Etsy is this wonderful site where people can release their
crafty side. They sale things from jewelry, clothing, plush toys, paintings,
and many other supplies and decorative pieces that I could talk all day about,
but my focus today is on Litha Jewelry
created by, Becky Shelton. This wonderful woman just so happens to be my sister
and has taken a moment to let me interview her for my blog.
The first thing I decided to do was buy one of her
necklaces. I might be her sister, but I have never actually seen these items up
close as of this point. I was just going by pictures and information she
provided in the bottom of the post. So, after digging through all of her products
I found this really cute Bird’s nest necklace with three different color beads
in it. It had a matching pair of earrings but I don’t have my ears pierced,
though it would have been cute together.
After finding what I wanted I got to pick the wire for the nest
and the color of the beads. The creator (Becky) messaged me back instantly (within
a couple of hours) and let me know that it would be done shortly. Though I am
her sister I still had to pay shipping and handling, no one is exempt it seems.
J And about ten dollars
later and a couple of days I got this little box in the mail with my new
necklace! It was easy and I can only hope everyone on Etsy is as fast and efficient
with their work and customer service.
 |
| This is my lovely necklace. |
Now, never having been on Etsy before I felt a little overwhelmed by all the goodies they have and concerned that I would go shopping crazy here, but you do have to look out for things. It’s best if you read individual reviews on the products you are about to buy, because some products may look pretty but are cheaply built and break within the first few days. Now, that might not be an issue if you’re spending only a couple of dollars, but when it comes to the pricier things be careful.
On with the
interview!
Tell us a little
about yourself
Hello and thanks
for having me on your blog! My name is Becky Shelton. I'm an accounting
graduate who decided to add a creative flair to my life.
What made you
want to craft jewelry?
After five years
in college working towards a masters in accounting, I wanted a hobby that would
let me show my creative side. Accounting is, by it's nature, a principle and
rules based system. Creativity isn't really part of it.
I've dabbled in
writing fiction, but one day, I started researching the tools and wire types I
would need to craft my own jewelry. I visited my local Hobby Lobby and ordered
online. When everything came together, I started crafting jewelry pieces. When
I saw how much I enjoyed making them, I wanted to share my hobby with others.
Why did you
choose Etsy and what do you enjoy about working with it?
From my
research, the best markets to sell jewelry was eBay, Amazon, your own website,
and Etsy. The first two are great if you already have some popularity and a lot
of products. I experimented with eBay, but didn't really get any interest. So,
I scratched off both eBay and Amazon. I didn't have the time to operate my own
website, but I may come back to that idea later when I get more popular. Etsy
was unique among the choices because it has a vast community of
make-it-yourself people.
Ever wanted to
knit your own tardis? Go talk to the people who make them. Ever wanted to
create your own essential oil? Go talk to the people who make them. They won't
tell you everything, but they can certainly point you in the right direction.
That is what
sold me - the community. People care about handmade objects and making sure
that you're happy with what you order.
What is a piece
of jewelry you enjoy making the most?
 |
| Blue beaded Bird's nest earrings |
Dangle
earrings! Making earrings is like
crafting personality into wire and beads. Once you start creating, the
personality of the piece takes over and you have to refine it further to get it
to really shine. It's really hard to explain, but I do believe that jewelry
speaks volumes about people.
In public, I've
received the most compliments from my earrings than any other piece of jewelry.
Receiving a compliment from a stranger makes my day!
Where do you get
your ideas?
I've used
YouTube, Pinterest, Google searches, blogs, and other random ways to find ideas
that fascinate me. From there, I rework the item into my own style. I believe
that there is no such thing as new ideas. We just wrap them up in new ways.
Mark Twain has a very good quote on this from A Biography. "There is no
such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas
and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they
make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new
combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass
that have been in use through all the ages."
What routine do you go through for crafting jewelry before you begin?
First thing I do
is set up my workstation. I have my computer desk cleared except for my
notebook, tools, and ruler. After that, I finish up any projects from the
previous day and then get started working on something new. After a while, I
get up to let my legs stretch. On sunny days, I take pictures of my finished
products. If I have enough good pictures, I work on listing the item on Etsy.
For me, the most important part of this process is the setting up in the
morning and cleaning up in the evening. This sets the stage for me getting into
and out the flow of creating jewelry.
 |
| Wire wrapped green bead on copper necklace and it comes with a matching pair of earrings. |
What did you
name the shop and what's the significance of that name to you?
Litha Jewelry is
named after the Pagan holiday. Some Pagans have started calling the holiday
Midsummer, but I (kind of old fashioned Pagan) still refer to it as Litha.
Litha is a very personal holiday for me. It was the first Pagan holiday where I
created my first loose incense (incense you would sprinkle on a charcoal disk).
It was also the holiday where I learned the importance of seasonal change. In
Louisiana and Texas, June 21-25 (whenever the summer solstice occurs) is
usually still relatively mild. This is the time of the year when the sun is
reaching its height of power and then slowly loosing it's battle with the
night.
Seasonal change
is my muse. Every piece that I create will be influenced from different sources
and will look remarkably different from the rest. That's my goal and intention.
Even items, such as the tree of life, that can be ordered of the same material
will be unique and different. No two will ever look alike. And that's exactly
what I like about handmade jewelry.
 |
| Brass Egyptian Link choker, which has a matching bracelet! This is another one of my favorites. |
Any extra
information you would like to share about any up coming products or events?
Two weeks before
and after a Pagan holiday, I offer a 20% discount on all of my items. And make sure to like my
Facebook Page to stay updated on what I'm working on and any other offers.
I currently also
run a haiku and Pagan fiction blog. I believe that the world needs more poetry
and fiction written for and by Pagans. If anybody would like to partner with me
on these blogs, feel free to contact me.
Link:
Thank you for reading,
Brenda Franklin, author of the Pulse Trilogy.
