Kathryn Henley - Jewelry Artist - Extrodinaire

MEET THE ARTIST:  JEWELRY ARTIST EXTRODINAIRE

                        KATHRYN HENLEY
        KMH Collections - Handcrafted Jewelry 
                    kmhcollections.etsy.com 

                         

Over the years, Kathy, tried her hand at a number of things including sewing, macrame, decoupage and crocheting.  she never thought she would end up making jewelry.  It all started wen she saw a demstration on making angels with wire and beads on T.V.  She made them herself and they were a big hit!  That led to bookmarks, jean jewelry and eventually watches, bracelets, etc

I asked Kathy if her business is a 'self effort' or does she have a partner or a team.

She said it was 'just me'.  She searches for 'things that speak to her'.  Many times she confesses that she is not sure what she is going top do with them and sopmetimes it takes a while for it all to come together.  Some of her things are  one of a kind and because she is very detailed oriented and desires to make the best product she can she feels that it would be difficult for her to have someone else making things that she sells.  

 Kathy has set some goals for her business.  She hopes to find outlets for her jewelry so she can continue to do what she loves.  Currently she sells on Etsy and and she is involved with local arts group and participates in the annual arts gift show.

Asking Kathy if there were any mistakes that she has made that she would like to share she quickly responded, "I just wish I  had found this passion earlier!"  Her advice to others who might be waiting for the right time to get started in their own business is to " Just do it"!  Do what you love and make the very best product you can, get involved with other artists and continue learning about your craft.

                                              bridesmaid necklace

Kathy works mostly with silver and makes many of her pieces with silver plated findings so they are more affordable.  But she does use sterling silver too.  Her latest passion is working with silver clay; it is amazing to take silver clay and mod it and roll it and shape it just like any other clay and  then after firing, have a beautiful piece of fine silver (.999 ) jewelry. 

Searching on line is her primary source for materials.  Also she finds inspiration and business information from other blogs.

Looking back on her childhood she gives credit to her Mom for her creative influence.  Kathy's mom was very creative making her own clothes, tatting and crocheting .. crocheting currently at age 91!   

  

                                                     silver clay heart

When you start thinking about that special gift for someone or if you just love beautiful jewelry  please hop on over to kmhcollections 

You will find a beautiful collection of jewelry that you can be assured each piece is 

handcrafted by hand with care and quality by :

                                                                        
                                     Kathyrn Henley
                                     KMH Collections - Handcrafted Jewelry

Thank you for visiting,  Corline
                                     overthetopaprons.com 

 

 

 

                                             

 

 

PHOTO SHOOT DELAYED ~~

                PHOTO SHOOT DELAYED

 

 Our model is sick today so we have postponed our Photo Shoot until next week-end.  We will have our new Apron Collection ready to post then.  

This is a good time for my annual Disclaimer!  Quite often, people assume  that I (Corline owner/designer) is the Cute Model.  No, I am the one behind the cute model.  She is just as sweet as she looks and she is a dream to work with!  I adore her and appreciate her!

 May I invite you to visit us again soon ... we have a lot of cute new aprons I think you will enjoy seeing.

                          See you soon  ~ ~ Corline

                                     

SNEAK PREVIEW ~ apron photoshoot

PHOTO SHOOT  ~~  this weekend

I have been very busy .... fun, fun ...  

Will upload pictures this coming week ... thanks for visiting!

Corline   (www.overthetopaprons)

(if you have any questions about the aprons please feel free to drop me a note in the comments below ...  I will get back to you immediately!)

FOR YOUR VALENTINE ~~

The Valentine Gift that keeps on giving ...

