Simply Charming in SC: Review & Giveaway CLOSED

This giveaway is closed. dctm is our winner. See announcement here.

This week I am featuring handmade items for March Madness. The next crafter I'd like to feature is Abby of Simply Charming in SC. One day Abby left a comment about my talent on my CBD blog, which got me to check out her blog. I quickly discovered that she makes jewelry and other beaded items. She had such pretty items so I contacted her to see if she'd like to barter some graphic design for jewelry. I had some tiny silver tags that I won from a blog giveaway back in December and I wanted them fashioned into a bracelet. I sent the tags to Abby and she created this unique bracelet for me.I didn't really have a design in mind, but I love how the size of the beads vary, the pearly beads that flank the tags, and the clasp. I can take this bracelet on and off by myself. I just love it!!

I thought it would be fun to get to know some of the crafters I am featuring, so I did this interview with Abby.

What first made you want to become an artist?

I've always collected beautiful pieces of jewelry, and it never really occurred to me to try and make my own until last year, when a friend of mine from high school directed me to her Etsy shop. I was so intrigued by the idea, I ran to the bookstore to see what books I could find about jewelry making. I was immediately hooked! I've always considered myself a crafty person by nature, and jewelry design just came naturally to me.

What do you sell in your Artfire shop?

Jewelry---earrings, necklaces, bracelets, some sets. I work with mostly sterling silver, although I do have a few gold pieces for sale right now. I prefer working with crystals and gemstones, although I do work with glass beads as well. I also make something called S.C. Sunchimes, which is art you can hang in your home (think windchime, except with crystals and beads). The crystals and stones I use in those are meant to reflect light, so they create beautiful rainbows in your home!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I blog---I have 3 of them. It's my latest obsession. I am also an avid reader, so you'll often find me with my nose in a book. I also love to cook, although I'm not particularly a dabbler---I tend to follow recipes, and then try to improve them with my own twists.

Please describe your creative process. (how, when, materials, etc)

Sometimes I'm inspired by stones or beads I see in a shop, other times I think of a design first, and find the pieces later. I like to have everything out and in front of me when I design, so I can see everything I'm working with. Some jewelry designers set everything out on a mat before they string--I don't do that. I design by default---if I don't like the way it looks on the wire or string, I take them off and start over. I like to have the TV on in the background while I'm working, usually on the Food Network, and I usually craft at night.

What has been your favorite item that you made and why?

Probably my Under the Sea Sunchime, because it turned out exactly how I pictured it in my head. I'm also fond of the new jade and jet glass necklace. It was inspired by a necklace Addison Montgomery wore on an episode of Private Practice, and when I saw it, I thought, "I have just the perfect gemstones for that design!!!"

Where do you find your inspiration?

All over the place---it may be from a bead or connector I find in a store, it may be from a piece of jewelry I see someone wearing on TV or in person, sometimes I'm just inspired by nature. I keep a little notepad with ideas that I scratch down so when I get to crafting, they're all in once place.

How do you promote your work?

SO many ways!! I've already mentioned my blogs, one of which is solely devoted to supporting both my Etsy and ArtFire shops. I'm on Twitter and Facebook. I also have a display of jewelry up in my office, and I make a lot of sales that way.

If money and time were no object, what would you be doing?

I'd live in a big house on a secluded beach with my husband and our 4 cats, and I'd spend my days writing. My dream is to be a published author someday.

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Abby would is offering one of the following items to one of my lucky blog readers. The winner can pick either the ROYGBIV Sunchime or Day at the Beach Bracelet/Earring Set.This giveaway goes through 11:59pm CST on Tuesday, March 17. The winner will be drawn via Random.org and be posted on Wednesday, March 18. Th winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Prize will only be mailed to US addresses! **MAKE sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. Each comment is numbered and a winner will be chosen based on comment number.**

To enter this giveaway~

• visit Simply Charming in SC's ArtFire Shop and pick out your favorite item that Abby has created. Come back to this post and tell us which item you like and why. This step is required!
  

• You can earn 1 extra entry for following the Simply Charming in SC blog. Leave a comment saying you did this.
  

• You can earn 1 extra entry for following SCharmingSC on Twitter and twitting this giveaway. Make sure you leave your Twitter ID in your comment.

• You can earn 2 extra entries for blogging about this giveaway with a link to this giveaway and and Abby's ArtFire Shop. Leave 2 separate comments saying you did this with a link to your post.

That is a possibility of 5 entries. I will be verifying all entries and removing any that don't follow the rules. Please make sure you leave your email address if it's not linked on your blog or profile. Good luck!