**** The Eclectic Element Feature Review****

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hi everyone! My name is Kayla and I'm 21 years young. I live with my parents, a younger sister, and a dog named Jake (a.k.a Booger) in the tired state of Illinois {I say tired because it's tired to me and I can't wait to get out!}. I'm a very eclectic person {hence the name}-I like to pole dance for fitness. I'm a certified Reiki Master. I'm a book worshiper; you name it, I read it. Chocoholic extraordinaire. Nature lover, outdoors woman, and tree hugger {quite literally!}. Despite all that, I'm not your typical 21 year old. I can't go to college, get a job, or move out on my own. Unfortunately, this is not my choice-I suffer from chronic Lyme Disease, and I've been sick for close to 7+ years now.

Hello Booger

 Unlike most people in my position, I don't consider it a bad thing. Of course I would very much like to be healthy and able to do things, but without the Lyme, I wouldn't be talking to you about my business and my jewelry right now. The whole reason I started The Eclectic Element was to keep myself busy when I was confined to bed for 10 months back in 2009, and it's grown beyond what I could have ever comprehended. I've met so many wonderful people and got to do so many incredible things; I've just gained so much, that I'm too thankful to be sad about what could be :)

2. When did you first start making/selling on etsy?
I've always been a crafty and artistic person as far back as I can remember, but I started creating my jewelry a few years after I got sick-I'd say sometime in or around 2005. One of my high school teachers, who was also chronically ill, brought me to one of her support groups and the craft of the month was beading :) From there, I was helplessly hooked. It was a little later that I started actually selling my creations; I believe I opened both of my Etsy shops back in 2009 a few months apart, but it wasn't until later that I really started getting into selling seriously.

3. Do you have a favourite creation or favourite find if vintage?
I'll do you one better-I'll give you my favourite creation AND my favourite vintage find! I've created many things through the past 5+ years, but I always find myself eyeing this particular bracelet every now and again:

As for vintage, it's a shame that I can't pick more than one, but I think one that's in my top 10 would have to be these earrings I purchased recently:

4. How/where do you find your materials to work with?
I'm a "poor college student" in essence, so money is pretty scarce for me and since I can't get a job, it's even more so non-existent, but I have my ways ;) A few of my favorites are thrift/vintage shops like the Goodwill and Salvation Army. Estate and garage sales. Flea markets. Even some kind souls over the years have sent me different things from extras in their jewelry box, to beads and charms from their collections and shops...Like I said, if there's a way to get supplies very inexpensively, I find it. Oh, I also like to win things a lot, so I've accumulated several things that way, too!


5. What do you like/dislike about selling online?
I like selling online because it reaches a MUCH wider audience then if I were to just set up in a brick and mortar storefront. Granted, craft fairs and consignment shops are great for a business, but with the WWW, you can reach people from all around the world with the same likes and style as yourself and what you create. As for what I don't like, I'd have to say shipping. I hate having to figure out how much shipping is going to be for a particular item, especially if it's an international order >.<

6. Any tips for new artisans just starting up shop?
Social media it up! Seriously, if there was only ONE thing I could share with you all, it's social media as a promotion tool is a powerful, powerful thing! I can't tell you how much it has transformed my life, not just my business. Facebook, Twitter, Etsy's chat and forums, features {like this one}, giveaways if you can, etc; invest time in it, and you'll see!
7. How can people contact you?
Here is every which way you can contact/reach me, and feel free to do all of them!
http://www.theeclecticelement.etsy.com/
http://www.theeclecticelement2.etsy.com/
http://www.theeclecticelement.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/TheEclecticElement
www.twitter.com/#!/TheEclecticE
Because of my illness, I haven't been able to make anything for my handmade shop, so it's stayed empty for awhile now, however if you see something you like from this feature, or sold listings, I'm always open for custom work :D

8. Anything else you might like to add
Do what you love and love what you do. Ultimately, that's all that really matters; just follow your passion and things will fall into place :)
9. If you were to describe yourself as a piece of furniture, what would you be?
Interesting question...I think I'd have to be an armoire, just because I love that word xD


At the moment I am not in a position to offer a giveaway but would love to give your readers a 20% discount off their next purchase from my shop. Use the code KRISHENKA at checkout.


I would like to offer a special thank you to Kayla for her optimism in life and her courage in coping with  Lyme's Disease, if you don't know about you can find an explanation here on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease 

I wish you Kayla  as I am sure everyone who reads this article all the very best. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

Featured Guest Blog "Scarf It Up"

I “met” Chrissie on Etsy during one of my foraging episodes for vintage buttons back in 2008. I LOVE vintage buttons! At the time I was seeking large, unusual buttons to embellish felted bags and/or for making funky bead & button jewelry. Our mutual admiration flourished from there. I was further intrigued by her location – in France – since I am a certified francophone (studied in France, taught French for 20+ years, traveled there many times, and have family there!). So naturally, I was very much interested in FRENCH vintage buttons!


When Chrissie asked me to write for her blog, I was honored and excited – and then stumped! What to write? Although my experience includes teaching languages and working in higher education and private practice as a career counselor, my third career has become entirely focused on creating wearable fiber art in knit, crochet, and felt. I am and have always been a recycler, upcycler, repurposer (or whatever the current term is!), thrift shopper, and enamored of making old into new.

