Mary Thomas, A Multi-talented Crafter from NE Tennessee

Thank you, Mary Thomas, of WickdCreation for taking the time to answer some questions about your items and the great things to see and do in Tennessee. Mary operates http://www.etsy.com/shop/WickdCreation, where the selection is always interesting, varied, and colorful. I purchased some wooden flower basket magnets from here that were adorable and well made. She often has Tennessee themed items, like Jack Daniel's whiskey shotglass candles, made in Lynchburg, TN. 

1) Where in TN do you live? What is the nearest major city? What is the geography like and are there any unusual landmarks or historical places?

I live in Duff, TN. That's about 20 minutes from the Kentucky border in the northeastern part of the state and just under an hour from Knoxville. It is very beautiful here, especially up on the mountain I live at the very top of. Our most historical place in this area would have to be the Civil War Trails in the next town over, Lafollette, TN.

2) What are your favorite places in TN for shopping, dining, and outdoor fun? What destination would you recommend near your city for tourists? 

For four years I lived in Johnson City, TN. Aside from the wonderful college, ETSU, it is also a great place to shop, eat, go dancing, whatever strikes your fancy. Knoxville has two great malls, hundreds of restaurants and of course anyone stopping in from out of town has to see the Sun Sphere, which was built for the 1982 World's Fair.

3) Tell us a bit about your crafts. What do you make and how did you learn to make these things?

I am a Soaper, Candlemaker, Jewelrymaker and Papercrafter. I am self taught and I have a great love for all of them. I have worked with paper the longest. I became a scrapbooker in high school but that quickly evolved to cardmaking, collages, etc. I haven't purchased a greeting card in 5 years, not even Christmas cards. I make them all myself. I also learned to make Candles in high school with my best friend. I decided last year to try making glycerin soaps, learned very quickly that I had knack for it and that I was in love with mixing the fragrances and colors to achieve the perfect result. I just took up jewelry making in March of this year, but I have built up quite a large collection of beads, findings and other supplies. My only issue with jewelrymaking has been wanting to keep everything I make.

4) What are your future plans for your handmade items? 

In the near future, I want to learn to make Hot and Cold process soaps as well as expanding my jewelrymaking beyond earrings and the occasional bracelet. My dream would be to open a boutique where I, and other local sellers, could sell a varitey of handmade beauty products and jewelry. We don't have many opportunities to really experience a handmade market in this particular area and I would love to be able to change that.

5) So, you are also the captain of April's Army team on etsy? Please tell us about that team and the money they raise for charity.

Yes, April's Army. We are one of the largest teams on Etsy, and in my opinion, we are also one of the very best. We work directly with April Winchell, the creator of the humor site, Regretsy, to raise money for other Etsy sellers in need. Our wonderfully dedicated team members donate handmade and vintage items to a collective shop right here on Etsy and all the proceeds go to our chosen recipient of the month. Our shop is only open the last week of the month, so that the members have time to create new items and our wonderful buyers have time to re-fill their wallets. During that week, Regretsy and April's Army also promotes the charity recipients Etsy shop in hopes of selling out their current stock and greatly increasing the money raised for their particular cause. So far we have helped a young lady whose fiance needed money for cancer treatment, a lady who lost everything in a fire and a family who needed help with their massive debt after the father's long battle with cancer. Between the April's Army shop and the shops of the recipients we have raised nearly $20,000 in just 3 months. 

6) Can you describe some of the items you have donated to their charity shop and tell us about how we can buy from it?

Well, in the spirit of Regretsy, I have donated cupcake scented Mustache on a Stick soaps and 4 sets of my super special Zombie BFF clay pendants. 
As I stated above, we are only open the last week of each month, but there are plenty of items, lots of variety and something in every price range. During the last week of each month, just check out www.aprilsarmy.etsy.com and know that any purchase you make will go directly towards helping another seller improve their life. 

7) Is your shop having any sales or promotions right now?

Yes, code: FRIENDS20 will get you 20% off any purchase from my shop.

