Etsy finds

I was recently introduced to the work of jewelry designer Angelyn Pass of Glāk Love. Angelyn is an Atlanta based artist who developed what she calls Celluloidic Artistry™, a unique process for creating pieces using vintage exposed film negatives as a medium. I caught up with Angelyn to learn more about her work and what inspires her.

Tell me a little about yourself and your work.
I’m an artist and jewelry designer based out of Atlanta. I make all of my original works out of vintage exposed film negatives. I cut film and use it as my medium to create designs. For my jewelry line, I focus on simple, whimsical images, anything that makes me smile. For my fine art work, I like to focus on very intricate designs that look deceptively simple from a distance, and I use subjects from the original negatives (friends, places, etc.) to tell a story that makes up the larger image.

How did you get started making things?
I actually started playing with film as an actress. I was (still am) an actress in Atlanta, and a couple years ago was going through quite a rough time. I was struggling with getting enough work in acting and finally decided I needed to leave it behind and get a full time job. While the job was great and I was able to make ends meet, I became depressed without my creative outlet. One night I took out an old film reel and decided that if I could no longer be in film, then I’d cut film up and make it do what I wanted it to do. I cut out a simple city landscape and laid it between glass then held it up to the light, and completely fell in love with the medium all over again. Less than a year later the whole idea took off and I was able to leave my job, form a company and make things full time.

What inspires your work?
For my jewelry, I like to create designs that are delightful and make me feel happier just by wearing them. Like dinosaurs. For my fine art light boxes, a lot of my inspiration has come from the subjects themselves in the negatives, and the whole idea of transformation from one thing into something else.

Outside of your creative business, what are your other hobbies and interests?
I still love acting, and play a bit in independent film. I also enjoy making anything with my hands, because at the end of the day it’s something tangible that you can touch and say “yep, I did that.” So I’ve started dabbling in a lot of things…just enough to make me very dangerous with a Skill Saw.

Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve made?
I have a light box called “You Give Me Butterflies” that is very close to my heart, and I’m currently working on a companion piece for it called “Letting Go”. My favorite necklace hands down is “Rawr”, it features a T-Rex and Brachiosaurus that have fallen in love despite their differences in food choices.

Where do you see your company in 2 years?
I’m just starting to branch out of Atlanta and get my jewelry in stores in different cities, and it’s really exhilarating when I hear a boutique in Boston or Columbus, OH decides to carry my line. I hope to just keep the momentum going and be represented coast to coast (fingers crossed!), travel to more festivals around the country during the year, and keep making a living doing what I love to do. For my fine art, one of my biggest dreams is to have an installation during the Sundance Film Festival, and it’s a goal I like to focus on whenever I get frustrated while cutting out 600 birds for a piece. (smile)

What advice would you give to someone just getting started in pursuing their creative dreams?
Just keep doing, Just keep doing, Just keep doing.

Thanks to Angelyn for this fantastic interview! (And Angelyn, I love your last piece of advice – it’s the same I would give to anyone too!!!) Check out more of Angelyn’s work at her website, Glāk Love, or in her Etsy shop.

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Norah Downey of Your Daily Jewels is an inspiring woman. By day, she inspires kids as a pediatric physical therapist, and in the rest of her free moments, she creates colorful and fun semi-precious gemstone jewelry. I recently caught up with her to find out more about her work.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I consider myself double-lucky. I love designing and making jewelry. I wake up at night with ideas swirling and sketch book ready. But I am equally passionate about my work as a pediatric physical therapist. I use a therapy strategy known as “hippotherapy” in which I utilize the movement of the horse as a therapy tool for my (mainly) pediatric patients. I spend my days with horses, adorable kids, and jewelry and wouldn’t change a thing!

Amethyst Crystal and CZ Pave Focal Bead Necklace

How did you get started making things?
As a child I poured through my grandmother’s collections of costume jewelry and piled it on. My mother never had pierced ears so I had plenty of her clip-ons to wear. At age three, I also loved scarves, and basically, accessorizing! I have loved jewelry ever since. “Love” is not the right word, really. From Harry Winston to the Dollar Store, it is intriguing to me. I am intrigued by wearing it, owning it, and touching it. The only thing I do not like is simply looking at it in a window. This is hard for me. Beautiful jewelry that I cannot wear simply hurts my feelings! I found the best remedy for this is to make as much as I want. Now I love making it as much as I love wearing it!

What inspires your work?
If I were to pick one of many sources of inspiration, it would be color. I cannot remember a time when I was not attracted to and collecting sparkling, shining, colorful beads and baubles. I have always collected these beauties, never really knowing what I would do with them.

Nowadays I am surrounded and inspired by the ever-changing natural colors of the Hudson Valley. Maybe it seems so vibrant to me because I lived in NYC for 20 years, surrounded by shades of grey.

Ankle Bracelets With Multi Color Gemstones, Matte Gold Clover Chain

Outside of your creative business, what are your other hobbies and interests?
For years, my creative endeavors were limited to writing, and painting. It was my patients who got me into making jewelry. I work with children, some of whom may never walk or ever speak. But they all smile. In order to “buy” some compliance during sometimes-unpleasant therapies, I needed to come up with a bribe, oops, I mean incentive. I started making little bracelets with the beads I collected since I was their age. With every bracelet, I told them funny stories about the beads and they loved receiving these bracelets. It sounds corny, but my patients inspire me to be the best me, and to be creative, everyday.

Petite Bright Neon Pink Candy Jade Tiny Earrings With Sterling Silver

What do you want your customers to know?
I want my customers to know that how my customer feels when wearing my jewelry is foremost in my mind when I am designing and creating. Therefore, quality and comfort are my first priority.

Next is color. This is “my thing.” I use as much color as possible in my collections. My tag line is “Live Life in Color”

Lastly is cost. Affordable is relative, but I make jewelry that looks like it should be way more expensive than it is. I work hard to source out the best stones for the money. I use some AAA quality gemstones, However, I find that some stones of “lesser quality” have equal beauty for other reasons; be it vibrant color or natural facets or flaws. In addition, using gold-filled metal and not pure gold is the greatest tool in making affordable jewelry. It looks and wears like gold at a fraction of the cost. Keeping my costs down will allow me to reach my goal.

Beach Glass, Sea Glass, Etched Glass, Handknotted Rainbow Necklace

Where do you see your company in 2 years?
As a self-trained jewelry maker, I have a list of skills yet to master. I plan to chip away at this list with great momentum. In two years I would like to be the shop where women come to buy their “daily jewels.” In other words, I would like a solid business built on repeat customers.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started in pursuing their creative dreams?
To those creative souls starting out I have this advice: Make a decision as to whether you intend to create as a hobby or a career. If you expect to make a living creating, be prepared to put as much or more time into the business end, as you spend creating. Like any business, it is hard and parts of it is not fun. Even if you never have a brick and mortar business, you must spend hours a day promoting, advertising, networking, keeping books, servicing customers, and much more. Budget your time with this in mind and you will prosper.

Solid, Fine Silver Triple Joined Loops with Pale Apple Green Chrysoprase

Find more of Norah’s work in the Your Daily Jewels Etsy shop, her second shop, PJClarke Handmade, or follow her blog, Facebook or Twitter.

A big thanks to Your Daily Jewels for advertising with Miss Malaprop! We love our sponsors!

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