Tell us about yourself…bio 150-200 words
Hi, my name is Carrie.
I was born in Utah, grew up in Albany, NY, spent 10 years in Toronto, Canada and now live in a small Midwest town, Columbus, Indiana. I am married to a wonderful man, Russell and have two great children, Zac, 15 and Hannah 12, two dogs, and 4 fish. I am the Director of Outreach and Care at a Lutheran Church three days a week and spend as much time as I can find (not easy with my busy household) creating jewelry. We are an artistic clan. Everyone creates things so we do crafts fairs, art shows and have online shops as family.
Tell us about your shop(s).
We currently have two shops on iCraft. Time and Sand is my jewelry shop. I am a wrapper that can’t rap. I work with sterling silver and gold wire, glass beads, and gemstones to create woven, wrapped pieces. Zac’s Zoaps is our other store, which are soaps made by my son and daughter. Zac has made homemade, natural soaps for three years. Since he is now in high school and does marching band, his younger sister, Hannah has taken over the soap business.
How did you get started?
I have made jewelry since I first learned to string macaroni to make necklaces for my mother at age 4.
For a long time, jewelry was something that I did in my "spare" time, I made gifts and often made jewelry to go with my outfit, but didn't consider myself artistic. In Toronto in 1989 I met Russell Davies, a very talented photographer, we became good friends, one thing lead to another and we married in 1991. Russell challenged me to look at my jewelry making in a different light and encourage me to stretch and grow as an artist. Over the past 18 years, we have had two children, moved to Indiana and through all the ups and downs he has encouraged me. In 2003 I became quite ill, and had surgery, I was bed-ridden for six weeks. Russell bought me some wire, beads and a wire wrapping book. Time and Sand Jewelry was born!
What is your favorite item in you shop (attach link please)
Is my “Of Sun and Air” pendant. This was a new technique for me when I made it and it was challenging and fun at the same time. It has over 18 feet of sterling silver wire and I got to hide things in amongst it, flowers, leaves and Swarovski crystals are all tucked in amongst the tendrils of sterling silver twist and swirls.
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What’s your favourite Halloween costume that you have ever made.
Until recently (my children have outgrown the delight of homemade costumes) I have made their costumes. My daughter’s first costume was a daffodil. I made it out of yellow and green flannel, her little one-year-old face was surrounded by lovely yellow petals, it was my favorite project ever!
Whats you most memorable sale.
Honestly its hard to pick, I have two sales that were very memorable. The first was, my first sale. I was in line at Wal-Mart, when the woman behind me saw my bracelet and asked where I got it. I told her I made it and that I could make one for her. She was from out of town and asked if she could buy the one I was wearing, so I sold my first piece in the Wal-Mart express line!
My second memorable sale was this June. A bead shop owner I know recommended me to a bride who was looking for something unique for her bridesmaids and flower girls (her sisters and their daughters). She had lost her mom and wanted dragonflies and they were her mom’s favorite. I made seven dragonfly pendants in total. Having just lost my mom last year, this was a sale that was very special to me, and Patti (the bride) cried tears of joy when she saw them for the first time.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Ooo, tough question? Everywhere! I like very organic things, the curve of a tree or the softness of a smile. Many things inspire me, people inspire me, and sometimes the wire just speaks and if I listen very carefully, we work in harmony, that is my best inspiration.
Tell us about a favorite designer.
Lisa Barth, a wire jewelry artist and a certified metal clay instructor from Atlanta, Georgia. She teaches wire artistry and metal clay and shares her passion for this art in her wonderful tutorials. Her work is amazing, she is very open to teaching and supporting other artists and I hope someday to me her.
What's your favorite color.
Purple and blue hues are my favorite. I am drawn to their beauty and love to put them together.
What's your favorite room at home? Why is it your favorite?
My first response would be my studio, it is my sanctuary and I love it in here, but actually my favorite place would be in the living room. I love to sit back and watch my family, watching a show, playing Guitar Hero, munching on popcorn, just hanging out together, laughing and having a good time.
Do you have a (your product) tip you'd like to share with readers?
If you are a wire wrapper buy a rock tumbler from Harbor Freight,
www.harborfreight.com and some polishing shot, it is worth every penny and your pieces will look so much better. It took me 3 years to learn this one.
What are your (upto 5) favorite blogs or website? (outside yours or icraft)?
http://www.jewelrylessons.com/ (by Eni Oken and friends) a great site for jewelry making tutorials, to ask questions, see other’s work and get feedback on your own.
http://www.amymusings.com/ by Amy Kehoe She writes about life according to Amy. Part humor. Part imagining a perfect world. Part self-deprecation. Mostly real. She makes me laugh and I can always use a good laugh.
http://indianaetsy.blogspot.com/ I belong to the Indiana Etsy Team, InCrowd and this is their blog, I have learned a lot from these artists.
What are your (upto 5) favorite magazine(s), and or book(s).
Fire Mountain and Rio Grande Catalogs
Step-by-Step Wire (magazine)
The Artist’s Marketing & Action Plan Workbook by Jonathan Talbot
Tuesdays with Morrie (book)
What do you do to relax and unwind?
I hide in my studio and create!
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