Etsy Interview with Streetnoodles

I had always been a bit of a "loner"...I knew I wasn't like most kids while growing up; a little too trusting, a little too creative in my own little world. Strangely I never felt close ties to my family, except my mother whose ties were complicated at best... like untold stories between best of friends (survivors)...drawing us together, yet unable to touch.

After high school something snapped inside of me...it was like I couldn't be held back anymore. My art became more prevalent , more vital to me, the need to find my "freedom" if only geographically at first with moving away to college.

I got involved with the local art & became somewhat "known", a big fish in a very small pond. I wanted to test the waters and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to be a "famous artist" J ...as I tell my friends, I came to San Francisco to be a famous artist BUT the job was filled.

I still tried to show where and when I could, got into a couple of galleries & art magazines, BUT didn't have what it took. In the process of life I made friends, had a great creative job, and was happy till a freak virus left me bedridden for 3 years & chronically ill till now... BUT with the love of my husband who I affectionately call "my boy toy" (he's 4 years younger) and my art, I consider myself very lucky...to finally see what's important (to me).

When we married, we wanted to quit the nomadic apartment life for a house bigger than a shoebox...which meant being creative & flexible with our choices...so we took the plunge and bought my parent's old house...filled with dust & empty boxes of every appliance my parents ever bought since 1970 (when the house was built) ...and also "ghosts", familiar ones...sounds of my mother's footsteps walking down the hall ...floor boards releasing the sounds, finally to an audience who would know them.

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

My mom was a "Depression" kid...art for her would have been a waste of air. ..yet it was her who taught me my first creative skill...sewing. I think I was 6 or 7 when I got my first "Barbie"...making head to toe outfits for my growing collection. As I look back on it all I can only imagine what my mom thought seeing that all my "Barbies" looked like high-class hookers or transvestites.

And though I was touted as one of the best artistic children in my school, due to an unfortunate opinion of my 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Cornwalsh, who told me I would never be an artist...I stopped doing art till my college GE requirements forced me to take an art class...I was HOOKED again...wound up getting my Masters in Design.

Years later when I got sick (mid 90's) I dusted off an old computer and started to investigate this new thing..."online selling"...even to this day I'm such a novice...I started a website that no one came too...was a dismal failure because I couldn't get the "shopping cart" to work. I finally discovered Etsy ...OMG! A place where the shopping cart worked!!!! My first real task was to rename my business to match the new beginning I had at Etsy....my brand new shop was called "streetnoodles"...why you may ask? All those years trying to reach my dreams of being an artist...there were only two "constants" in my life that literally gave me sustenance...my art & "top ramien" noodles, packed away in every flavor possible in my cubbie...what can I say "starving artist" isn't just a cliché.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

After I found out about the handmade revolution & the wonderful promotion and support online for such endeavors, I just searched online for anything & everything "handmade"...Etsy seem to come up often...and was a practical venue I could see myself using & learning from.

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

I won't lie, Etsy isn't perfect BUT I think it truly strives to help it's members not only sell their wares, BUT to be professional, take great pics, develop an online savy about their business.

They have the best forum around with a community of the most helpful participants who aren't afraid to help the "next person in line".

At each stage of online business...there is an endless resource whether you are a "newbie" or on the verge of going national

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

Back when I was in grade school, they had this pen pal program where they partnered up school children from one country to another...the thrill of finding a global community just talking about everyday things has always fascinated me....so silly as it is, I still get a kick out of selling my jewelry to customers who are in Texas, New York, Russia, England.

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

My favorite is a piece that was never shown in my shop...it was a custom order from a sweet Swedish woman who was getting married and wanted a "fantasy wedding necklace"...All she said to start the creative juices running was that she was going to be married in the winter...the necklace was to reflect what the Snow Queen in Nardia might wear with the addition of one of my "bird series" images.
I was so inspired I tried a technique I wasn't use to...it took forever to make & my hands were swollen & stiff for weeks after, BUT I was so proud of the outcome.

You can see the slide video I made to document the piece in my blog, under the video heading:
http://nineandahalfdesign.blogspot.com

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

I'm rather ancient in this modern world, so I'm past the ambious phase of wanting to be the next best thing since sliced bread..BUT I would like to build up my business so I'm constantly creative & relevant. Have constant new & old customers dropping by...still getting that thrill of day-dreaming where my jewelry will be shown...in Paris, Italy, Sweden, Portland, Washington, London..everywhere in-between.

Lately, Ive been investigating the possibility of selling to wholesalers...not a lot, just a few to keep me busy. Most of my work is ooak or limited stock items, so I'm not sure if that is a possibility.

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

I've made some new creations based on an old on-going "Bird Series" which is a series dedicated to my Dad. You can see a recent slide video of some of the pieces in my blog or visit streetnoodles on etsy.
What I like about the series are the Darwian-like changes that happen when I find myself influenced by things I see today...yet the "core & heart" of it is still my personal story with my father.

My Dad & I had a strange and distant relationship based mainly on non-communication, BUT late in our relationship we both wanted to share things, but didn't know how...so I found a Buddhist priest in my neighborhood who translated letters for us. What emerged were wonderful stories of my Dad as a young boy then a young man traveling to America avoiding the choice of imprisonment for being a student protestor, or being drafted into the Imperial army....his friendship with a young thug, former "Yakuza", with a couple of fingers missing...and his eventual placement in the internment camps where he met my mother.

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

Everyone has their favorite sites for whatever reason:

For just shopping, seeing everything I have at once, my Etsy shop is the best: http://www.etsy.com/shop/streetnoodles

For everything personal & inspirational & a little self-promotion (blog):
http://nineandahalfdesign.blogspot.com

I'm on Facebook, but always feel sort of lost there:
http://www.facebook.com/streetnoodles

Do my announcements on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/streetnoodles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/streetnoodles

http://www.ellenikemotodesign.com