Spotlight: VerreEncore

You gotta respect anyone who will don head to toe protective gear, safety goggles, a respirator and brave 1500° temperatures just to create lovely little works of art for us to enjoy. Meet Lynsey of VerreEncore. Since the first time my eyes saw her Extraordinary Canary (one of my first Etsy purchases), I was hooked. Her creations are unique and beautiful and I've come to learn over the past year that she is a total sweetheart to boot!

Read on to learn more about her creative process, all she balances on a daily basis and her dream of being a surfer girl. You can also enter to win one of her necklaces!

Where are you from originally and currently live?
At the moment I’m living in St. Louis attending graduate school at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. HOMEhome is with my family in Peoria, IL. Although I truly consider Chicago a home since I’m often there with m boyfriend, Patrick.

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I’ve been selling on Etsy a little over 2 years now.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?
Where to begin? I’m a woman of different hats at the moment. I did Etsy full time for the better part of my shop’s first year. Since 2008, I’ve been in graduate school for Art Therapy Counseling. Also working at an assistantship placement as well as doing an internship. I try to balance all these commitments. Creating jewelry is a wonderful creative outlet for me.

What, if any, formal training have you had in your craft?
Most of my methods are self-taught. I had some exposure to a brief color on metal class and loved what I saw. So I saved everything I could, and purchased my kiln.

What made you decide to open up shop on Etsy?
I loved making jewelry and playing in the metals studio, and was searching for “work” in which I’d be happy putting in hours. I thought “if other people like my things… they can enjoy wearing my pieces… and I can continue creating!” My Etsy shop was born soon thereafter.

Where did your shop name come from?
The name is French, Verre = Glass ; Encore = Again.
So my shop name, Verre Encore, is Glass Again in the translated version.
Enamel is initially powdered glass which I apply to metal to fuse it and create a wearable piece of jewelry. The French perfected the art of using enamels, and many of the enamel techniques are French in their orientation, so VerreEncore is meant to honor the materials as well as the masters of enameling.

What inspires you?
“Nature.” Gosh, isn’t that always the answer? At the same time though, what artist could not be impacted by the surrounding wonders of colors, shapes, and textures? The metal itself is a big inspiration to me as well. I often like to approach the raw metal without any preconceived plans. Some of the most creative pieces happen from simply taking this open approach.

What do you like least about your craft?
The creative process can be hazardous. So I have to wear lots of protective gear, which gets a little cumbersome. I like to sift the enamel (powdered glass) because it gives a smooth, even coat. But this requires me to wear a special respirator and eye safety equipment. The finished product is totally worth it though!

Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?
Something I have difficulties with is the ebb and flow of business. Sometimes things are going really well in the shop, and at other times there are tumbleweeds blowing through. My advice is just to stick with it. Reading my buyer’s feedback on my jewelry gives me incredible courage to plug along. Another bit of advice is to try new things in your craft. When creating becomes monotonous and predictable I feel burnt out and uncreative. Learning and trying new things ALWAYS rekindles my love for creating :)

Five Etsy Shops you love
This was REALLY heard. I love all of my favorites! But if I HAD to say 5 off the top of my head:
thenoisyplume
timberps
lilarubyking
yellena
SharonMontrose

Five things you love
Patrick (my boyfriend). Was that too cheesy? :)
Spending time with family
Puppies (the livefeed puppy cams are an instant pick-me-up)
Being near water (ocean, lake, river, creek, or puddle)
Learning to use new art materials via investigation

Five things you dont
onions
continually cloudy days
when cops violate traffic laws
forgetting important days
lectures

Where is the coolest place you have ever been?
Surprise Lake, hiking up the Grand Teton in WY! Near the top of a 4.5 mile ascent, the mountain kept an incredible glacier lake. Water so still, blue, and clear. It was a moment I’ll never forget. I time when I felt so connected to nature and myself.

What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you?
It wasn’t too long ago, I had a buyer whose address was on the same street I grew up on 1,500 miles away. I thanked the buyer graciously and then asked if she might perhaps remember the Phelps’ (my family) who lived on her street 12 years ago. She shockingly wrote back and remembered not only my family, but me. The memories of knowing her family came flooding back. She reminded me to purchasing some of the first jewelry I had ever made — tiny beaded safety pins. And out of the billions of places she could have found a new pair of earrings… she found my tiny Etsy shop without any knowledge it was mine.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, with whom would it be?
I don’t know the exact person… but I’d love to trade places with a professional surfer for a week. I’ve always wanted to play in the ocean all day. However, being in the Midwest doesn’t lend itself to catching waves day in and day out.

Share some of your favorite music
Headwater, Muse, Devotchka, Postal Service, the Bird and the Bee, Kings of Leon, Wilco, Sufjan Stevens

What would you like to learn to do?
I would love to learn how to garden. My mom has a wonderful green thumb.
All I have to say is… my poor plants are lucky I have a great roommate who can look after them!

What does the future hold for you and your shop?
I’m actually in the process of beginning another shop… SoundsofSilver, which will feature more metal (copper, silver, brass, etc) jewelry. I plan to continue VerreEncore as well. Lately I’ve been into metalworking a lot more, so I’d like to incorporate those new skills with my enameling.

You can keep up with Lynsey and her work by visiting her blog and following her on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Lynsey is offering up her Tiny Blue Enamel Pebble Accent necklace to one lucky winner. Talk about a perfect little staple piece!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:
Please leave a comment with your favorite item from VerreEncore AND also what products, designs, or colors you would like to see more of.

You can enter once per day and YOU MUST INCLUDE your first name -AND- etsy username or email address with every entry. (If you are worried about email spam, you can spell out the 'at' and 'dot' rather than using the standard email format.)

Receive additional entries (one each) if you:

Follow or subscribe to this Blog or my Facebook page

Follow or subscribe to Lynsey's Blog

Twitter/Facebook/Blog about the giveaway

Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

You have until Monday, February 1 at 8 am (est) to enter and I will announce the winner later that morning. Good luck!

A Little Something Extra…

In addition to the necklace, Lynsey is offering another giveaway and a discount in her shop! (And by the way, it IS ok to treat yourself on Valentine's Day :)

Just mention 'lillyella' upon checkout and receive 20% off your purchase from VerreEncore AND be entered to win a pair of her Blue Droplet Earrings! The discount is valid through January 31 and the giveaway drawing will be held in one week. Feel free to contact Lynsey through her shop with any questions.