Necklace GIVEAWAY and Artist Interview

Last week for my Friday Features, I featured this beautiful Flip Flop Necklace. Laure, the owner of Elegant Arts, thanked me for featuring her necklace and offered to do a giveaway for this necklace!!! How awesome is that!

I also interviewed Laure as I always love to hear the story behind Etsy shops and get to know the artist behind the work better :) Here's what Laure had to say: 1. How did you get started making jewelry?

I started collecting gemstone beads before I even made my first piece of jewelry…I did a lot of international traveling in my 20s and my souvenirs were always beads – some I still work with today – now in my 40s…I was afraid to make anything with them until I learned that you can always transform something you made previously to a new piece if you ever fall out of love with it…I took a few jewelry classes at local bead shops to learn the basics and then had my first trip to the Tucson Gem Show where I was able to take classes from renowned wire artists…I also saw all the beautiful stones available worldwide…I made some vendor connections there that I still enjoy today and I try to venture to Tucson every other year or so…

2. Do you do any other crafts?

I love learning new crafts but I admit I am hooked on jewelry…Occasionally, I enjoy making silk flower arrangements for friends and for personal use…I love combining unusual colors together – changing up the scale and the look of arrangements and wreaths for the various seasons…

3. What is your favorite part of jewelry making?

Spreading it around…I love giving jewelry as gifts and I enjoy hearing the feedback from customers who purchase my pieces…I want people to be happy with their purchase and I will do just about anything to make sure that happens…

(We're sure glad she likes sharing!)

4. Where do you find your inspiration?

A lot of my inspiration comes from fashion...the overall fashion trends may inspire a tendency towards longer necklaces or chunkier bracelets and chandelier earrings… some fashion/costume jewelry that I see inspires me to put together something similar but with my classic spin…I try to make pieces that are timeless…

5. Do you sell on any other venues?

I have a lovely shop at 1000 Markets…I find this venue the most visually attractive…here is the link:http://www.1000markets.com/shops/elegantarts

6. Do you have a blog, facebook, twitter, etc? Share your links with us.

I have a blog that I confess, I don’t keep up to date on 1000 Markets but here it is:http://www.1000markets.com/users/elegantarts/blog_posts

I have a Facebook Page with no fans…I am just learning how to do a business page so this needs work.

And I have a Twitter account with no followers …I need to make the time to get these accounts in full swing but I’d rather make jewelry!!!

7. What is your best business tip for my readers?

As a shopper myself and a seller too, customer service is sooooooo important…treat all your customers like they are special and you may just set yourself apart in this challenging economic environment…some may notice you “went the extra mile” and some may not but you will be proud of the service you have provided and the care you gave to their purchase…

8. What is your favorite piece in your shop right now?

This is a tough question…my pieces have so many personalities and my favorites change by the hour!!! I am a BIG fan of summer and this piece is a recent design that I think “speaks” SUMMER…It is an easy Go To piece that will go with just about anything you put on…I love the colors and the smooth surface of the Amazonite pendant…not to mention the not-so-subtle message to Follow Your Bliss…life is short…make each day count…

Now onto the GIVEAWAY!!!

To enter:

*Mandatory: Visit Elegant Arts and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item.

*Optional: For a second entry, become a follower of my blog. Then leave a comment telling me you're a follower. Current followers please leave a comment as well.

*Include your email address in your comments. (Feel free to type out the "at" and "dot" to avoid spammers getting your email!)

*Contest ends Wednesday August 11, 2010 and the winner will be announced on my blog August 12th.

*Winner will be chosen using random.org

*Contest is open world wide. I will email the address of the winning entrant and Laure will ship the necklace directly.

Thanks for stopping and have an awesome day!!!

Thanks so much Laure :)