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| Arts & Crafts >> Jackie's Jewels |
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There are rings, earrings and bracelets and necklaces of all different kinds in your shop. Did you start out with one style or did you open with this variety? Jackie: I actually started out mostly making only rings. I would make a few earrings now and then but my main thing was making these beaded rings for my friends and family. My friends wanted a ring in about every color of the rainbow so they kept me busy!! Then I started to make other things like earrings, necklaces, and bracelets mainly for myself initially. I went shopping one day at a local boutique and they saw the rings I made and got interested in them so I decided that I could start selling my jewelry on a website. I designed my own website and added a variety of jewelry to it. More will be coming soon as well! Seed beads, chunky beads, Swarovski crystals - what are some of your favorite materials to work with? Jackie: I love working with Swarovski crystals because they are so sparkly and pretty!! I love the way they look and try to use them with every design I make whether it be a necklace or a ring. I am now getting into charms. I am always looking for cute new charms because I would like to expand my necklace collection on my website. I have found some cute horse, horseshoe, clover, and heart charms and I plan to add a few necklaces very soon!! |
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What are some of your favorite items in your shop? Jackie: My absolute favorite item is the white Swarovski/cat's eye ring. It matches with any outfit and it looks so elegant since its white with only four purple Swarovski crystals and a few green beads surrounding the sides of the ring. This ring started out as me and my two best friends "friendship ring" and as everyone saw it on us, and I posted it in my online shop, it has become my best seller. My second favorite item is the horse charm necklace. As i said before, i love charm necklaces!! What is your inspiration for your creations? Jackie: My mother is my inspiration because I don't think I would have ever gotten into making jewelry if it wasn't for her. She has always made jewelry and has sold her own jewelry in various stores in the past. I never really started making jewelry then, my craftiness arose later on. I am 21 years old right now so I would say I started to really make jewelry at 19. I am also inspired by Tarina Tarantino (tarinatarantino.com), who is a famous designer known for making fun playful and bright creations. I collect some of her jewelry and I love it. I hope to someday be like her! |
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Tell me about the link up with a local shop. How did that happen and what's happened to Jackie's Jewels as a result? Jackie: I mentioned briefly before that I walked into this local shop and they liked me rings and asked if I could sell them to them. I was a bit of a beginner at this kind of stuff so I asked them for a high price in which they would not be able to really make a good profit on so they declined my offer. A friend of mine worked at this other higher level priced boutique and she showed them my rings. They instantly wanted to buy them and purchased eight to begin with. Those all sold in like a week or two! then they called asking for ten more and they have done well there ever since. At that point I did not have a website and I decided to get one because it would be fun to make a site and sell my jewelry. What do you hope to do with this shop? Jackie: I did not start my website with the intention of solely making money. I don't really care about that. I just love making things and it makes me happy when someone buys something. Just knowing someone out there is wearing a piece of mine makes me very excited!! So this is more of a hobby rather than a business. Sure if my business grows, I wouldn't mind that either. |
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