  FOR THAT SPECIAL VALENTINE GIFT ...

if you know some one who loves to cook what could be more fun, more special than a Cute Pink and Red Ruffled Apron ?  that special someone in your life ... be it a girlfriend, mother, sister or friend this is the gift that keeps on giving; each time she puts this little apron on it will always bring out a smile and frankly what ever she is cooking it just has to taste better!

www.overthetopaprons.com   enjoy!   Corline

MEET THE ARTIST ~~

Meet The Artists ~ ~ ~  Gabrielle

                                    beewisegoods.com

Artist ~ Creator ~ Designer ~ Entreprenuer

     Shop Owner ~ Seamstress ~ Teacher

         Wife ~ Mother of Four ~ Friend

Complex?  Yes and No!  We all have talents, skills, creativity; quite often it just has to be explored and expressed.

CHILDHOOD TALENT TURNS INTO ADULT ACHIEVEMENT!

     Gabrielle has been an entrepreneur all her life!  As a small child she took her art work to her parents workplace, selling her art work to fellow co-workers. Was her art work exceptional?; not necessarily but the people appreciated her verve. Lemonade stands were constant attractions as well as front yard sales featuring her current do-dads. As a teen she was a proficient seamstress which led to making harnesses and dog booties for every condition of ice and snow making items for Iditarod mushers.  She made thousands and thousands of them and had quite the living as a junior and senior in high school.

     Once in college she floundered from biology to writing, to college sports and then finally realized that she was an artists at her core.  She got her BFA in sculpture, headed towards a Masters in Industrial Design.  This was interrupted by nine years of traveling with her professional athlete husband and having four children within five years.  This left little time for personal creativity.

     About 14 years ago they settled in Idaho and her desire to create was set on fire!  When the grocery bag business reared it's head a little over five years ago she knew she was back in business.

GOOD FRIENDS ARE GREAT FRIENDS!

     Wanting to be a part of the 'green movement' she tried using the hodge-podge of free bags which were usually left behind in her car.  Then an inspiration struck - she grabbed a paper bag and the next 5 hours she was designing and making herself some really cute grocery bags. A friend popped in and saw the bags and screamed, 'where did you get these???'  Informing her friend that she had made them the friend spent the next 5 hours convincing Gabrielle to sell them and go into business.  Nine days later the business was up and running, with orders from 5 boutiques (one in San Francisco), a website and all the other details.  It was crazy!!!

 

FIND A NICHE AND FILL IT  ...

     As the years have passed Gabrielle's items have changed and developed but her goals and vision stays the same ...  Find a need and fill it ...

       It has been a slow and arduous climb and she has not made a 'ton of money' ...  but she does make enough to supplement their income, etc.  It's worth all the thankless hours.  After running their business from her garden studio for the last 5 years, they have opened a boutique this year featuring the 65 or so items that she makes and there are also several other artisans selling in the shop to fill in the gaps.

BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WORTH IT! 

      Gabrielle shares that the hardest part of  any of this is believing that you deserve getting paid for what you utterly love.  As with anything in life , "if you value your time enough to charge for it, others will believe in that value and willingly pay you for it."

         This is a dream come true.  "Every time I set foot in my shop (daily) tears come to my eyes.  I love this life, I love what I have been gifted to do and I love that there are so many resources available to make my business better.  There is no end to my creativity, therefore my business will just continue to grow and change with the needs of our customers."

GABRIELLE'S WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT:

          For anyone considering a similar path:  if you are not money minded (bean counter) find a good bookkeeper.  Regardless of the level of your sales, if this aspect is not tracked very closely you WILL loose money, over spend or simply burn out because you are not getting paid.  She has a rule for herself that if she does not make $15 per hour plus materials to make something, then it does not make it beyond the exploratory phase.  Anyone, even the most passionate will get tired of their business more quickly if they are not making money.

Where Gabriele can be found:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bee-Wise-Goods/169341479772334

http://twitter.com/beewisegoods 

http://pinterest.com/beewisegoods/

http://instagram.com/gabriellekrakeatbeewisegoods?ref=badge 

www.beewisegoods.com (website)

beewisebags@me.com   (e-mail)

You may ask why did I choose to share Gabrielle's story with you?

Well, she is unique, she is special, she is one of a kind ... just like all of you!    Enjoy,  Corline

                       www.overthetopaprons.com