Chainmail and Steampunk Design by Eric C Young

Owner of Etsy shop, Tangled Metal, and lover of design elements from days of old, Eric Young of Arkansas, was kind enough to all ow me to interview him about his creations and his experiences as a male jeweler. The art of creating chainmail jewelry and other objects is an evolution of ancient armorsmithing techniques, used to craft  lightweight and mobile vests, gloves, helms and more. Look around any art fair or craft show today and you are bound to hear about chainmail and steampunk designs, where elements of a bygone era combine with futuristic and sleek design to produce a unique new genre of wearable art.  He's not from Tennessee, but wherever you are, steampunk and chainmail design are uber hot, and he is one of the pioneers!

Let's hear what Eric, chief designer of http://www.etsy.com/shop/TangledMetal has to say about learning his craft and selling his pieces online.

You started making chainmail at age 13 to make a suit of armor; when did you start making pieces for women?

 
It was not very long after I created my first item, a shirt, that I started making jewelry from chainmail. Jewelry is quicker than armor for sure. That first shirt took me weeks to create. Jewelry took only hours. This was all before the Internet too. So, I was creating with no examples. I think that is why much of my chainmail style is different than other crafters.

Do you also make jewelry for men?

Yes, I do. I make many items that are for men and a lot of what I make is unisex. I make a lot of items that bikers like to wear. Heavier gauge wired, bigger rings and bolder jewelry. There are women, too, who like the more masculine jewelry. Since I work primarily in stainless steel a lot of my items are very strong, that seems to attract strong women.

When you design a piece of jewelry for a woman, what elements of the piece do you think are the most important?

I try and design pieces that enhance the beauty of a woman. I pay attention to how it will lay on the skin, how it will look in different lights and how easy it is to put on and take off. I think that every piece of jewelry should be an extension of the woman, that is why many of the items I create are custom orders. I do carry several lines of jewelry that are reproduced. Even in my production items I have shown great care to make a proper fit by making most all of my items adjustable to some extent.

How many other male jewelry designers have you encountered?

Believe it or not, up until a few years ago I only knew of two women jewelers. I know dozens of men who are jewelers and silver smiths. My father is a Silversmith and Goldsmith. I guess I grew up around his friends in the craft and they were all men. My mom makes jewelry and designs a lot of jewelry for my dad to make. When I started meeting other chainmaillers they were all guys. I did not meet any women chainmaillers until I was on the Internet. It isn't a shock at all. I do not consider chainmail armor or jewelry to be a man's work. It was more common hundreds of years ago (before men stopped being afraid of women and trying to repress them) that the craft was male dominated. Today we are all equal in most everyone's eyes.

Do you think your experience selling on etsy is any different because of your gender? For example, is it difficult for you to market to women or do you think being male is an advantage, because you stand out?

I was a booth owner at several Renaissance Faires across the country and I have set up at hundreds of art shows. This is my first real attempt at selling in an online market place. Having created jewelry for women for 25+ years, I did not find it difficult to market to women. What I do find difficult is writing descriptions that women can relate to. Selling in person has always been easier for me. When people can touch the jewelry they are more likely to buy it. Plus, I can show them the easiest way to put the item on and to take it off, which with some jewelry can be difficult. Being a guy on Etsy does help me to stand out. I am not sure if it helps sales or not.

Finally, I want to know more about the process of making chainmail. How long does it take to complete the average piece and do you use any special equipment, like a jump ring opener? Can you link your favorite jewelry making tool?

Back before the Internet finding instructions for chainmail was nonexistent. If you could find someone to teach you, you ended up being somewhat of an indentured servant for them. You had to do all of their dirty work to learn the craft. I know this because after I became a Master of the craft I took on apprentices to teach. I hope I was actually nicer than I described above. I learned all of my dirty work on my own.
It all starts out with wire. We are fortunate to not have to smelt ore to make wire in today's age. The wire is wrapped around a rod to form coils much like springs. Then each ring is cut with a jewelers saw. The saw looks like a coping saw but uses blades not too much bigger than thread. After you have a sizable amount of rings you start linking them together in one of the hundreds of weaves people have come up with over the years. After a time it starts to look like a piece of jewelry or armor.

