Every Monday now through December 16 I am interviewing other artists and crafters in the hopes of spreading some handmade love and appreciation. You can read more about it here. The month of November features jewelry and accessories.
Even though Jelene Britten of Jelene Britten Designs and I have never met, I can tell we would get along. We both make chainmaille jewelry (albeit, we spell it differently…I’ll never understand why there are so many ways to spell it!) and metalsmith, and have an affinity for traveling and exploring our respective cities.
In addition to working with metal, Jelene makes beautiful glass beads (which, by the way, is on my personal handmade bucket list). I love seeing what my fellow chainmaille artists come up and I am really excited to share Jelene’s work with you today!
How did you get started making jewelry?
As a teenager, I was fascinated by bead stores! I loved buying colorful beads and designing my own jewelry. As I got older, my style evolved and I took classes in metalsmithing, chain mail and glass beadmaking to improve my techniques. Now I enjoy designing jewelry that combines my loves of chain mail and glass beads.
What do you like most about having your own creative business? What do you find most challenging?
I love it when a customer connects with one of my pieces. I make a lot of one-of-a-kind pieces and the rest I make in limited quantities. So when a customer tries on one if my pieces and smiles with a new sparkle in her eye, it’s like I created the piece just for her!
The most challenging aspect of my creative business is finding time to do it all. Designing, creating, selling at art fairs, bookkeeping and marketing are time consuming. And I have to fit it all in around my full-time job and spending time with my family and friends.
What inspires you to create? The versatility of both chain mail and glass keep me inspired! I’m also inspired by my travels around the world. A beautiful sunset, a colorful festival, or art at a museum can all spark an idea. I’m currently working on a series of glass beads inspired by gorgeous ceramics I saw at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.
What do you think motivates others to buy handmade?
I think shoppers love supporting artists who put their heart and soul into each item they make. You get a warm and fuzzy feeling when you buy an item directly from the person who made it that you never get from buying mass-produced items made in factories or sweat shops. Plus, it’s easier to find unique and special gifts from handmade artisans.
What is your favorite handmade item you have bought or received?
My good friend Nina loves to sew and she made me two zippered polka-dotted pouches a few years ago. Not only are they cute, they are practical. I still use then every day!
When you are not designing and creating handmade items, what do you like to do with your time?
I love traveling! I’ve been lucky to be able to live in Paris as well as travel around Europe and Asia. When I can’t travel globally, I like to explore my city, Chicago. One of my favorite things to do while travelling is to buy a piece of local handmade jewelry as souvenir.
What is something people might not know about you?
I am a huge U2 fan! I have all their albums and I have stood in line for hours to buy concert tickets (back when you had to do that). When I was in Ireland, I even visited the castle that’s on the cover of “The Unforgettable Fire” album.
What is one piece of advice you would offer to others with their own creative business? Set clear goals and make sure all your business activities will help you meet those goals. This will help you prioritize, especially when it comes to marketing and promotion. For instance, if you want to increase your sales with a particular target audience, you can focus your marketing around shows, publications and social sites where those people hang out instead of chasing every opportunity.
Thanks for joining me on my blog, Jelene, and be sure to check out her shop!
How on earth do you have a new blog post? You are a brand new mommy with a tiny infant!! You are amazing, Bev! When I had Bobby, I didn’t even brush my hair for three weeks! I would not have had the energy or brain power to do a blog post (if there were such things as blogs back then in the stone ages).
Jelene’s pieces are so beautiful. LOVE the glass beads. Gorgeous!! –Lisa
They are very beautiful pieces. You a whirlwind! Traveling, working full-time, making jewelry and learning how to market, sell, connect. I’m trying to do even half of that lately. It’s a work-in-progress.
It’s still a work in progress for me, too! I have to prioritize. Today’s priority was my full-time job, so I’m just now able to comment. Thanks for complimenting my pieces!
Jelene, your jewelry is beautiful! That bracelet is gorgeous! And Bev, I am amazed at how together you are with your blog with a new baby…I was pretty much a wreck. I’m not even sure I got in a shower every day.