My latest ideas – and they do change frequently! – include the use/reuse of old silk scarves that I’ve worn and collected over MANY years, those of my parents, and others that have been recently generously offered by local friends. I wanted to create small, elegant, evening bags from these scarves, adorned with vintage lace, embellishments from other scarves, and vintage buttons. And although I’ve sewn clothing and home décor for many years, sewing is not my forte or passion, although I do understand the basics of construction.

This project, however, became far more complex than I first imagined – and FAR more strenuous and wearing on the hands (planning my next carpal tunnel surgery in May)! Rather like rug hooking, strips of silk and/or ribbon, yarn, or other textiles are pulled through burlap or monk’s cloth on an embroidery hoop using a crochet hook. I collected scarves with a color theme, tore or rotary-cut them into strips – experimenting all the while with width, design, fibers, etc. And once I filled the 6 or 7” square or circle with pulled silk strips (many hours of intense work), I then was confronted with how to construct the back, lining, pocket, strap, and decoration.

In spite of many years of clothing construction for my children and myself, and even a tailoring class - but MANY years ago – and lots of home sewing, I was stymied by how best to proceed. UGH!!! It was much trial and error, and ultimately probably four days in the making, but I finally produced the first Rug Bud Bag, pictured below.


It is all taupes and neutrals, from silk chiffon, silk gauze, charmeuse scarves, then lined and backed with dupioni silk fabric, embellished with vintage lace, Hanna silk ribbon, and a handcrafted silk bow from a remaining scarf and a vintage button. I added a vintage button closure on the back and finished it with a grosgrain ribbon strap. I had no idea what I was doing!


As owner and sole-designer for Scarf It Up!, I do like to sell my work. But this prototype bag with its valuable components and (too) many hours in construction would have to fetch far too much to make it worth my while.  I loved the bag immediately, but I hated it for being so painful (yes!), time-consuming, labor-intensive, and so damn cute!

Undaunted and with a few days reprieve, I decided (what was I thinking!) to try another – this time ROUND! OMG!!! Really….WHAT was I thinking. I thought I’d try using some bulky yarns in addition to the silk, thinking it would go faster, fill up the space on the hoop in no time at all. It proved to be even more difficult to pull through the monk’s cloth, and the shape made it all the more impossible to back and line. Too much hand sewing, more trial and error, and about FIVE days later, I finally produced this imperfect Rug Bud Bag II.
This one is backed with black velvet, lined with recycled trouser material, and embellished with burgundy tulle, a jewelry finding from another Etsy artist, Premiera Elements, and a crocheted chain strap.

And finally…..I decided to try just one more – and this one I’m thinking of keeping for myself! Actually I may end up keeping them all, because I doubt I can sell them at a price worth my while for the creation process. This one made use of all the animal print scarves I acquired, plus vintage lace and buttons from my stash. The process took a little less time, but I dawdled hugely since my favorite part is NOT the sewing or particularly all the required hand sewing.

I also have another in the making, but I’m really not sure it will ever be completed!

With very sore fingers and hands – and a studio that had materials from one end to another and required hours to organize and clean up, I think I may lay this idea to rest.  What to do with the rest of the scarves – well……not all of them, because many have sentimental value!  The next idea:  silk and ribbon button earrings!  And these – with the proper equipment, which I have since purchased on Etsy and eBay – are a no-brainer.  And quite cute!  What do YOU think?

Although a limited Etsy seller, Scarf It Up!, I sell mostly in three local boutique/galleries in the Wilmington area of southeastern North Carolina: Port City Pottery & Fine Crafts, aMuse Artisanal Finery, and Artful Living Group.  You can find me (Louise Giordano) on Facebook, my blog, and flickr.  Please take a look at my OTHER work – in knit, crochet, and felt.  Maybe I should stick to those!

Thank you so much Louise for sharing your beautiful and such creative work, it has been an absoulute pleasure for me and I had a real challenge in deciding which of your pictures to add as I love them all.

What's in an Old Tin

Came across this tin a few days ago on one of my travels, and when I saw it of course I wanted it (yes so now you know I collect tins too) and also to open it up but the lid would not budge no matter how I tried. The seller tried but had no luck, you could hear something rattle inside and of course I asked "What's in the tin" to which they replied with a very French shrug "Je ne sais Pas" mmh, now I really wanted to open this tin!! 

A few hours later and I am home and managed with much huffing and puffing to finally open the tin, and this is what I found.

The beetle brooch I thought at first was a Scarab Beetle but now unsure due to the markings and I will endeavour to find out more about it.

This stunning brooch was almost black and I am in the process of very gently restoring it, delighted that it is intact and so therefore will not be subjected to being dismantled, well not by me anyway!

This heart shaped pendant with a stunning Stag engraved on the top half and  when open  there is a heart shaped clear glass disk so I guess a lock of hair or photo could be added. The name on the back not sure but may be a town in France, must google it sometime soon.

Yes there's more! This one is a 4 stranded black glass possibly Jet with a gorgeous square clasp closure.

The next one is another brooch beautiful emerald green in colour

Pair of Marcasite earrings but  2 stones missing

So all in all you can imagine my face when I finally got to open this tin. I think christmas came early for me this year. So next time you come across and old tin, I just bet you open it:)