Featured Artist - Roxy

This week's indie artist is Roxy. She makes really nice jewelry. Read more about her ...



1. Tell me something about yourself.
I am a 55 year mom of 5, 3 girls and 2 boys, and grandma to 5, 1 girl and 4 boys. I have a "day job" as a customer service, internet, agent at a higher end women's clothing retailer. I am trying to establish my presence as a jewelry artisan online and I hope to eventually make a living making and selling handmade jewelry so I can work from home and maybe only part time at my "day job" only because I like to do what I do there and because right now, my coworkers are my best customers.

2. What are your sources of inspiration?
My sources of inspiration are mostly from customers placing orders with me. Another source is online on websites I will see some component and think ooohh, I have that and I can do this or that with that bead or component, and when I decide what color I want use I will go look at all the beads that I have in that color and start running my hands through the beads and a picture will pop into my head. I also have quite a few books that I look through.
I consider myself a hardcore jewelry artist because I even dream about beads and jewelry. Lol. I also love to make pendants and beads from polymer clay. I have been dabbling in the poly clay and now I have stepped up my involvement so I can have more unique jewelry so I can have a bigger presence online.



3. Where and when did you learn your craft? Who taught you?
I started making jewelry about 3-4 years ago when I was still only dabbling in poly clay and I would see something on tv about poly clay and jewelry. Where I work we sell fashion jewelry as well and I got started selling my trinkets at work because I saw a bracelet that we sell and I said to a coworker that I could make that bracelet. She said you should and sell it. I made one and it sold and I got lots of orders for those and the rest, they say is history. I am a self taught jewelry artist.

4. Aside from your craft, what else do you enjoy doing?
Other than making jewelry, I like to garden my flower beds, read, surf the web, hang out with my granddaughter. She is 6 and loves to watch me make my pretties.




5. What piece of advise can you give to other artists?

I think, so far, the best piece of advice that I can give other artists is take the best pictures of your items, one for online pictures and also so you can keep a picture diary of your work. Also have an edge over other artists, for example, I love my poly clay and I also want to learn more about chainmaille.

Persistance and practice!! I have only sold one item from my shops but I keep listing items and wait patiently. One day I will sell some more.

Last but not least, don't join so many sites to promote your items than you cannot be able to make the items because you are trying to maintain your pages. It will consume you and you will run out of time to make anything.

ooopps! I'm think I'm guilty with Roxy's last advice and I admire her patience and dedication. Go Roxy!


Check out Roxy's shop at Artfire and Made It Myself.