Etsy Interview with TBearyMagoo

I live in Virginia with my husband, children, and dogs. In addition to running tBearyMagoo, I am a high school math teacher. I love both of my careers. Each one brings an entirely different set of experiences and rewards. I love to travel during school vacations. It is great to be able to find inspirational ideas from all over the world. Nothing is more fun than looking at a bead and thinking about the wonderful memories of where it came from.

How and when did you start making jewelry?

About 10 years ago my daughter became very involved in competitive figure skating. I began making her competition dresses which required a great deal of hand beading. Shopping around for seed beads and crystals opened up a beautiful marketplace filled with so many colorful stones and beads. I wanted to buy them all but I could not use any for the dresses. I bought some anyway and decided to try my hand at making a necklace. A new passion was born!

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

A little less than a year ago a good friend of mine was hosting a tBearyMagoo party at her home when a potential customer mentioned Etsy. She said that tBearyMagoo merchandise would be a perfect fit. Her sister had sold jewelry on Etsy for a few years and loved it. I thought that I would wait until summer vacation and then take the time to try it out. If I had know how easy it was going to be I would have registered that night. tBearyMagoo has only been involved with Etsy for a few weeks now but I already love it!

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

I love the way Etsy allows tBearyMagoo to reach such a large audience of new friends and potential customers. Everyone is so nice and supportive. The set-up was remarkably easy and the entire process works very well. I am looking forward to my first showcase (Aug 11). These are such a fair and affordable way to get your product noticed. Most of all I want everything about tBearyMagoo to be fun; from the creating, to the selling, to the wearing. There is no point in doing this if it isn't enjoyable. Over the past few weeks I have chatted with some great new friends and have been inspired by beautiful handmade creations. I am having fun!

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

One of my best inspirations is walking down a street in town or popping into a local restaurant and seeing a stranger wearing a piece of tBearyMagoo jewelry. I want to run right home and start working on another piece. I also get inspired by other creative individuals. Talking with other artists (both those who create and those who appreciate) usually results in wonderful conversation with lots of enlightening dialog. Everybody sees things so differently and it is such fun to share ideas.

What is your favorite piece and why?

My favorite piece of jewelry is a bracelet that I made from a little pearl infant bracelet that my daughter received from her grandfather when she was born. It was very simple; just tiny freshwater pearls strung on a piece of elastic. She wore it a few times and then it was put away with other baby memories. I came upon it a few years ago when I was moving some boxes in my basement and it was like a found treasure. Her grandfather (my dad) had passed away several years ago so this was special. I took it apart and made a new bracelet in his memory. I wear it all the time. Now I know that this technically belongs to my daughter (she reminds me quite often) and she will get it one day, but for now it is my little link to the past.

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

For starters, I hope to sell some jewelry. Other than that, I am looking forward to making lots of new friends, being inspired, hopefully inspiring others, and being afforded the opportunity for tBearyMagoo to have a larger, broader audience.

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

I have lots of ideas and pieces in the works. I just got back from a NY City buying trip and I have tons of beads, stones, and findings calling out to me. I seem to be using more metal (both in chain and findings) in my pieces lately. I also have been interested in some of the large, organic stones that are available. Because so many people and things inspire me, the pieces from tBearyMagoo are always different.