My first featured seller is Ellen from streetnoodles. Ellen makes beautiful vintage inspired jewelry & has quite the amazing story.
First of all, your shop is sure is pretty! Where do you get your inspiration from?
I have always been a bit of a loner & dreamer...when I was little I would dress in my frilliest Sunday dress and take an old mason jar and walk down the dusty country paths around my house and pick up all the quartz rocks shining under the sun. I called them my "diamonds". I would take them and decorate all my world famous mud pies and of course the gravesite of our first black cat (his name was "blackie")which was between the 2 rose bushes in the backyard.
It was about this time that all us kids were introduced to our new auntie Dorothy...at this early age I didn't realize what an "icon" she would become in our extended family.
She was younger than my grandparents...younger than my parents, and a little younger than my uncle. she was young and naturally pretty...wore "cat" frame glasses...her hair perky in a short flip, bangs & a tiny bow worn right above her bangs...and she liked to wear tailored capri pants with "capizio" flats (so very young Mary Tyler Moore).
My sister and I were the only girls so my auntie gravitated towards us...she was so "cool" in a field of old depressing grown-ups. She would allow us girls to play dress up and rummage through her huge box of costume jewelry...and that's when I really caught the jewelry bug...all that vintage 40's thru early 60's bling...I was in heaven!
streetnoodles...that is a unique shop name, how did you come up with it?
When I went to college it was under protest from my parents who thought I should just get married and have kids. I'm not quite sure how they thought I was going to do that since they had forbidden me to date in high school (don't worry, I would escape at times).
After just a semester, I took an art class for my GE requirements and decided to double major...home econ & art...I noticed the more I moved my passion to the arts, my financial backing was taken away and after I got my BA's and decided to get my Master's I was totally "dis-owned" by my parents. I realized then that "starving artist" wasn't just a cliché BUT was REALITY. I learned to survive and part of that survival was a "cubbie" full of "top ramien" noodle packets (hey 10 cents a piece ain't bad).
streetnoodles represented more than sustenance during rough times, but it was there when friends & supporters out-weighed the money for rent, yet we all made it some how...that freedom to follow my passion without fear was the best time of my life.
What is your favorite thing about designing & selling jewelry?
I guess I don't see it that way....making jewelry (and selling it) is just another stage of my art as I grow. In the beginning, I use to do huge environmental art pieces, my biggest taking a half acre... I soon learned I wanted to reach people on a smaller scale and did conceptual pieces in galleries...then after stepping back and seeing my need for that personal connection, my art became even smaller...after taking an even longer break & finding a creative job that allowed me to build things as well as make a nice living...I worked at this till a freak occurrence caused me to retire at an early age.
I was bedridden for 3 years...so you can imagine how small my work became. After much therapy and surgery, I regained some mobility and my art became freer again, but I knew it wouldn't last so jewelry making seemed so logical & satisfying. Eventually my eyesight will force me to change again, so I plan on reintroducing myself to clay...hand built sculptures rather than the wheel work, I think. As long as I can do art, there will be sustenance & "streetnoodles".
Can we find you anywhere else besides etsy?
I do tweet and facebook on occasion...BUT to be honest, I don't quite get it...what is the purpose?...to capture as many "friends & followers" as possible? I find them great for promotion (I guess), but I don't get much human satisfaction.
I do blog...it's so much closer to a public journal...it brings me to a "great stage" since I'm a "closeted writer"...I like to describe myself as a Anais Nin want-to-be without the sex :( ...I've learned to make videos so I like promoting myself and other creative types when I can...then there are my quirky stories which I love to look back on and see my story-telling talents grow.
I want to thank Ellen of streetnoodles for sharing her story!
I look forward to posting more of your stories every Friday.
Don't forget to check out streetnoodles shop
http://etsy.com/shop/streetnoodles
& her pretty little blog http://nineandahalfdesign.blogspot.com
Very nice feature, thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog!
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