Spotlight: One Little Bird Jewelry

Today's Spotlight artist is not simply just another jewelry designer, but one who has based her entire collection around a philosophy of giving and support. Gina created One Little Bird Jewelry as a way for people to support women and children in crisis and receive a beautiful memento in return. She donates 50% of all her profits to a crisis shelter in her town, and is in the process of adding additional charities to her giving list.

Read on to learn more about how she got started, why she does it and where she hopes to take it. You can also enter to win a beautiful necklace from her collection!

Where are you from - originally and currently live?

I am from Texas but now live in Baltimore. I get antsy living in just one spot for very long. I have lived many places, including down under – Australia.

Tell us about One Little Bird and your decision to donate a portion of your profits to charity

People are hurting. I REALLY want to help them. I know that others feel the same way as I do.
I created one little bird as a way to help others give. Individuals can give a steady flow of financial help to women and children in need by purchasing products and sharing one little bird with others.
Right now, one little bird has one main charity, but has chosen a second one that will be up on the website shortly.

You can also 'meet' Gina and learn more about her shop's mission in this video on her YouTube channel.

How long have you been selling your creations?

Since 2008

Do you sell your jewelry full time or do you have a day job?

I run one little bird but I also teach English to international students. My students are so much fun, and so are their fashions and accessories. My favorite fashion statement so far is a pair of “mice” flats that one of my Korean students would wear!

What, if any, formal training have you had in your craft?

I’ve had informal training from both professional and nonprofessional artists…just little lessons here and there. I also minored in art for my BA degree.

What made you decide to open up an online shop?

I started on Etsy, but my hobby grew into an official business, and I needed a website with more features and options for my customers.

Do you also sell on any other handmade websites such as Etsy?

I sell my clearance items on Etsy, the site where I first began one little bird. I don’t want to leave my little corner on Etsy yet; it is a neat community, and I think many artists on Etsy are really flourishing there - I like being a part of it!

What advantages and disadvantages do you have by selling on your own site?

I think all websites have their challenges. Sure, a site like Etsy already sets the web store up, but an artist is limited in web page design. I see a common myth/belief that because Etsy is a large community, each store will automatically have customers. Sure, this can happen, and that is wonderful when it does; however, I have read many many stories of people who market very hard for their Etsy stores. I was one of those people! Therefore, the switch to a “stand alone” site wasn’t too hard for me, especially since most my sales were not through Etsy. So far, I cannot explain any disadvantages to selling on my own site.

Where did your shop name come from?

My Mom is an artist and would draw pictures of little birds. Growing up, I liked to look at her sketches of the feathery critters. I also like the idea of “one” little bird, because one person can (this is cliché) “make a difference”. This is essentially what each customer is doing.

What inspires you?

NATURE. It is exquisite. It is rich, luscious, delicious, breathtaking, detailed, fascinating, varied, dizzying, fun, silly, fresh, sweet, ferocious….. I could go on and on. Nature makes me want to not only design but also dance, sing, cry, laugh, but thankfully, my business only sells the designs! Ha ha - You certainly wouldn’t want dancing lessons from me!

What do you like least about your craft?

Probably a love/hate relationship with staying unique. It’s hard to determine a “copycat” from another artist who just had the same idea as you. So an artist must always find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Do you have any advice for other artists thinking about pursuing their craft as a career?

I would rather be saying “go for it! Do what you love!” but I want to be blunt: think it through very carefully. The more I continue with one little bird, the more I realize that creating/designing is a small percentage of so many other parts (marketing, accounting, production, filing taxes, shipping, researching). Being an artist and being a business woman does not always come easy. It’s a special choice, but certainly not easy.

Where is the coolest place you have ever been?

OH a hard question! I’ve found so many neat places. I’ll go with scuba diving. It’s so much fun to be underwater and surrounded by curious bright fish, who stare at you in amazement just as you stare at them in amazement!

What is your favorite leisure time activity?

I have many favorites, so I will just pick one: browsing fashion magazines from other countries. I can’t understand all the languages, but the fashions and designs are both unique and inspiring.

What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you?

My imagination! It appeared when I was a kidlet, and has never left me. It has brought me fun (all my adventures when I was little), embarrassment (pretending to be something I wasn't in my teen years) and some of my best triumphs! (one little bird designs!)

Share some of your favorite music

I have a lot of favorite music, so I'll just talk about a few. I love music by Hollis Elisabeth. Her Album, Spending Scarlett, is beautiful. If you aren't sure who she is, you can find her fanpage on facebook. I also enjoy some of the classics (Dean Martin, Bing Crosby), movie soundtracks, and foreign artists, Irish music….the list could go on….

What would you like to learn to do?

I would like to learn to be a better make-up artist! I like the idea of the face being a blank canvas. I like watching the beauty guru’s on you tube to learn new ideas and tricks. I've also got a book coming to me called Get Positively Beautiful by Make-up artist Carmindy (from TLC's What Not to Wear). I'm excited to dive into it.

What does the future hold for you and your shop?

I want to be positive, so I’m going to say: “only good things”! There are a lot of people that need our help, and I want to see one little bird grow and thrive so it can be a channel through which help can flow out to others.

I hope all artists/designers will use their talents in some way to help others. I think when people see a spectacular design, they feel hope – so artists have a unique gift they can give to the world. And giving to others? That’s truly spectacular.

You can learn more about Gina, her work and her mission and keep up with new happening at One Little Bird by visiting her blog, checking out her You Tube channel or following her on Twitter and Facebook.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Gina is offering one lucky winner the beautiful red rose and pearl necklace shown above and a second winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to One Little Bird.

Here's How to Enter:
Please leave a comment on this post with your favorite item from One Little Bird AND also what type of jewelry you like to wear — big, small, gold, silver, fancy, simple, natural, etc!

You may 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, my Facebook or my Twitter

Follow or subscribe to the one little bird blog, Facebook or Twitter

(You do not need to leave separate comments for each, just mention which apply)

ONE MORE CHANCE TO WIN!

Gina is also offering a second $10 gift certificate to one winner drawn at random from all who subscribe to her You Tube Channel here.

You have until Sunday, July 25 at 10 pm (est) to enter and I will announce the winners Monday morning. Good luck!