Nolé Style and Beauty Indulgence

On The Spot : Meeting Street Designs

Shop: Meeting Street Designs
Owner: MaryMarsh

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
Because I create a wide variety of handmade items, I think my creations are perfect women and children of all ages. I sell mostly hair accessories, keychains, magnets, jewelry, and bookmarks.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
I have always loved making crafts. Being creative is one of the simple joys in life for me. It's the "creating something from nothing" that I enjoy. Starting my own business was something I've always wanted to do. I'd have to say that my inspiration came from my father who also owns his own business. I've seen the dedication and hard work it takes, but I am always willing to accept and take on any challenges. So far, it's been a dream come true!

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
Most of my ideas come from lots of careful brainstorming. It seems as though the "wheels" are always turning in my head trying to think of what new product I can come up with next. My latest creation... one of a kind button keychains!

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
Besides thinking of new projects to work on, I am usually out shopping or on walks with my husband and our dog. I also enjoy reading and spending time with my close friends.

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
I take great pride in my work and what I do. I design products that are not only useful but fun and unique as well. Best of all, all of my products are handmade by me. Knowing that something is handmade makes it that much more special. Buy handmade!

On The Spot: Robin Dalmiras Jewelry

Shop: Robin Dalmiras Jewelry
Owner: Robin

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
I believe my creations will be perfect for women who love fashion. My jewelry is fresh modern and can transform from day to evening. Either running errands, working, playing or an intimate evening out, you can wear each piece and feel great!

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
My family and friends inspired me to do so and gave me the push I needed. I also like having a bit more freedom in dictating my day instead of it being dictated for me. Being able to have a bit more time for family is nice as well. More flexibility is so very nice. Lastly, I love to create jewelry!

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
My ideas most of the time just come to me. I am also inspired by other artists. Art jewelry magazines, books also help with my ideas. Seeing other jewelry artists inspire me all the time. Seeing something I like and making some changes to make it my own piece also inspires me.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
When I am not creating jewelry, I am always looking for resources online either in forums or books for new techniques in metal-smithing. Looking around on Etsy and managing my listings. Sketching a new idea for a piece of jewelry. I love spending time with my family and friends. Taking good care of my husband and kids. I work part-time as a hairstylist and have been for 25 years.

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
I think most will love my jewelry because it is modern, fresh and can be worn everyday. For the fashion forward woman who wants to accessorize and feel good about putting an outfit together. Simplistic but cool jewelry!

On The Spot: Nicholas and Felice

Shop: Nicholas and Felice
Owner(s): Nick and Felice

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
We have a big range of products form big chunky funky aluminum earrings to tiny delicate pieces with pearls. We also have a geeky /science related line of jewelry. We’ve been amazed by all the different types of people who have been drawn to our work from ministers to high school urban kids to 80 year old women, stay at home moms and scientists all around the world.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
My father is an artist and has always been self employed except for when he was a high school art teacher. He gave me the confidence to believe that I could make anything I wanted and people would buy it. I never really had the right temperament to be a good employee for someone else. Nick and I have been self employed since the day we met 21 years ago in Guatemala when I was there buying clothing to import and he was traveling. We’ve never stopped working together and being together since then.

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
Our fist inspiration was South American and Central American jewelry back in the 80's. There were a lot of amazing imports of wirework from Peru back then. We started cutting grooves around stones for wirewrapping. Since then our designs have evolved from all sorts of influences. Nick is always reading and teaching himself new jewelry techniques and has an amazing machine shop now so that any idea he comes up with is possible to create. I often lay in bed late at night thinking about design ideas and then get up and play with my wire and hammer and beads. Our customers also come up with some great ideas for us to work on.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
Playing and taking care of our 3 and 5 year very active and busy little boys and doing all the million little things that need to get done in between.

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
We have so many different designs and ideas that there’s bound to be something you like. Besides making a quality affordable product we work hard to give great customer service. We always respond to emails and let you know exactly when your order will be shipped (usually within a day),package it nicely and make sure you know that we really appreciate you taking the time to look at our work.

On The Spot: Vintage Gardens

Shop: Vintage Gardens
Owner: Rebecca Weldon

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
Women who love the vintage look yet remaining in modern day trends.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
Creating jewelry became a passion for me, and the gratification I get from actually making money doing what I love inspires me to try harder for this to become my full time job.

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
I search for a center piece that catches my eye and then create around it. Antique stores, magazines, and the sellers of Etsy.com are just a few of the places where I get my inspiration for creating a new piece.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
I work full time as a sales assistant at a local TV station here in Jacksonville, FL. I also have another shop, The Artful Garden, (www.Angelecca1.etsy.com) that I maintain and create new pieces for. Other than that, I spend time with my wonderful boyfriend, Gene, and our 2 puppies, Angus and Frodo.

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
I create my jewelry using true vintage and/or vintage inspired components at a very affordable price. My pieces are unique and very eye-catching, sure to rack up many compliments! Most of my jewelry is also very versitile and can be great for evening wear or to dress up some casual jeans.

On The Spot: Crazy Daisy Designs

Shop: Crazy Daisy Designs
Owner: Melissa Ullom

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
My designs are for anyone who doesn't like to look like everyone else. I design for customers who appreciate art and the love that goes into handcrafted pieces.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
My business was an organic process. I've been making jewelry since I was a little girl, much to the frustration of my mom whose jewelry I took apart in order to do so. I was a psychotherapist for several years, but when I found myself sketching jewelry during therapy sessions, I knew I had to change professions.

