Turning Beads Into Wearable Art

A few weeks ago, I said that I would conclude my Etsy.com jewelry posts with the shop I thought deserved the title, "Best Overall."  It didn't take me long to figure out which shop I would feature.  When I came across Cindy Caraway's shop, I knew I had to show y'all more of her striking jewelry creations.  I wanted to do more than just another jewelry feature, so I decided an interview was in order.  This week, I have the privilege of introducing to you, Cindy Caraway.  I featured her shop in two of my previous blog posts, "What a Girl Wants, What a Girl Needs" and "Off the Cuff."  One of Cindy's gifts is turning beads into wearable art.  Take a look for yourself at her impressive attention to detail in her jewelry collection and enjoy getting to know a little bit more about the designer. 

When did you start creating jewelry?

I can remember buying beads and string at Woolworth's when I was very young and was into macrame jewelry when I was around 10 or so. I didn't really start making jewelry to sell until the 1990's. I was looking for a craft to fill spare time and found a book at the library on making wire jewelry. I started selling it in a record shop run by a friend. She suggested I add some beads for interest and that was the beginning of the end! Pretty soon I was more interested in the beads than the wire and then the beads got smaller and smaller. I sort of stumbled on bead weaving and am totally self-taught. I put the beads away for a few years because no one else was doing what I was doing - in retrospect, I see how foolish THAT was!!

Fire Starter
Beaded Pendant Necklace

How did you learn your craft?

I am a self-taught bead weaver. Some of the things I was doing with beads early on were techniques I was sure I had invented. Then I saw some beaded art made by Native Americans and some African art and realized that I was just a tiny stitch in a long tradition of beadwork.

Canyonlands
Beaded Statement Necklace

How did you get started on Etsy?

Hard to say - I can't quite remember. I had sold vintage items on "that other auction site" for several years and was becoming disillusioned with it. I think I found out about Etsy through an add in a magazine and decided to check it out. I opened a vintage shop first and was pretty successful and then opened my beadwork shop a few months later.

Dancers at the Fiesta
Beaded Cuff Bracelet



What or who inspires you?

Is it fair to say EVERYTHING?? OK, probably not...

Nature, movies, decorative arts of all forms, architecture, Chuck Jones cartoons, paint chips at the hardware store, illustrations in children's books, other artist's work... the list goes on and on. Although I love music - especially classical and new age music - I do not find too much inspiration from non-visual stimuli. I get more excited about beautiful things I can see and/or touch.

Egyptian Journey
Statement Charm Necklace

What do you do when you aren’t creating?  What activities do you enjoy?

I am a singer - professionally trained in opera but I am not an opera singer! My husband is a very talented guitar player. He and I have an acoustic duo and perform at wine bars, coffee houses and do the occassional wedding. We have a website at www.carawaymusic.com. I also sing with a local chamber choir of 24 voices and I love it!

Movies are a love of mine - my favorites are romantic comedies, fantasy and science fiction - and I enjoy theater, both doing it and watching it.

Mahogany Dreams
Beaded Cuff Bracelet

What are five things you want people to think when they see your product?

1. Wow!
2. How does she DO that!?
3. I could wear that.
4. I wish that were mine.
5. I would love to learn how to do that!

Chameleon
Beaded Statement Bib Necklace

Which item in your shop do you secretly want to keep?

Nebula. I love the color combo of pink and green. I have worn this piece out to functions and always get a great response to it!

Nebula
Beaded Ocean Jasper Neckalce

Aside from Etsy, how do you promote or sell your items?

I have a blog - Artful Living on the Bluff  http://artfullivingonthebluff.blogspot.com/ and a website at http://www.cindycaraway.com/.

Mardi Gras
Beaded Cuff Bracelet

Is there anything about yourself or your shop that you want to share with us?

I would love to teach beading techniques - especially bead embroidery and bead weaving. Beadwork has been passed down through the ages by oral tradition, passed from generation to generation - I feel fortunate to have "discovered" it. I would like to do my part to keep passing the tradition along.

As for my beadwork shop, I guess I would like everyone to know that I use repurposed and reclaimed materials in almost every piece of jewelry I make. Beads and findings are salvaged from vintage jewelry and I like to use vintage brooches and earrings as centerpieces for my necklaces. The leather backing on all my bead embroidery pieces is reclaimed from damaged leather clothing I find second-hand. You never know what little nick-nack or treasure unearthed at a tag sale will make it's way into my beadwork. I think it's important to use the materials around us because those are almost always more economical and eco-friendly. I try to reduce, reuse, and recycle in my life as a whole and try to incorporate that thinking into my art as well.

Tidepool
Beaded Statement Necklace

Thank you, Cindy, for sharing yourself and your time.  I loved getting to know a little bit more about the lady behind the extraordinary jewelry.  And I can honestly say that I have thought the five things that you said you want people to think when they see your jewelry. 

