Artist Spotlight #4 - Capitolagirl

"Every Girl Has a Story and So Should Her Jewelry"....so goes the tag-line for a funky and unique jewelry designer from Capitola, CA. If your looking for jewelry that has a very cool and upbeat vibe, look no further than Susan Nelson of Capitolagirl!

Susan, what is the name of your Etsy shop and how did you come up with the name?

Capitola Girl Jewelry - Capitola Girl was a nickname that I was given by my co-workers in the high-tech industry. Capitola is the name of the coastal town in which I live, and the Girl part is me. I came up with my tag-line “Every Girl Has a Story (and so should her jewelry!)” shortly after I started showcasing my work on my Blog, Capitolgirl. I wanted to write about how and what inspired me to create each piece of jewelry.

Where else can people find you on-line?

Blog: http://www.capitolagirl.com
Website: http://www.capitolagirljewelry.com

I have a network that I just started where indie jewelry makers can join to exchange tips, techniques, and to support and encourage each other to keep our creative dreams alive: http://capitolagirls.ning.com

I also moderate the Jewelry Making Mama’s group on Posh Mama at: http://www.poshmama.com/group/jewelrymakingmamas

I administer the HANDMADE JEWELRY: SATURDAY SPARKLE group on Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/saturdaysparkle

Which Etsy Street Teams or Groups do you belong to?

Etsy Weddings Team, Fashion, Design & Lifestyle Street Team and EtsyBEAD

How would you describe your jewelry and how did you become a jewelry designer?

I would describe it as cool, upbeat, sassy and unique jewelry for women. It began as a hobby in 2004. A friend taught me how to make a simple wire-wrapped loop on Saturday, and by Sunday night I had been to the craft store near my house three times and had finished about 50 pairs of earrings. I was completely hooked, and have been making jewelry and designing my pieces on a daily basis ever since.

What is your favorite thing about making jewelry?

I love combining different textures and colors, as well as the process of being creative. The idea of taking disparate objects and turning them into something unique and beautiful is really enjoyable, and I also love the sense of satisfaction that I get when something I make turns out well.

What has been your most memorable moment selling your jewelry?

I’ve only been selling my jewelry on-line for a few months, so I’d have to say that up to this point, the most memorable moment was making my first on-line sale. It was so exhilarating to log onto Etsy one day and find that the total number of items for sale had dropped by one. At first, I thought an item had disappeared or been deactivated, then I saw where the “0 Sold” was now reading “1 Sold.” That first on-line sale gave me a real sense of accomplishment.

Tell me about your featured item?

One of my favorite styles is to create tribal, ethnic and tropical jewelry. My favorite item right now is my SUNBURST earrings. I love the bright orange color of the coral coins. I just feel like they are a fun pair of earrings that are perfect for summer.

What makes your products special? What sets you apart from the crowd?

I think my pieces stand out because I tend to use bold colors and to combine materials that might not always be expected. Although I make simple and traditional pieces as well, I really like the bold, fun look of my jewelry. In my opinion, jewelry is something that you should have fun with. It’s a subtle way to make an unexpected statement about who you are.

Where do you create your jewelry?

I work out of a spare room that I’ve transformed into my home office/studio. It has great natural light, and I love working in that space.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I’m inspired very often by things I’ve seen while traveling. Travel is something I love to do, and I’ve learned so many things from it. I like to incorporate my travel experiences into pieces through the use of color and texture, and to create things that evoke special memories. 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to become the next up and coming jewelry designer?

Get out there and try it. The worst thing that can happen is that an item might not sell. The best thing that can happen is that you have fun and develop a love for what you do. I think having a creative hobby, whether it’s making jewelry, painting, or something else is what makes people unique and interesting.

If you had a chance to work with anyone, who would it be?

I’d probably want to work for a publisher in some capacity. I’d like to take my technical writing and high-tech professional background and combine that skill with my love for making jewelry. I hope to eventually write articles and perhaps even books about jewelry design.

What are your current projects?

I’ve been learning more about metal jewelry crafts. I’m not quite ready to sell the pieces that I’ve been experimenting with, but I do plan to eventually add metal pieces to my inventory.

• Etsy Shop - Capitolagirl
• Blog - www.capitolagirl.com
• Website - www.capitolagirljewelry.com

Thanks to Susan for the great interview and her cool, upbeat, sassy and unique jewelry! Like Susan says, "Every Girl Has a Story and So Should Her Jewelry"...check out her jewelry and see where the story goes. The best of luck to Susan and Capitolagirl!

Coming next week! I'll be featuring some up and coming Etsians but with a new twist. From now on, the feature artists will be offering one of their handmade creations in a drawing that will be held each week! All you have to do is check out their article, visit their shop and then post a comment back here telling me what your favorite item in their shop is. A week after their feature is posted, I'll draw a name from all of the comments and you could be the winner. Be sure to bookmark this blog or subscribe to my RSS Feed so you can keep up to date with the drawing!

Comments

[Valerie]

Hooray for my fellow Etsy Wedding Team member.
Susan's a real gem!

[Cindy]

Love it, Love it!! Great spotlight :)

[Octavine Illustration]

what a lovely interview. i have admire her jewelry for a while on etsy. wonderful for you to promote others shops and i love learning a bit about all the wonderful artists and crafters the world over. cheers.~