!
40 inch chain AS - I like making long chains and working with argentium silver.Do you sell on consignment? Not at this time.
Where else can we find you online? My website and on flickr.
Anything else to brag on? Featured Artist in Jewelry Artist Magazine in 1999 "Weaving." Co-author and artist of Woven Wire Jewelry, Getting Started Making Wire Jewelry, and Jewelry Studio: Wire Wrapping. Winner of the PMA Benjamin Franklin Award. Featured in gallery section of Mark Lareau's book, All Wired Up and in Teach Yourself Visually Jewelry Making and Beading by Chris Franchetti Michaels. I enjoy teaching at non-profit schools.
If you had to describe yourself (or your personality) as one particular gem or stone, what would it be, and why?
I would describe myself as an opal because of its inner beauty. Deep inside are many small pieces which all make up one beautiful piece. Each small piece of my opal are the techniques I've learned and have executed in the designs I make as well as the many colorful friends I've made as I have traveled down this golden road of jewelry design. By the way, this stone is my birthstone.
Last question... what’s the best piece of advice you’d give a new Etsy seller (like me)? My motto is, "Enjoy what you do, have fun with it." Let your mind wander. Kick the sides out of that design 'box' and come up with unique ideas that make you stand tall above the rest. Never allow it to become a job because it is then that the enjoyment and creativity will suffer.
I appreciate your wise words, Linda! Thank you for letting me share them with our readers! --- Stockannette
