Etsy Interview with Laughing Moon Creations

My name is Shannon from Laughing Moon Creations and I am a self taught jewelry artist from Kenora, Ontario Canada. I live on the beautiful shores of Lake of the Woods. I have always been an artist in one form or another. It all started for me pretty much at birth. It was very natural for me to make things. I was always painting, writing music, dancing, acting, figure skating and just being crafty. I thought everyone in life did these things. When my mother would ask me what I wanted to be in life, for as long as I can remember, I would say an artist or an Olympic figure skater.

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

I started making jewelry around 8 years ago. It was just for fun. Really I live to create. I would see something and think "wow that would be great as a pair of earrings". It wasn't until the birth of my daughter that I started to take it seriously. I needed a creative outlet. Something that I could do when my daughter was sleeping and would satisfy my creative side.

At first I would just make jewelry for myself. I would wear my creations and someone would see it and say they loved it. I would just give it to them. It kept happening all the time. Finally someone asked me what I charged and could I make her wedding jewelry. I was very surprised and started to think about it as a little side business. I came up with the name Laughing Moon Creations and the rest is history.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

In 2007 was when I first found etsy. I was looking to see what a web site for myself would cost and what would be involved. I typed in art search and up popped etsy.

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

Etsy to me feels like a family of artists. Not just a group of people selling things. I think in this day and age with computers and people not having to interact with anyone, etsy has not lost that personal feeling. With regards to my shop I can go on anytime and get anything I need. Whether it be a critique about my shop or advice on how to make a special knot or supplies. I love reading the articles. They are helpful and interesting to me. I feel that etsy as a whole collective wants everyone to succeed my shop included. I have made so many great friends on etsy.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

Life. Everything in life. My friends, family, quotes, colours you name it. Sounds kinda of silly but really does happen for me that way. For example my newest necklace is titled Holly. She is a friend and fellow artist here on etsy. We meet for lunch every second week with another friend. It's like a sacred meeting where we can talk about everything and anything. I went home after one of our lunches and created this special piece. A single beautiful bead surrounded by sterling silver columns. The bead represents our friendship. The columns stand for loyalty, strength and safety that anything said stays in the safety of our circle. See, things like that inspire me.

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

I have three that are my favorites. But here is the story about one of them.

It is a necklace titled "Marg" It was a piece I created for an exhibit at a museum. It was an exhibit on The War Brides. Brides that married Canadian soldiers in World War Two in Europe and came back to Canada to live. Most of them only married weeks and never meeting their husbands family. I had to submit an artwork to be juried in. I was the only jewelry artist accepted. They paired us with a war bride and we had to depict their story in our creations. It was amazing. I went to interview my bride with premiss it was going to be a sad tale of war and leaving her homeland , etc. But really it was an love story. They have been married 65 years and she told me their story like it was yesterday. They are so in love. She had never told anyone their unique story but she put her trust in me. The only people who know it are her husband, myself and she. The sad truth of it though is her husband has alzheimer's disease and doesn't remember any of it. The story touched me so much I cried all the way home! It was one of my proudest creations. Especially since my bride said I got it exactly right. The necklace was created out of vintage brass. I used emerald and crystal glass beads in the same cut stones as her wedding rings. The white carbon resin flower is a rose that represents her home town. The ruby stone the baby she had carried with her who was born in July. The small brass key represents their secrets that only she carries and remembers because her husband can not.

What do you want to accomplish with your on line shop?

I think for me it is an avenue for me to show my wares. I would like my shop to stand out in a market where there is so much talent . I recognize certain artists pieces on the front page before I see if they made them or not. I hope to attain this status someday. But mostly would love people from all over the world to wear my creations.

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

I am always making something new. I try to make everything one of a kind so it is hard for me to say. I adore working on my wirework necklaces. They are always different and never the same. I will keep trying to come up with fresh new styles that are always changing.

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

Mostly I use my shop on Etsy to advertise. I post sales and promotions in my shop announcement.

I promote on facebook
Nancy's on the Lake boutique in Kenora, Ontario carries my creations.
I also belong to an artist group called LOWAC (Lake of the Woods Art Collective) we have a web site that informs people of up coming show and events.