Boomer Buddies | Showing off some of our favorites....

1. What is the name of your shop?

GerrysJewelBox

2. What kind of items do you sell?

I sell vintage inspired jewelry and jewelry supplies such as cameos, filigrees and other brass and silver pieces reminiscent of the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Eras.

3. How long have you been engaged in your art/craft?

About 12 years.

4. Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson?

I am trying my best to be a successful professional.

5. What inspires you?

When I need inspiration, I turn to the pages of my jewelry supply catalogs and look at the pictures of all of the pieces and parts and then I just let my creative imagination take over. I also love to page through books of antique jewelry and while I am admiring the lovely designs, my mind starts to think of how I would design the jewelry pieces differently.

6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio?

I start my day with several cups of coffee and then head on over to the computer to check my shop for sales and/or emails. I usually have several jewelry designs laid out on the desk somewhere and as the day goes by I keep looking at them to decide if the designs are ready to be made up into a permanent piece of jewelry. If I have no designs on the table awaiting my final approval, then I pull out some pieces and parts and start to 'play', arranging beads and filigrees into a jewelry design that I think that I like. I let the arrangement lie on the table for a day or two before I decide if I am totally happy with the look of the piece.

5. What inspires you?

My two little fur-babies.....Jazzpur, my cat and Cara Mia, my puppy, several dust bunnies and a few cobwebs. :-)

8. What is your favorite 'task' related to your art/craft?

I like the design and construction process of a jewery creation. I also enjoy interacting with my customers through email as well.

9. What is your least favorite 'task' related to your art/craft?

My least favorite part of my job is cleaning up. I don't enjoy standing in line at the post office to mail off packages to my customers either. However, I have become 'friends' with the Automatic Postal Machine and that eliminates a lot of waiting in line and gets me out of the post office much quicker.

10. Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring artists or crafters?

I saw an ad on a bumper sticker once that read, 'Chase Your Dreams Cause They Sure As Hell Ain't Gonna Chase You' and that became my inspiration. So, if I could share any words of wisdom with anyone it would be to do what you want to do and don't be afraid of failure. Don't wait until you have 'all of your ducks lined up in a row' before you start to pursue your dream because that will never happen. If you have dreamed something for a long time, don't let uncertainty or fear stand in your way. Take a running leap and jump in and Do It! After you started working on your dream, you will see what 'ducky' isn't standing straight and you can fix and amend things as you go.

11. Would you care to share some other information about yourself and/or your shop that i have not asked about?

I started designing jewelry as a result of a midlife career change. I used to work in the medical field. I have studied Gemology, which includes Gemstone Identification and the study of Diamonds and Diamond Grading, through the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and I received my degree in that about 20 years ago.

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1. What is the name of your shop(s)?

Greer Designs Pet and Wildlife Art

2. What kind of items do you sell?
Although most of my items are printed, I do sell some hand painted items like purses and paintings. I sell prints, greeting cards, tags, bookmarks, just about anything you can print with my dogs and tropical birds and animals
.
3. How long have you been engaged in your art/craft?
Since I was about 4 years old.

4. Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson?
I believe I am a professional since I sell in shops and on several sites on line.

5. What inspires you?
I love color, nature, pretty things, beautiful fabrics and paper
.
6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio?
My husband fixes coffee and I go upstairs to my studio/computer room. I check my email and then start printing and preparing. I cut and add ribbon, etc. and then package for mailing. When I have time, I paint. But there is never enough time.

7. What keeps you company while you are working on a project?
I have some praise music going or have the tv on and my dogs are with me.

8. What is your favorite 'task' related to your art/craft?
I absolutely love creating. I love to mix my paintings with other things like a vintage bit of scrollwork or a little framing or trim.
9. What is your least favorite 'task' related to your art/craft?
Probably the least favorite is packing up for mailing.

10. Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring artists or
crafters?
Just keep on following your dream no matter what. I heard that Abraham Lincoln ran for office several times before he won. You gotta just keep on. And for the older gals, my grandmother didn't start teaching china painting till she was 55. She lived till she was 88 and I believe it was because of her family and her interest in her art.

11. Would you care to share some other information about yourself and/or your shop that we have not asked about?
My most favorite thing to do is paint on dye with silk. Several of the pieces in my shop are designed from my silk paintings.
My poor family lives with my art supplies, stretchers, silk and computers all over the house and sometimes even the patio. I want to thank them for putting up with all this so I can persue my dream.