The second in my { welcome } series featuring fresh, new etsy designers is Kelly of Pink Buffalo Jewelry. In addition to designing all sorts of fun baubles & glitz for us, Kelly also teaches elementary music during the day and still finds time to run a second etsy shop featuring her photography! I met Kelly when we worked together at 'Bead Creative' and she is so full of energy and love for life and those around her. Hope you enjoy her story... AND, she is giving away a pair of sweet earrings to one lucky winner. Here's Kelly in her own words...
I'm a true Buffalonian in every sense of the word: I was born and raised here, I don the 'Cheektowaga accent', I never start my day without a cup of coffee from Tim Hortons and I tell everyone when out of town that I'm from Buffalo... AND, I just recently went to my first ever Sabres hockey game. I love my hometown.I'm a 26 year old elementary school music teacher, and I really do love my job - all parts of it (even tying shoes 8 billion times a
day, giving hugs and high fives 10 billion times, and saying things like "make good choices" and "keep your hands and feet to yourself" at least 12 dozen times an hour). I live in a busy household with two roommates: one who is a nursing student and has been my best friend for 20 years, and another friend I met while in college who is now preparing for law school. We also share the space with a really fat, spoiled cat and a dog who I swear has attention issues. It's a lot of people in a little space, but we make it work and the truth is, at the end of the day, I'm happy to be surrounded by busy-ness and people.
What inspires you? I wish I could say that music inspires me, since I'm a music teacher. Music motivates me to work harder and work faster, but it doesn't usually give me any kind of creative spark. People and life experiences, on the other hand, are the driving forces behind my pieces. There are certain colors I use to represent certain people in my life, and there are people who influence me to use certain mediums or techniques simply through their own creations and friendly conversation. If it weren't for you, Mia, I probably wouldn't be appreciating raw brass as much I do now! And I'm also using a lot of copper these days. When you first hired me, remember what a sterling snob I was at first? You've helped me to evolve. So, yeah. Talking with other people and the ways they touch my life....that's definitely my inspiration. (Side Note from Mia: I'll admit I used to be a sterling snob, too...)
Why do you create? What is your favorite part of creating? Hmmm...I'm really drawn to color and patterns. I think that's the biggest similarity in my photography and in my jewelry. I love things that are rich in color and make bold statements, and I design things that wouldn't necessarily be a perfect fit for myself, but for a variety of tastes in other people, as well. I like to make other people happy. :)
What is your favorite part of owning your own business? I like that I get to do things on my own terms. Since I'm a school music teacher as my main profession, my Etsy businesses are more of a hobby than a job. I get to dictate the terms of when I create new pieces, when I photograph them, when I post new listings/renew current ones, and when/how I promote. I don't have to be as hard on myself when something doesn't get done right away. Sometimes, I'm a good little worker bee and other times, I'm lazier than your average couch potato, but I don't beat myself up over leaving my work area idle for a few days. If I ever get to that point, I'll know that it's time to take a break from it all and remember why it was that I got into these interest areas in the first place: for the love of art...not to make a buck or two. Getting paid is just one tiny perk of this profession.
What are your other hobbies/interests? I enjoy singing in languages I don't actually know how to speak in during regular conversation and I play the guitar (really poorly) and piano (not so poorly). Other than Etsy and my musical life, I like to go bowling, play poker and spend time with my dog and my very patient and loving boyfriend. He never questions my new, crazy crafting ideas and he fully supports my intense bead and vintage camera collection habits. Oh, and I'm also (very) addicted to reality tv. That's so embarrassing to admit!
Kelly's Faves:Color: Pink :)
Music: This is what's on my iPod right now (and I do listen to all of it): Debussy, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga, Abba, Katy Perry, Eva Cassidy, Feist, Lupe Fiasco, M.I.A, Over the Rhine, Regina Spektor, Rilo Kiley, Scissor Sisters, The Ting Tings, and Tom Waits
Etsy Shops: ooo, this is a hard one! I have a ton! Okay, obviously Mia's shop and all of her faithful subsidiaries, nuts4candy (this woman is fantastic!!! EVERYTHING is good, but try her oreo bon bons! Oh, so so good and hands down one of the best sellers on Etsy), e2ssupplies and artfulmarket both have really good supplies, and EarthArt has the best 'birds on a wire' paintings.
Websites: My flickr, PerezHilton.com (I'm a sucker for celebrity gossip), pogo.com, and google.com (I tell my students that if I don't have the answers, Google does. That's because Google knows everything.)
Item in your Jewelry Shop right now: my 'Bella' paper flower necklace
Item in your Photography Shop right now: My 'Tutu' print
How To Enter:- 2pts: Hop on over to Kelly's Shop and post a comment with your favorite item! (If you aren't 'blog savvy' feel free to message me with your entry!) Make sure you include your etsy username or email with your entry!
Earn Additional Entries: (Post a comment to let me know you've earned these... as many as you'd like!)
- 1pt: Add Pink Buffalo to your etsy favorites!
- 2pts: Follow my blog!
- 3pts: Visit me on Paper'n'Stitch and give me a heart!