If you would like to see more of or purchase Cindy's jewelry click here http://www.etsy.com/shop/CindyCaraway.

I hope y'all enjoyed Garland and Grace's first blog interview.  Don't miss a post by Garland and Grace, subscribe or become a follower today.

Living Graciously,
Lisa







Off the Cuff

One mistake you don’t want to make is looking like your outfit was thrown together, off the cuff, if you will. I know you all have heard the saying, “You get one chance to make a first impression.” If you want to give a good impression, you can’t afford to be impromptu about your jewelry. It should not be a second thought in your outfit but just as important as the outfit itself. From classic to eclectic, jewelry tells everyone who you are. It is an expression of your personality and sense of style, your trademark. You can take a plain outfit and turn it into a fabulous outfit, if you have the right piece of jewelry. How do you know if you have the right piece(s) of jewelry? The overall important decision when choosing jewelry is not to follow trends, but to stay true to your unique style. Pick a piece that glorifies your beauty in all ways. I personally love jewelry, but I don’t like to over do it. When I pick out a piece of jewelry, I like to make it count. I like it to be different, bold, look like it was made for me. When I wear jewelry, I like to keep it simple and then throw in a great bold piece, whether it’s earrings, a necklace, or a unique bracelet. It has to be great. For the next several weeks, I will write about the great bold and unique pieces that I find on Etsy.com. Last week, I featured necklaces. This week, I am featuring cuff bracelets. I found some exceptional pieces. The artisan’s that I chose have paid great attention to detail. The attention to detail and uniqueness of the jewelry are the factors in choosing the jewelry shops this week.  When wearing these wonderful creations, I can guarantee you will never walk into a room and find someone else wearing the same piece of jewelry.  They are like you, one-of-a-kind.

I found a rare tresure when I stumbled upon this store.  Custom, handcrafted, exotic leather goods and accessories is how Unearthed describes their products.
Unearthed "Where Style is Unapologetically Luxurious"
To see more striking pieces from Unearthed's shop click here http://www.unearthed.etsy.com/.

Green/Burgundy Stars Stingray Cuff 

Metalic Genuine Stingray Cuff Bracelet-Magenta

Whimsicals describes their jewelry products as art.  A wearable expression of your personality.
To see more ways to express yourself from Whimsicals, click here http://www.whimsicals.etsy.com/.

Metallica Cuff Bracelet

Garnet of Delight

I would love to express myself with the jewelry from Cindy Caraway's shop.  She describes her creations as wearable art and beaded adornment.
To see more wearable art from Cindy Caraway's shop, click here http://www.cindycaraway.etsy.com/.

In the Pink Beaded Cuff Bracelet

Amber Bear Beaded Cuff Bracelet

Serrelynda says she designs her jewelry for comfort, wearability, and style with an edge.
To see more of Serrelynda's stylish designs, click here http://www.serrelynda.etsy.com/.

Rhinestone and Filigree Wide Cuff Fashion Bracelet

Rhinestone Flower and Silver Filigree Cuff Bracelet

The Fashion Edge turns antique cutlery into wearable pieces of history.  Some of their antique spoons and forks that they craft their jewelry from are getting close to 100 years old. 
To see more of The Fashion Edge's amazing transformations click here http://www.thefashionedge.etsy.com/.

Silver Plated Spoon Cuff with Genuine Pearl and Crystals

Silver Plated Fork and Spoon Bracelet with Large Stone Bead

Beads of Aquarius also falls into the category of wearable art.  Jewelry pieces are one-of-a-kind.
To see more unique pieces from Beads of Aquarius, click here http://www.beadsofaquarius.etsy.com/.

Babylone

Teotihuacan Bracelet

The next two shops are honorable mention.  I usually choose six shops to feature each week, but this week I had two more that I wanted to share.  They both represent the category of hand knitted and crochet wearable fiber art jewelry.

Lavenderfield's shop states that it has handmade crochet jewelry like you have never seen before.  They were right.  Before I found this shop, I had never seen crochet jewelry.  This cuff bracelet is my favorite piece from Lavenderfield's shop.  I love the design, and the colors are cheerful and bright.
To see more crochet jewelry from Lavenderfield, click here http://www.lavenderfield.etsy.com/.

Arm Candy Cuff

Serebadesigns has hand knitted creations that are fabulous for every occasion.  To see more hand knitted jewelry by Serebadesigns click here http://www.serebadesigns.etsy.com/.

Band of Little Glass Seed Beads

I enjoy sharing with you the creative talent of others, but I also realize that is not what is important in life. The Bible says in Psalm 31:3, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Encouraging you to have a relationship with the One who created you is the most important message I can share with you. God is the one who gave you the personality you want to express. In the Bible, Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Take pleasure in the fact that you are God’s masterpiece.


Living Graciously,

Lisa