After 25+ years of making chainmail I have become quite quick. I can sit in front of the TV and make jewelry while watching a movie. It has almost become a second nature to me. One of my necklaces would take 6+ hours when I was newly starting out. Now I can make a completed necklace in less than an hour. That is with my production pieces. The reason for the speed is that I rarely make a single production piece. In fact I rarely make less than ten production pieces at a time. Making one of a kind custom pieces can still take me hours to create. And I do enjoy that challenge.

I make a lot of my own tools, from winding machines to cutting machines. I modify pliers to suit my needs. The basic setup is pretty simple. Metal rods for winding coils. Jewelers saws for cutting rings. Pliers for connecting rings. You also have round nose for wrapping beads, non-serrated pliers for working with soft metals, etc. 
I could not think of a favorite tool off hand. When I am in full production mode I generally wear out tools within weeks so it is hard to get attached.

Eric Young can be found on the Internet at the following locations:
www.TangledMetal.com
www.facebook.com/TangledMetal
www.Etsy.com/shop/TangledMetal

Interview with NRSVampChick, A Clarksville Artisan

Today, local jewelry designer and all-around talented crafter Amanda Nalley, will be answering a few questions about her pieces and sharing with us some things she loves about Tennessee. Thank you Amanda, for taking the time to tell us about your passion!




1) Where in TN do you live? What do you like best about that area? 

I live in Clarksville, which is right on the Kentucky state-line. It's right by Fort Campbell and is constently growing, yet still has the feel of a small town.

2) When did you get interested in making jewelry and how did you learn?

I've made jewelry a little bit here and there over the years, but usually just from kits I'd been given as gifts and once I'd used them up, I was done. Then last year, I had gotten to know several jewelry makers while running my own book review blog, and found my way to etsy. Looking around a few times I ran across some things and thought to myself 'I could make that'. So one day, I tried. I haven't stopped since. I keep thinking I'll take classes to learn more advanced techniques, and I probably while some time this year, but so far the trial and error process has worked for me really well.

3) Which piece in your shop is your favorite?

My favorite pieces that I have right now are not in my shop. There sitting here in the room with me waiting for my next craft fair. My favorite piece in my shop is probably my Crosses Gothic Necklace. I started out making that for myself. A very gothic piece that I had always wanted. By the time I was done with it though, I wanted to put up my much worked on piece for sale. Too bad my pictures don't do it justice. Hmmm. Perhaps that should be one of my projects this week.

4) What are your favorite places in TN for shopping, dining, and outdoor fun?


My favorite places for shopping are Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and any other store for craft supplies. In Clarksville there's a local bead store Busy Beads & Moore that has really nice people and a great selection of products. They also help people put together jewelry there in the shop, and have classes for beginners to advanced. Other shopping I like doing at craft fairs when I can, unless it's for clothes in which case I love Kohls or take a trip to Nashville to one of the malls. Oh! I almost forgot to mention Borders, it's my second favorite place right behind Hobby Lobby. Lol!

Dining here in Clarksville I love Japanese food and Hananoki has to be my favorite one. In Nashville, I'm rather partial to Demo's. Is it the liquid sugar, or the good prices? I'm not sure.


Here is the link to Clarksville's own bead shop: http://www.busybeadsandmoore.com/ 


5) What other crafts do you do?

I enjoy painting anything! From actual oil or acrylic artwork, to decorating wooden boxes, purses, frames, etc. My dad builds birdhouses, so I think I'm going to start painting those for him. I made a birdhouse wind chime last month, and I believe there will be more wind chimes in my future. If I knew how to sew I'd be unstoppable!

6) Why is buying handmade and local important to you?

It's important to the local economy to support those in your community. If not in your town or city, then nationaly if you can. Plus you're supporting someone else in something they love to do. How much happier would everyone be if they actually could make a living doing what they loved the way they wanted to do it. The handmade community a great bunch of people. The local crafters and etsy crafters that I've met have been so supportive and helpful. I just hope I can encourage and support others as well.

7) Is your shop having any sales or promotions right now?


Yes! Not only are most of the items in the ale or clearance, but you can get 10% off right now through the on send of July. Just enter XMASJULY10 at checkout!