3.Where do you get ideas for your designs?
My design inspiration comes from nature and travel. I carry a sketchbook everywhere I go, and I'm one of those people whose purse is full of rocks and leaves that I just had to use in my work.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
When I'm not in the studio, I'm cooking for friends, reading a book, working in my garden, or traveling.

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
I believe that people will like my work because it is completely handcrafted, from start to finish. Each piece holds a little bit of my heart, and each piece is created with love.

On The Spot - My Belle Bijoux

Shop: My Belle Bijoux
Owner: Michelle

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
My designs are targeted at women of all ages who like to express their originality through their choice of fashion accessories. They are perfect for anyone with a unique taste; people who appreciate one-of-a-kind creations that stray from mainstream fashion trends.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
Well, I'm just the kind of person who is happiest when making my own decisions, setting my own goals and creating my own destiny. I could never feel fulfilled or motivated working for someone else to achieve their dreams. I need to be doing something creative at all times! Another perk to working for myself is that when I get bored of creating one particular thing, I just come up with a new idea to work on and perfect until I get bored of that, and so on.

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
I don't know if I can really pinpoint where my ideas come from. I think most of the time I just decide on a basic media I would like to try out and then the materials sort of just tell me what I need to do with them. Sometimes ideas just pop into my head and I try them out. Often I get ideas while I'm asleep, in that weird stage somewhere between dreaming and waking.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
Sleeping! Or spending time with family and friends, or whiling away the hours on Etsy (browsing, shopping, posting in the forums or chat rooms).

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
Because it is different from most of the jewelry one sees on a day to day basis. It's fresh, new and innovative and every piece is a piece of wearable artwork.

On The Spot - Solo Artworks

Shop: Solo Artworks
Owner: Nicole

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
My creations are perfect for people of any age, who want to add something cute and classy to their jewelry collection. I aim to make pieces that will last you a lifetime, and that you will want to pass on to the next generation.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
I was inspired to start my own business by my parents who never doubted that I could do anything I really wanted to. I've been selling under the name Solo Artworks since I was a pre-teen. Last year at the age of 23 I was able to make crafting my full-time job.

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
The ideas for my designs come from examining tiny intracacies in patterns and textures. Almost all of my designs are based on texture, whether it be a hammered or brushed finish, or tiny coils of metal.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
When I'm not creating, I like to be outdoors on a walk through a park, or even through the city. Away from home I tend to look for the nearest hiking trails or lakes or beaches. I also have two house rabbits that keep me busy.

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
I think people love my work because it is timeless, and I work hard to make sure you get exactly what you're looking for. I do a lot of custom orders for a lot of amazingly wonderful customers.

On The Spot - Sparkle Couture

Shop: Sparkle Couture
Owner: Jenny

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?

I think my creations are perfect for anyone who likes to indulge in a little sparkle. I try to design jewelry that will stand the test of time and the trends.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?

My father, being a jeweler himself, taught me his skill at a young age. As I grew older so did my passion for jewelry, so I made a career out of it. I feel very blessed to say that.

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?

I usually get ideas for my designs in the gemstones, themselves. I also find inspiration in art, nature and of course fashion magazines, which I'm addicted too.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?

When I'm not creating, I'm usually playing with my kids and are new little wiener dog "Gingerella".

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?

I think people fall in love with my work because, most of my pieces are simple. I try to let the gems shine. My designs are easy to dress up or down.

On The Spot - SandySimone Jewelry

Shop: SandySimone Jewelry
Owner: Sandy

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
Anyone who likes simple jewelry that is easy to wear, yet classy and sophisticated.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
My "hobby" of many years outgrew my space, I wanted to expand the reach of my jewelry making and thought it would be fun to share my new ideas with people.

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
I think inspiration comes from everywhere. A lot of times I will see a gemstone or a piece of silver I am working on and suddenly an idea will pop into my mind. I also love to look at shapes on different textiles, also unique architecture inspires me.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
Probably reading, or playing with the kids(dogs).

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
It makes a statement that is personal but subtle.

On The Spot - Stokes Galleries

Shop: Stokes Galleries
Owner: Heather

1. Who do you think your creations are perfect for?
I think my creations are perfect for anyone who loves nature inspired jewelry. Polymer clay is also naturally quite light, so anyone who has a hard time wearing larger jewelry because of weight can often wear polymer clay.

2. What inspired you to start your own business?
I was inspired mostly by my family, and my closest friends. I have made things with polymer clay for years, and I have always gotten a lot of encouragement from those closest to me. It was because of them that I decided to start selling the things I create.

3. Where do you get the ideas for your designs?
My designs just sort of come to me. I am inspired by other artists, and people around me, and things I see just in every day life. I see various elements in nature, and I feel compelled to incorporate them into my work. I get a lot of my ideas for my nature inspired work, while I am gardening with my aunt.

4. When you aren't creating awesome stuff, what are you doing?
When I am not creating, I am usually online (usually on Etsy), talking to people or doing research for various things. During the spring and summer I spend a lot of time working outside in a vegetable garden, or working on flower beds, with relatives. I spend a lot of time with my family, and a few of my closest friends.

5. Why do you think people love/would love your work?
I think anyone who loves nature, would love my work. I feel like nature inspired jewelry is quite unique. The way I create my leaves is different from that of most polymer clay artists, and I am very picky about which leaves I use for certain designs. I have my own style, which gives my work a certain personality. I also pay attention to the little details of my work, even if it’s just the back of something. I feel it makes the pieces more professional. My jewelry can be elegant and classy, or fun and whimsical, depending on the color choices, and how it is worn, and I think that people like that kind of range in a shop.