Last weeks Treasury Challenge gave us a tie with 2 winners, Helmer Jewelry and Moonlight Shimmer so CONGRATULATIONS to both of you!!! I have had an opportunity to interview both ladies but I am splitting up the blog posts between today and tomorrow. Since this is actually Helmer Jewelrys second time in a row winning I am going to do her interview today which is for last week and this week. Watch for Moonlight Shimmers feature tomorrow.
~ My Interview with Becky of Helmer Jewelry ~
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your shop?
My name is Becky Helmer and my shop is HelmerJewelry. I am from Pittsburgh, PA(go Stillers!) and moved to west TX with my husband after we got married.
What inspired you to open your shop?
My husband encouraged me to start selling my jewelry. A friend told me about Etsy and I opened a shop. I didn’t do anything with it for a long time but this past winter when I didn’t have any craft shows, I really starting working on my shop.
Besides designing & creating things, what do you do?
During the day I am a research scientist where among other things I maintain a mouse colony. My husband acts with the local community theatre and I am the Box Office Manager. I am also an Elder at my church and am involved with local missions.
Where, who or what does your influence come from?
I think a lot of influence comes from nature-I haven’t come across a flower or butterfly bead that I don’t love. Since I live in West TX where it is dry and brown most of the year I like to create things that I don’t see around me, so I have tons of flowered jewelry with lots of color!
What inspires you to be creative?
I am inspired to make beautiful things that women will love to wear.
How do you get out of a creative rut?
I do something else, I love to read and watch crime dramas.
When did you first discover that you were or wanted to be an artist?
It was only recently, in the last 2 years, that I discovered this love of making jewelry, it still seems odd to think of myself as an artist. I always thought of my husband, the actor, as the creative one.
Can you describe your creative process for us?
I love going to my local bead shop and wandering around looking at all of the beads till I find something that sparks an idea, then search the rest of the shop for other beads to go with them.
What is your most cherished handmade possession?
I have a beautiful cross made of twisted pieces of metal that I stalked at the local art market(where I have a booth) for a number of months before buying it.
Where do you see or want your shop to be this time next year?
I would like to have regular sales, maybe 2 per week(I know this seems like a low number but if it is steady then I will be thrilled).
Where would you like to be in ten years?
I would like my sales to support the costs of making and selling my jewelry.
What is your best advice to newbie Etsian's just opening their shops?
Don’t give up, even when you get discouraged.
Where else other then Etsy can you be found on the net?
I am on Facebook
Do you have any coupon codes that you would like to share with our readers?
ROCK20 for 20% off anything in my shop!
Thank you Beck for sharing this with all of us! Now enjoy her 2 winning treasuries from the last 2 weeks below....
Thank you Beck for sharing this with all of us! Now enjoy her 2 winning treasuries from the last 2 weeks below....
Great to find out more about the artist behind the jewelry!
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