TheStyleGeek.com

Since I started blogging last August, I have been privileged to connect with a number of remarkable women.  Women who share their hearts and bare their souls through their words.  Women who are incredibly talented and have (thankfully) used the Internet as a means to bestow their gifts on all of us.

The thing that I find most striking about these women (aside from their writing) is their desire to love, encourage and support one another.  Almost every time I read a blog post by one of these women (check out my blog roll for a list of some of these ladies’ blogs), I find another blog by another incredible woman.

One of the women I’ve been able to connect with is the lovely Emma James (or @emmajames for all you Tweeps out there) of Pleasure Notes where she “takes note of life, warts and all”.  In addition to her fabulous talent for weaving words, Emma makes jewelry; and fortunately for all of us, she just opened up her own Etsy shop, Noted Design, to share even more of her craft with the world.

I could say so much more about Emma and her shop, but I’m gonna let the interview and pictures that follow speak for themselves.  Enjoy!

Me: What was the inspiration for starting your Etsy shop?

Emma: The inspiration for starting my Etsy shop was actually the blogosphere. I’ve watched and read how others have found the courage and temerity to follow their hearts and put their creative arts in a public and (ideally) money-making forum. Most of the bloggers I follow are artists of some sort; many of them have Etsy shops of their own. It just got to the point where I could no longer ignore the nudge I received via vicariously living their journeys. And, I got tired of hearing myself say, “I should open an Etsy store” while sitting on my butt. But ultimately, it took being incredibly unhappy in a job situation and NEEDING to create something for myself that could potentially someday support me if all the stars align.

Me: How did you decide what you wanted to sell?

Emma: There was never any question that I would sell jewelry. I’ve been making and selling jewelry off and on since I was in college. It was just about deciding the parameters for the jewelry. I ultimately decided that I wanted to create an eclectic mix of pieces because, well, I have eclectic taste. I get the heebie-jeebies if I’m pigeonholed into just designing stuff using one certain type of material or just making stamped jewelry. The through-line is simply that each piece must be one I love and that I would wear.

Me: What is the inspiration for your jewelry?

Emma: Nature is my biggest inspiration, for my jewelry and for my life as a whole. Also, I want my pieces to be easy – meaning, I want them to make a statement while working seamlessly into your overall style and look. I’m a “wear-the-same-piece-of-jewelry-for-days-on-end” type of gal and I don’t really believe in having specific jewelry for specific occasions. Jewelry is gorgeous and fun. It can be a mood lifter, a catalyst for conversation, a gesture of love. As such, it should be worn whenever and wherever one darn well feels like it.

Me: What do you think sets your jewelry apart from other pieces on Etsy and elsewhere?

Emma: This is a tough question for me because I don’t feel comfortable saying my jewelry is better or prettier or cooler than anyone else’s. There are so many remarkable jewelry designers out there. I will say that my work is an absolute reflection of me, which makes it unique, and I think my aesthetic is an intriguing mix of sophistication, worldliness, simplicity and authenticity. I also hope to provide a one stop shop at Noted Design. As I mentioned earlier, I’m creating an eclectic mix of designs so there is something for every occasion and for gift giving as well as self-gifting. Also, I don’t ever design a piece based on whether it’s using the hottest new color palette or falls in line with the newest fashion trend, though I do pay attention to what’s out there and what people are wearing (one of the reasons I love your blog, by the way). Basically, I truly love every single piece I make and wanna share the love.

Me: Where did you learn to make jewelry?

Emma: Well, I don’t think you ever stop learning, that’s what’s so great about art. But initially I took classes with independent designers in Colorado and California and used the basic skills I picked up as a springboard from which I’ve explored on my own. I love talking shop with other designers; everyone has their quirks, favorite tools, etc.

Me:What is your favorite piece of jewelry in your shop?

Emma: Oh, I can’t possibly answer that question, it’s too hard! I truly love every piece of jewelry I make, but let me mention a couple that make me particularly giddy… The Accordion Earrings are super fun; every time I wear my pair I just feel more spontaneous and youthful, I have no idea why, but I do. The Water Is Life Necklace is the first piece I’ve ever created that is associated with a charity; I’m very excited about the opportunity to spread a message in which I believe – that clean water is crucial for life (and peace), donate a portion of proceeds to a charity I admire and design a cool piece of jewelry all with one simple necklace. And then I totally dig my Captured Pearl necklace because it really is such a knock-out, one-of-a-kind piece that you just can’t stop looking at or touching, I swear – I have it hidden away so I’m not tempted to wear it or play with it myself.

Me: What is one piece of advice you would give to other people wanting to pursue their own passion and start an Etsy shop?

Emma:DO IT NOW! It’s definitely a leap of faith. Don’t worry about whether people will like your stuff, or at least don’t let that stop you from putting your work out there, and don’t worry about whether others are doing the same thing. As I said before, every designer’s passion is unique to her or him, so it will be special and it will find its audience. You may have an audience of 1 or 1 million, but the audience isn’t the fundamental reason for doing it. At the core, creation IS about passion and self-expression. But, also, do your research. See how others are marketing themselves. Try to put your own twist on things as much as possible. And decide up front whether you’re creating your shop as a hobby or a business. Dream big but expect little, and HAVE FUN!