Etsy Interview with Violet Bella

I'm the creator of Violet Bella. I am a small town girl who has always stood out with my own independence. Being raised in the country has left alot up to my own imagination in the way I dress or see things. I feel this has given me strong roots to be just myself. I have loved creating and making art since I was a little girl and was always encouraged by my mother to do so. Last year I took a huge leap of faith into pursuing my art as a career and it has been the best move I have made. I wake up and create beautiful things everyday and I am able to give back to my loving husband and build our future together because of it.

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

I have made art since I can remember. I took as many art classes in high school as I was allowed, although I did not like to follow any rules. So it was not until my senior year that my art teacher finally let me just do my own thing, and then I produced an amazing drawing of my mother. It was the first time I ever found real confidence in the idea of being an artist. Although I could draw well, it was not my passion. I began getting into photography and using the darkroom. I fell in love. Although it wasnt until several years later when I switched to a digital SLR camera that I realized how creative I could be with photography. When I graduated high school I began working for my parents in the Broken China Jewelry business. The business was very successful and there was little time for me to focus on anything of my own for many years after that, although I continued painting and making things in my spare time. I did a few random art shows here and there with painting and mozaics. I was finding my path as an artist. Being a jewelers daughter, I think I naturally fell into the jewelry department. When I first started my jewelry, I focused on my photography pieces, where I would mix my photographs with jewelry.

Once I started dressing them up with beads and vintage patina pieces, I realized how much I loved making jewelry in general, so it just grew from there with each design that popped into my head. In 2008 I lost my mother to cancer. This event led to the end of my parents jewelry business, the end of my job, and a year of spiraling around in confusion and being a waitress. In March of 2009 I decided to take the leap into making my art a real career and I quit my waitressing job. I started with several local art shows until I discovered Etsy. It was a very slow start and questioned myself along the way everyday. It was a crazy several months before things started to really pick up, and then I began to get the feeling that this could really work. As far as the clothing in my shop, that began out of an old dream of me and my mothers, along with being broke and not being able to buy new clothes. I began revamping things out of my own closet, and realized how much I enjoyed it. My mother and I used to talk all the time about making clothes together, we just never found the time. She is the one who taught me how to sew though, so I feel like she is with me when I sew, and listen to Joni Mitchell.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

I actually found etsy a few years before I began selling on it. I tried helping my parents business out with selling online and stumbled across Etsy. I sold a few things, but found it slow and difficult. It wasnt until I began Violet Bella and began really focusing on my shop where I realized how cool Etsy really was. It is one of those sites where the more you put into it, the more you get out. You do have to be highly active on it with your listings and such. And also do alot of outside promoting.

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

I love how simple Etsy is, and that each artist has their own little store front. It is easy to navigate, and super easy to upload your items. Since I do sell an array of things, I love that you can have different categories in your shop for people to find things easier. And that you can search specific key words within a shop. Making and being featured in treasuries is so fun and amazing. Etsy has really put together a beautiful and user friendly site.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

I am inspired by so many things. Nature, colors, textures, music, feelings and emotions. It depends on what I am working on. Usually my photography is based off of emotions or concepts. My jewelry is inspired simply by beauty, vintage, rustic and nature. I loved birds, butterflies, leaves, all things woodland and natural. And I also love the color and age of patina verdigris. I like to bring all of these elements into a beautiful design to be worn. My clothing in inspired mostly by being unique and true to yourself. Each piece is one of a kind and will not speak to everyone. And I dont ever want it to. Each article of clothing is created as I feel it, and one day it will end up in the hands of the 'right' person.

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

Oh gosh, this is a hard one. I have a few all time favorites in each category. As far as clothing goes, I think I have to say my first dress I handstitched together because of the nostalgia of it, and the fact that it sat in my shop forever until the right girl came along, and I was completely overjoyed when it sold. I was honored that someone would want to wear something I have made myself. It is so much different than selling a piece of jewelry or a photograph. Being a girl, I know we can be very picky with what goes on our body, so when someone chooses my work, it is just a really good feeling.

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

My biggest goal with my online shop is to be able to keep my family happy and fed from it. Its almost the time in my life to have a child, so I want to be able to stay at home and have my business work from the my living room and my computer. I never want to grown so big that I cant handle it or become stressed. I watched my mother do that, and that is not what I want.

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

New creations are always in the works! If not actually being made, they are in my head. There will be a whole new line coming to Violet Bella soon, but it is a surprise. It is something totally different, and has nothing to do with jewelry, clothes or photography!

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

I blog on a pretty regular basis. I include lots of fun photos of my daily life and family as well as new things in both shops. You can find my blog at www.violetbellasworld.blogspot.com. I also post all of my newly listed items to facebook and twitter. I do ask anyone who adds me to facebook to send me a note of where you found me, otherwise I may not add you. It is not a fanpage, just a normal facebook page.

I have two etsy shops. One for my jewelry, clothing and accessories, www.violetbella.etsy.com. And one for my photography and photo jewelry, www.violetbellaphoto.etsy.com. You can also browse all of my items on www.violetbella.com. It is a temporary website that holds all of my collections until I can create my own.