Etsy Interview with Cherry Tree Metals

I've moved quite a bit, from the Mediterranean to the Midwest and elsewhere, and right now I live in my native country of Cyprus, a little island in the Eastern Mediterranean. I grew up here in the mountains and in my grandparents' orchards, and village life suits me pretty well. I studied in Kansas and in North Carolina and became a speech pathologist while developing my practice of making jewelry. I met my husband in the USA, and our daughter is 1-1/2 now and growing up speaking both Greek and English. In the fall, we'll be moving again, to London, but Cherry Tree Metals will still be on Etsy as always.

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

Long before I had a site on Etsy, I began working with semi-precious stones and pearls, and showed my work in arts and crafts shows in North Carolina. Then, I was lucky to meet an excellent metalsmithing teacher in the Raleigh-Durham area named Bud Rudesill. With Bud, I learned traditional metalsmithing techniques from around the world, with a particular focus on pre-modern techniques using minimal technology. From there, my creative process blossomed into what it is now. In my local shows, I still use quite a few semi-precious stones, but because I use quite unique cuts and organic shapes and sizes, those pieces are one-offs that usually don't make it to my Etsy site.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

I found Etsy through fellow craftspeople Minnette Vaccariello and Raymond Morin, who run Ray-Min Shoulderware. They had an Etsy shop at that time, and recommended that I take a look. That's how Cherry Tree Metals came to Etsy!

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

The community at Etsy is really wonderful, as good as any local, physical community of crafters. And Etsy has helped me meet other local artists too! So it's really the best of both worlds. The quality of the shops on Etsy is really remarkable, and the level of professionalism and support across the website is fantastic. I've improved as an artist and as a businessperson because of Etsy.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

I find a great deal of inspiration in nature, and particularly in the mountains, fields, and orchards of Cyprus. But I like to give the natural world a bit of a geometric turn, which I think is apparent on the Cherry Tree Metals site, in pieces like Blossoms on a Branch and the Delicate Blossoms Earrings. I also like surprises, and I've incorporated hardware such as bicycle chain, zinc nuts and bolts, polished grapevine from my village, and leather scraps in pieces in the past, all of which have a wonderful effect alongside pearls and semi-precious stones. Finally, my husband is a great inspiration as well. He's helped with individual pieces in the past, but even when he doesn't lend a hand in the workshop, he contributes his design ideas and his balanced taste.

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

My favorite piece is the Blossoms on a Branch necklace. I love its delicate minimalism, its geometry, and its natural reference. It really captures my design aesthetic.

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

I love meeting other craftspeople, meeting craft lovers, and being a part of the Etsy community. I encourage everyone to check out the links on Cherry Tree Metals to my favorite pieces by other Etsy artists. I maintain those links quite carefully, and I'm happy to introduce people to some of the great work on Etsy. I also love reaching a wider audience with my pieces, and Etsy helps me do that.

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

On one hand, moving from country to another puts a strain on workshop time. On the other hand, new environments bring new inspiration. So, with my upcoming move I hope to expand my workshop and thus expand the techniques I use and the types of pieces I present. I'm also looking forward to the inspiration of the city of London, and working to balance the natural elements in my pieces with a new urban aesthetic. Those new developments should appear on Cherry Tree Metals in time for the winter holidays. And, I've been working for some time on including more of my one-off art show pieces on the Cherry Tree Metals site. That will mean a bit more color and some surprises in terms of materials.

Where can readers find out about more information regarding your jewelry and other creations and possible special offers?

I put most of my energy into Cherry Tree Metals on Etsy and into my workshop, so I don't maintain other websites or blogs. I've been featured in Greek language periodicals in Cyprus (Madame Figaro, Arteri, Politis), so all of the Philhellenes out there should be able to find those online!