A New Place in The Boro to Buy and Sell Vintage and Handmade

Fabulous Finds, a new store at 626 N. Maple St. is featuring handmade jewelry for sale, along with secondhand and vintage clothes. They are located in the heart of Murfreesboro. See this article for information and store hours: http://www.dnj.com/article/20110717/BUSINESS/107170318/Fabulous-Finds-offers-once-week-treasures?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE


They are featuring handmade jewelry for sale by local designer Meg Frost, and are also accepting it for consignment. Sellers, be aware, that consignment stores typically ask for 40% of your selling price as commission; however, please call the new store directly for all information.


Consignment shops are a fun place to treasure hunt for unique clothes, accessories, and handbags. They tend to be a bit higher in price than thrift stores, but they sort through the items for the premium pieces, doing most of the work for you! If you need a shopping fix, support this new local business. It may also provide an undiscovered venue to sell your handmade wares, but be ready to accept a lower price than you could command online or at juried shows.

AnnieDees Is Going To Old Made Good Market, Nashville Event, July 23

Our own local talent, AnnieDees, creator of this gorgeous crochet necklace, has been kind enough to share a great upcoming event that sounds like a lot of fun. No need to complain of boredom when you live in or visit Middle Tennessee, there's an abundance of interesting things to see and do! AnnieDees products are created right here in Murfreesboro and she loves exploring the state. Here is her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnieDees?ref=pr_shop_more


Annie has taken the time to answer several questions about the even to inform us about the Old Made Good Market she is attending. I hope she takes pictures!

What is the event? 


OMG Urban Flea Market (2nd Annual) ~ July 23rd at Old Made Good, 1304 McGavock Pike

Old Made Good (OMG) is hosting their 2nd annual flea market with vendors offereing a mix of vintage wares, home goods, clothing, art, food, henna hand tattoos, things for your pets, handmade candles, soaps, and lots of awesome music!

Here is their blog: www.oldmadegood.com/

And the event link for FB: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139420779465946

Link to their flyer: 4.bp.blogspot.com/-eXouR_dXXSw/TgCYO_LrAbI/AAAAAAAAAUk/zmKHMbQMbww/s1600...



Why are you attending? 


To shop all of the awesome vintage and handmade goods along with enjoying great food and live music.


Have you been there before? 


No, this is their 2nd event. The 1st was in May and it was such a big success, they decided to have another one this summer.

For someone new to Tennessee, what would you suggest to see or do along the way to the event? 

OMG is located in Riverside Village, which has an eclectic mix of things to do in East Nashville. You can stop my Mitchell Deli for some lunch and then mosey over next door to Sip Cafe & Mike's Ice Cream Fountain for a hot cup of joe and handmade ice cream. Riverside Village also has a courtyard garden, antique furniture store, thrift store, BBQ joint, pub and includes a couple of spas for both people and pooches!

link to riverside village: www.riversidevillagenashville.com/
map of riverside village: www.riversidevillagenashville.com/map.htm

HillBillyBaubles: McMinville Jewelry Designer

Today, HillBillyBaubles, a local crafter and jewelry designer will be answering a few questions about her items and life in Middle Tennessee. I just love the stunning color in this ring here, and she has some fantastic suggestions for places to visit in the region. Without further ado, here is our own HillBillyBaubles talking about her craft and the wonderful things about living in Tennessee. Here is her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HillBillyBaubles?ref=pr_shop_more

What got you started making jewelry and how long have you been doing it?

I have been doing one form or the other of crafts for about as long as I can remember. My mama taught me to crochet when I was about 5 or 6, and I can remember how proud I was that I made a string of crocheted yarn that was long enough to wrap around our house. I thought that was the grandest thing. I then moved through all of the different crafts that I could find; crocheting, painting, scrap booking, I was even a cake decorator for a while! But jewelry has been the one craft that I always came back to. 

