Etsy Interview with Village Boutique

I am the spoon addicted, bracelet creator of VillageBoutique. I do love spoons but my 'kids' are my world, Jayme is an 88lb. Newfoundland/Lab and Punkin - well, he is a stray cat about 4-5 yrs old of no special variety but he certainly is special! Both were abused and do have special needs which I don't mind at all as they are two of the most precious, loving animals I've every had the pleasure of raising. I've had Fibromyalgia since 1993 and it can be quite difficult at times, I couldn't manage it without Jayme and Punkin - they are the greatest comfort when I most need it.

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

I've been creating since I was about 6 years old hanging out with and helping Grandpa. He taught me woodworking, how to work with metals and how to properly use all the tools. It was extremely important that your work was quality and made to last as well as taking pride in what you make. As the years have passed, I still had a need to create but also needed to work on a smaller scale as opposed to working with large pieces of lumber. That's when my addiction to antique and vintage silverware began and VillageBoutique was created! I'm very passionate about making bracelets, every piece has a story behind it and belonged to someone that truly cherished it. Silverware was not affordable to everyone and many people didn't have full sets for that reason.

I was fortunate enough to not only have my Grandparents in my life until my late 30's but I also had my Great-Grandparents in my life until I was 26 - I spent my summers on the farm and moved in after high school - they were living history books and I loved being with them. I learned a great deal from them and I know just how valuable each and every item was to people in the early 1900's. Oh the stories my Great-Grandparents told me! I loved hearing them, life was so different! The changes they saw - cars were finally available for the wealthy to buy, electricity was being put in homes (for those that weren't still afraid of it!), the invention of the television and indoor plumbing - which they didn't take to right away but eventually had the spring well hooked up to the farmhouse. And I picture all these spoons being there as history was being made, at the dinner table when everyone is in excitement talking about listening to their new radio or watching the new gadget called a television after dinner (you didn't watch tv during dinner!) or talking about man going to the moon!

One of my patterns was around when Abraham Lincoln was president - now imagine if that spoon could talk!!

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

I found Etsy about 2 years ago when a friend recommended it to me and I realized it was the perfect place to share my creations with others. Because of the Fibromyalgia, life can be a bit challenging and it tends to keep me at home so Etsy is my connection with the outside world.

I am sometimes asked why the name VillageBoutique because it doesn't sound like a silverware jewelry name. Boutique implies beautiful, fancy, and specialty items and for Village - I live in a small town. Well, there is a local second hand store here that you can find beautiful, fancy, like new items at great prices and Mom loves to shop there - she calls it VillageBoutique and that is how the name came about because I offer beautiful, fancy and special items at great prices!

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

I find Etsy unique because of the incredible variety of artists, and the sellers will work with you to customize your special item so you can always find exactly what you're looking for. I really like the gallery view of my shop, the layout gives it a comfortable feel - not at all like a commercial website.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

The history of the spoons inspires me, and the ornate patterns will always amaze me, particularly the ones from the 1800's. An incredible amount of work was required just to design the pattern and they are so detailed - nothing like today's silverware.

They had no fancy machines to cut the metal or press the silverware, it was quite hard work to create these beautiful pieces.

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

My favorite piece is the Owl bracelet, Grandma collected birds and owls were her favorite. It is said that owls watch over you, when I wear my owl bracelet, I know Grandma is watching over me.

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

At the VillageBoutique, I would like for everyone to have one of my spoon bracelets so the spoons can go on 'living'. The spoons are pieces of art, so many styles that people don't even know they exist - many people put a lot of work into creating them and they had families that once loved them - now they need new homes so they can continue to be cherished for many, many years.

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

I am always hunting the rare and unique patterns so a wide variety is always available at the VillageBoutique. There is certainly a pattern to suit everyone!

Where can readers find out about more information regarding your jewelry and other creations and possible special offers?

I do have a blog with some fun facts about the years the spoons were around, it is a work in progress as the bracelets keep me quite busy but it's fun reading! Do you know that in 1891 we almost lost the Hershey Company!! Oh my, I'll bet if there was a television to broadcast that news - it would've been a sad, sad day to hear that.