One of my favorite jewelry designers that I was able to unearth on Etsy simply must be Beadstylin. With a flair for beautiful colors, an eye for elegant, timeless designs and affordable prices, it's no wonder that she's found a niche for herself on Etsy.
Today, I was most pleased to find that Jeannie Mainzer (mastermind behind Beadstylin) was gracious enough to answer a few of my questions. Here's what she had to say:
JB: What do you create?
JM: I like to work with many different mediums. I love gemstones, Swarovski crystals, and Czech glass. I also like to age my own brass and incorporate that into my designs. I make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, anklets, rosaries, and rosary bracelets.
JB: When and where do you do your creative work?
JM: I create mostly late into the night, after my children are in bed. My shop is in a tiny corner of our finished basement.
JB: Do you have another day job?
JM: I stay at home and homeschool our four children.
JB: Where and what did you study?
JM: Didn't have the opportunity to go to college.
Somewhere in Time Dragonfly and Labradorite Brass Necklace
JB: Where do you find inspiration?
JM: I am inspired by getting new beads. I get inspiration from nature, magazine and TV pictures, and from looking at other jewelry.
JB: What motivates you?
JM: A sense of accomplishment. I like to take raw materials and make them into something beautiful. And it's not bad getting paid for your work either!
JB: When did you start doing this?
JM: Ten years ago I started making rosaries. From there, it branched out into jewelry.
Florentine Lilac Teardrop Lucite and Brass Earrings
JB: When and why did you decide to start your own business?
JM: I piddled with this for years, but I finally decided to "go official" with it about 2-3 years ago. It was getting too big to call it a hobby anymore.
JB: How did you choose the name for your business?
JM: "Bead-Attitudes" came to me while vacuuming the floor! I wanted something that sounded spiritual because I made rosaries. Beadstylin' just popped into my head when I was registering at Etsy.
Little Black Dress Jet Black Swarovski Pendant on Sterling
JB: What is the most interesting thing about you?
JM: I think people find me to be a multi-faceted person. I can be shy and private, but I can also be off-the-wall, sensitive, imaginative, or funny. I seem to wear a lot of different hats, depending on who I am around.
I also love toads!
JB: What are you most proud of?
JM: I am so proud of each one of my four children. They are so lovable, creative, and special. They are my greatest blessings.
JB: What advice would you give other women on starting their own business?
JM: Keep at it. Don't cut corners on quality. Don't be afraid of success. And just do what you love and have a passion for!
JB: What's the biggest challenge you face in your work?
JM: Juggling my business with the demands of being a mother, home educator, and wife.
JB: What do you love to do in your free time?
JM: Beside beading? I love to garden and landscape, metal detect, listen to music, read, work crossword puzzles, fish, and hang out with my family and pets.
JB: What are you currently working on?
JM: I've just learned how to make glass beads and am trying to get better at that.
xoxo
Cathy
4 comments:
another great blog post!
Great Blog!
Love what she is most proud of...every one of her children.
And how she included, her love for Toads!
Thank you, Cathy. This is a beautiful blog...you have a gift!
That is a sweet and insightful feature of stylin'
Post a Comment