I started making jewelry in the 80's when I was a teenager. My motto back then was 'The bigger, the brighter, the funkier, the better!" My idols where like everyone else's, artists such as Cindy Lauper and Madonna. I knew I would never sing or dance like them, but, by golly, I could have jewelry like them! I would scrounge around in old vintage shops, junk shops they were called back then. I would find old pieces, bring them home, tear them apart and make something new out of them. 

As I grew older and became a mommy, I put most of my crafts on hold while I raised by daughter. However, I found myself coming back to Jewelry. I love that I can take something old, or odd pieces of this and that and give it a new life and new purpose. An example of this is my metal stamped jewelry, 99% of my metal jewelry is made out hand cut vintage metals. There is just something fascinating about the richness and the texture of brass or copper that is 20 or 30 years old. Then to know that you are taking something that was once loved, and making it loved once again.. that is just priceless.

What is your favorite part about living in Middle TN?

Well, I've always lived in Middle Tennessee, so it is my home! I know people have a lot of staples for this answer, such as the mountains, the laid back lifestyle, the food! Oh, the food! But I enjoy that I have roots here. I can go to where my grandmother grew up, the exact house. I love that I can drive 50 miles in one direction and be in a completely rural setting, and then 50 miles in another direction and be in an bustling, urban community. Also, you know something I really like, the weather. I love that we have 4 distinct seasons. Now, mind you, I'm going to complain all summer that I'm too hot, and all winter that I'm too cold, but I love that I have new seasons to always look forward too! Oh, and a little tidbit for those of you that are not Tennessee Natives. Did you know that Murfreesboro is the geographical center of the state? 

Can you recommend the best local restaurant?

Well, I'm giving two shout outs to my favorite restaurants. One is in my home town, McMinnville. It is located on Main Street and called City Cafe. This is an old fashioned little cafe where you can get great home cooking and awesome ice cream milk shakes. They even have a long booth with little red swivel stools that you can sit at. If anyone of you are participating in the Autumn Street Fair in October, make sure and stop in and tell them that I sent you. 

My second favorite Murfreesboro location would have to be GiGi's.. who needs real food when you can get one of their cupcakes??? http://gigiscupcakesusa.com/

Where is you favorite place for jewelry supplies? 

One of my absolute favorite places to get supplies is at JoAnn's. Did you know they offer a 10% VIP card if you have your tax number? That little 10% adds up! 

Are you having any special sales or promotions this month ?

I always run specials! There is nothing that I love more than a sale, so I try to always give my customers lots of discounts to help them out while our economy is so tight. I don't want anyone to ever fall in love with some of my jewelry and then walk away because they feel that the price is out of their reach. My current specials are: 

Spend $10 get 10% with BNS10
Spend $15 get 15% with BNS15
Spend $20 get 20% with BNS20
Spend $30 get 30% with BNS30
Just enter the code at checkout!

Local Dining and Foods

I was researching the Murfreesboro Sat. farmer's market, which is on the square, and came across an article about traditional Tennessee foods. Not being from the area, one of my goals is to experience the native culture and foods- and that doesn't mean McDonald's! 


According to http://www.humanitiestennessee.org/community/articles/ki.php, traditional Tennessee and southern foods are becoming harder to find, because of the proliferation of big box and chain restaurants. 

One of my goals is to try and discover unique family-owned restaurants and purchase locally grown produce. I really want to get to the farmer's market and get a nice, plump, juicy melon and some fresh peaches. The Murfreesboro Sat. Market is from 8:00 am - 12:00 noon on Saturdays. They also have beads and fresh flowers, in addition to fruits and veggies. You can follow them on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Murfreesboro-Saturday-Market/104485242925452

Food Lion Stores occasionally carry local produce, such as tomatoes, too, although the selection is small and sporadic. And if you like to drive in the country, there are plenty of roadside vegetable stands, and even home vendors of products such as raw honey, farm fresh eggs, jams and jellies. Let's all make a resolution to support other local businesses, if we want them to support us!


Next time you see a farmer selling produce or a family owned "mom and pop" eatery, make sure to stop and vote for buying local with your pocketbook. Not only does it help keep other local people stay in business, but it improves our communities by adding to the diversity of places to shop and eat. Join us on Facebook to discuss the best places to dine and shop in Middle Tennessee.