Etsy Interview with Kinkade Kollection

I grew up in Springfield, IL. The division line between Cardinals fans and Cubs fans. I chose wisely, the Cards! I went to St. Louis for undergraduate and am now facing my last year of law school there.

As a side note, I'm also a bit of a sports fan. Besides my love for the Cardinals, I also love football! I will always be a Rams fan, even though it has been difficult the last few years, but I also love the Steelers. You can see 2 pairs of earrings I have made are titled after those teams at my Etsy shop.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

January 1, 2010 I got married to the man of my dreams! But the months prior, I was a bride looking for unique and gorgeous wedding items. I found Etsy. After running across SO many talented shops, I soon began to realize that there were more gorgeous things on Etsy than I could afford as a student.

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

Etsy had unlocked in me a passion for creative, unique jewelry and I saw a need for more reasonably priced items. I thought, "I can do this, I can make jewelry!" It was a good excuse to avoid studying, so I began trying my hand at jewelry making. My mother and mother-in-law were very supportive, buying up all my items as soon as I made them. After each purchase, I would reinvest the money back into new beads and stones. I couldn't help myself. I would find new stones online, in hobby stores, or in vintage shops and get a great idea how to use it. Pretty soon, my jewelry making was taking over our tiny apartment!

My husband is a graphic designer who is currently doing freelance work as he looks for a full-time job. He had created our wedding invitation and we had received SO many compliments from them, so we decided to open up KinkadeKollection to show his graphic designs and my jewelry.

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

Etsy is unique because it has everything. The odd, the gorgeous, the fun, the old, the new, the young... It is a place to get inspirations and to inspire others. I like going to my shop and seeing what I have made and how my ideas have matured and realized.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was a child, but law school isn't the place to spur on those passions. It is a necessary step, as so many things in life are. There are times that law school can attack your confidence and creativity. Making jewelry is my outlet. No matter how boring or unimportant the day at my intership or classes are, I can come home and release my stress by creation. Some people sow or crotchet, I make jewelry. There is a special feeling when you complete a set and you sit back and say, "now that's beautiful."

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

I have come up with a signature piece. The design is a choker-like necklace with faceted colored glass beads and an asymmetrical wire wrapped ball. They come with adorable with faceted round glass earrings to match! You can see it many different colors at my KinkadeKollection Etsy shop under The Jaclyn, The Mixed Berry, The Ice Queen, The Kiss, The Green with Envy... Can you also tell that I love naming my pieces? I even have a section in the shop where you get a discount if you name the reference that inspired the name of the piece! http://www.etsy.com/shop/KinkadeKollection?section_id=6990356

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

I wish there was a better way to advertise my shop. At this point, I want more people to be able to see what I have made. I have started throwing jewelry parties with friends and family. It is so supportive because when they see what all I have made, they are truly impressed. The compliments as well as the purchases have really enabled me and encouraged me to continue making new items, even though I haven't received a lot of notice on Etsy. But I'm not a great saleswoman. I prefer to let my jewelry speak for itself, so I love the idea of people all over the world viewing your items and being able to purchase them. I can't wait for more visibility with my shop and perhaps a way that it can be searched on google!

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

I have recently posted a bunch of new items on the shop (KinkadeKollection), and a lot of sale items. Next for me, I have some gorgeous natural stones, perfect for the fall, that I'll be making into lovely jewelry soon! You'll be seeing a lot of new looks for the upcoming season.

For the St. Louis area readers, I am also working up a plan for others to host jewelry parties, where the host gets 10% of the profits in free jewelry! The parties also have huge discounts from Etsy. I can also do children or adult "create your own" jewelry parties!

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

You can visit my shop at KinkadeKollection. I update my shop announcements with specials and sale but if you really want the best deals, become my friend on facebook! I post ridiculously great daily deals and weekly specials! Also, feel free to message me about discounts on multiple item purchases!