Etsy Interview with StevieBDesigns

My name is Steven. I was raised in the mid-west, Michigan to be exact. I live in Los Angeles now, and have been in CA for over 20 years. I am 45 years old and the father of two wonderful Foster-Adopt boys. To pay the bills, for the past ten years, I have been selling promotional products and corporate gifts to companies all over the United States. My business partner Sharon and I sell most of our products online through our websites: www.gogreenpromos.org and www.promoguyonline.com. Two of my biggest passions are designing & creating jewelry and other accessories, and volunteering when I am needed. On my free time I spend a lot time uploading and promoting my new website: www.steviebdesigns.com or on Etsy.com under seller: StevieBDesigns.

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

It is hard to pinpoint when I actually started making jewelry. I can remember when I was no more than ten years old and I used to go to my Grandmother's home to stay the night. She worked in the jewelry business so she had boxes filled with costume jewelry for us to play with...I wish I still had it till this day, I could have had a lot of fun with it today. You see my Grandmother didn't drive so when my brother and I would go stay with her we had to get creative. She always new that I loved art and the world of creating so she nourished and natured it as much as she could. She would pull out the boxes filled with what I always thought was like hidden treasures and we, mostly me, would go to town on it. I would pull it apart, mix and match things, and even glue some pieces together. I had no idea as to what I was doing, or did I? I am convinced that my Grandmother knew, and that is why she encouraged me to do what I wanted, never trying to sway me into making it any other way than what I was doing. Then of course time went on and I started painting on clothes, then on furniture, until one day many years later (when I was in my 30's) a friend taught me how to bead necklaces and bracelets...from that point on I was "hooked"!

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

The same friend that got me "hooked" on making jewelry called me one day, about 6 months ago, and asked if I had seen a website that was called "Etsy". At the time I had not seen it, but all it took was one hour on there and I couldn't get off of it. I started purchasing things off it all the time. Until one day, many months later, I decided to give it a try and post my own store on there...If I was purchasing other peoples products, then why wouldn't people buy mine?

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

What I find most unique about Etsy is not only all the features on it for both the seller and buyer, but also the quality and the creativity of the merchandise on there. I find so many things on the site that I want to purchase both personally and for my jewelry business. In regards to my shop in particular, I would have to say it is the amount of features on there. I can upload so many different pictures, I can write a very lengthy description, and most of all that customers can purchase directly from the site without me having to do anything. Oh...and I love that people can make shops their "favorites". This feature is so great because I can easily go back to sellers I love, and it warms my heart to know that people make my shop their "favorite"! I have my own website which is www.steviebdesigns.com, but not nearly as many people go to my site. With StevieBDesigns on Etsy so many more people get to see my wonderful one-of-a-kind creations no matter where they are! It exposes me to more people than I could get on my own.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

So many things inspire me! What comes to mind the most is that designing and creating is like my own private therapy. For some people it is reading, some people it is traveling, for some people it is cooking and for too many people it is becoming very successful in business. When I am making pieces, especially when I have figured out some new technique all on my own I am elated and in a whole other world. I am totally a morning person, but sometimes I find myself designing a new piece, I get so into it and before you know it I look up at the clock and can't believe how late it is. In addition to this, I would have to say that there is a little piece of my Grandmother in every creation that I design because I think about her all the time when I am making each one. Lastly, I would have to say that traveling all over, seeing different places, styles, and cultures totally inspires me to create new designs. If there was one place in the world that I could go to, to be inspired beyond believe it would be Nepal...I find such awesome beads and things there that I can't resist.

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

It is hard to say because I love so many pieces that I have made. I especially love pieces that I sit down to create for someone in particular. Usually I know the person, and I sit down with all my beads and things and it just comes to me. I start putting beads together, and when I am on a roll there is no stopping me. It gives me so much pleasure to know that not only I made a specific piece with a lot of heart and soul in it, but also that the person wearing it loves it so much. My designs are not for everyone, I know that and embrace that. But the people that love my designs not only really love them, but they also come back for more! Recently I just picked up a new customer, she was a referral from someone I know. She told me that she loves her piece so much that she wears it every day. And, now her sister saw it, loves it as well and is looking to purchase a piece for herself. It is people like them, that make me so happy to do what I do! However, if I had to pick just one piece, it would have to be the piece I recently made which mixes old and new. I purchased this very old necklace in England on my last trip there. I almost didn't buy it but my cousin and my partner convinced me to just do it. I took it home and studied the piece over and over, and then did something crazy and mixed it with these new filigree beads that I purchased from one of my favorite stores on Etsy. The end result was, in my eyes, amazing and whenever anyone sees it in person it is the first one that they are drawn to, you can see it at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/48707959/bournemouth-beauty-necklace-of-vintage

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

With my online shop I have one main goal and that is to show my work to more people than I ever knew possible. I want to share my talent with the world!! As I said earlier, my creations are not for everyone. I look for the buyer that is like me, they want something different and when they see something they like there is a connection...it doesn't matter how much it is, they have to have it (within reason of course...lol). I have mostly sold to people within the United States, I am hoping that Etsy takes my creations worldwide! Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to know that my art has no barriers...I can do whatever I want and it can be worn and appreciated by people all over the world.

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

I have recently been getting into the whole "eco" movement more and more. I introduced in my line several years ago chandelier pieces that I am what they call "up-cycling"...reusing them for another purpose in order to not waste them and crowd up our landfills. From there I started taking old Chinese coins and incorporating them into my creations. Most recently I have working with, of all things, old bicycle inner tubes that would normally be thrown away and I have been making jewelry out of them! It is hard to believe that inner tubes made of rubber can be beautiful, but somehow I manage to accomplish this. They can see one of them at this link.

Not sure what is next on the list, I am open to ideas, and I am always on the lookout for new things. Anyone who likes what I do can always check back on my website or my store on Etsy.

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

As I stated before, I have a personal website, I am on Etsy, and soon to have a page on Facebook, a twitter account and yes a blog too...not sure where I will find the time for all of that but I will do my best to keep everyone who is a fan informed of my every move. If your readers want to purchase a piece from me, please have them mention your website for a discount off their first purchase with me...have them say "Rachel sent them"!