Etsy Interview with Camla

My name is Ame and I am the founder and jewelry designer of CAMLA, based in the Boston area. I've had a lifelong fascination with fashion, art, and nature and come from a diverse cultural background, all of which have cultivated my passion for jewelry design. My professional background is broad based as well. I have a degree in advertising/public relations and fine arts and a Masters in business; and also studied fashion and jewelry design. I worked in the apparel industry and with various multi-national corporations as a marketing professional for several years, spawning a multifaceted career that helped me develop diverse skills to venture into my true passion, which is jewelry design.

How and when did you start making jewelry and your other items?

Ever since I can remember, I've always loved making things, be it a drawing, a garment, a card or something for the home, anything crafty. I find it highly rewarding to create something and seeing the end result. Being a fashion conscious person, jewelry has always been my favorite accessory. Needless to say, my jewelry box has been building up like a pirate's treasure chest. About 4 years ago, I started taking some jewelry-making classes and instantly fell in love with the craft. So far, I have created close to 300 jewelry designs and been hard at work uploading them onto my online store CAMLA.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

In November 2008, I was searching for a one-of-a-kind, beautiful outfit for my child's birthday. I spent a lot of time going to the stores and malls, but couldn't find anything that was special. So I started searching online and came across the cutest, most unique outfit. The online store that carried it happened to be an Etsy seller, but at the time I had no idea what Etsy was and how it worked. I followed the easy steps to open an account, contacted the seller and immediately after made my first Etsy purchase. I received the outfit and couldn't be happier. My first buying experience with Etsy was beyond expectations. This was one of the many incentives that motivated me to take the leap and set up my CAMLA store on Etsy.

What is unique about Etsy and what about the website do you like the most in regards to your shop?

Etsy is unique in that it allows buyers and sellers to fulfill their individual needs and wants in a hassle-free, global online marketplace. As a buyer, I can shop on Etsy with confidence, knowing that I will get the personalized service and unique products directly from the artisan that I cannot get anywhere else. As a seller, it gives me the opportunity to brand my jewelry designs and reach a worldwide market in a cost-effective, direct way. What I like the most about having CAMLA on Etsy is its user-friendly, showcase feature, which enables my business to be exposed to a broad audience in all parts of the world, from buyers to bloggers and retailers.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

I find inspiration from nature and art, in particular from flowers and leaves. Everything about them is so beautiful, their shape, texture and colors. But as flowers wither and leaves fade, I immortalize them through my jewelry creations. The result is a distinctive collection that blends contrasting styles: modern with vintage and timeless with elegant chic for every occasion. At CAMLA, we create exceptionally handcrafted jewelry using the finest quality materials, such as precious and semiprecious gemstones, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver, gold-filled and gold vermeil precious metals.

What is your favorite piece you've created and why?

Since I love flowers so much, it would have to be a creation with one of my favorite blossoms: The Magnolia Lariat Necklace. The magnolia flower is stunning and symbolizes splendid beauty, sweetness and a love for nature, all of which are embodied in CAMLA's Magnolia Lariat necklace design. I created this necklace with a sterling silver magnolia flower pendant that resembles its natural, vibrant appearance, with leathery texture, lush shapely petals and a stamen in the center of the flower. The magnolia flower and a sterling silver twisted ring, embellished with a lustrous natural white keshi pearl to match the flower's pure white color, dangle from either end of a sterling silver rolo chain. This necklace is also versatile; it can be fastened around the neck by either passing the magnolia through the ring or by tying a loose knot in the chain. What's most unique about this design is that it strikes a beautiful balance between simplicity and femininity with a modern aesthetic.

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

My goal is to continue to build CAMLA's brand by impressing customers with personalized, superior customer service, a broad selection of high quality, distinctively beautiful jewelry designs and fast delivery. Every single customer's positive experience is key in accomplishing this goal. Thus Etsy's feedback feature is essential in enabling sellers to build their credibility with buyers and vice versa.

Do you have any new creations in the works? If so, what can shoppers expect to see from you soon?

Yes, I am constantly creating new jewelry designs. My collection has grown to nearly 300 pieces of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. I will be unveiling a complete bridal collection in the next few months, based on recent custom bridalwork. For shoppers in the Massachusetts and New England region, you can visit CAMLA personally at any of our participating craft fairs throughout the year. For online shoppers, my goal is to have the new designs uploaded onto CAMLA's site on a weekly basis. To keep up to date with CAMLA's new jewelry designs, you can set up the feature on the site called "subscribe to shop feed."

Where can readers find out about more information regarding your jewelry and other creations and possible special offers (including additional websites, blogs, facebook, etc)?

Readers can find out more information about CAMLA's jewelry designs either in person by visiting any of our participating craft fairs in the Massachusetts and New England region or online at CAMLA.

In addition, you can find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Camla- Jewelry/298698649679 or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/camlajewelry to get the latest on CAMLA's new designs, sales, exclusive offers, giveaways and craft fairs calendar. You can also contact me directly either through CAMLA's Etsy store or at info@camlajewelry.com if you have any questions/comments or are interested in a custom design.

I enjoy the interaction with customers and learning about their needs and preferences and hearing their feedback. I love making custom designs for weddings or special events as well as any other customizations or adjustments needed. If you have a specific design in mind, need a matching set, adjust length, add/change motif, color, size or shape of the stone, etc. Just ask! For orders of 5 or more, you get a 10% discount