Let’s revisit Natalie from Natty Creations

Where are you from and tell us a bit about yourself:
I’m from Montreal, Quebec (Canada) and lived there for most of my life. Last year I moved to Toronto, Ontario and I’m enjoying exploring this beautiful city! I’m a self-taught jewelry designer and have been creating jewelry for over four years now. I have studied and practiced all forms of art my entire life and have a Bachelor’s degree in art history and film studies. Jewelry making, drawing, painting, print making, collage, dancing, film making: I love it all!

Why did you start your Etsy shop? 
I was selling jewelry in person at a local shop while in Montreal and was constantly asked if I sold on-line, so I started searching for a great place to offer my creations on the Web, and was told by many that Etsy was the place to do that! The Etsy community is very welcoming.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I truly love all my creations and spend so much time designing each of them, so it’s a bit hard to choose one favorite! I have to say though, that I love my turquoise bracelets especially this one because it’s elegant, modern and stylishly fabulous! http://www.etsy.com/listing/50754221/trendy-turquoise-swarovski-crystal

If you had to choose another medium in which to display your ‘creativity’, what would that be, and why?
I would have to say painting because, although I’m not a great painter nor paint often, I’ve always found that as with jewelry-making, painting brings me an inner calmness that is quite relaxing.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
I adore seeing the final product of what I envisioned. After all the work of deciding what materials to use, what design and then spending the time to construct my idea, seeing the final result put together is very gratifying.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
I have always loved jewelry and by chance, found that my creativity was best expressed through this medium. It’s also great to be able to make jewelry for yourself, exactly the way you want it to be, and wear your creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?
One day I was wandering in the mall looking for a birthday gift for a friend and happened to walk into a craft store. I decided it would be a great idea to make her something I had never done before (I usually always make part of my gifts). The sales woman told me what I needed to design a necklace and pair of earrings and I went home to create my very first set of jewelry. My friend adored her gift so I then made a pair of earrings for each one of my girlfriends’ birthdays until they all had one! I got many compliments and requests for customs orders then began selling in shops, created my own Web site, Facebook fan page, and now I’m on Etsy!

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
I try to create a variety of jewelry I hope will please different tastes. I want women to be able to express their unique individuality and feel great with who they are when wearing my jewelry.

Any advice on selling things handmade?
You have to remember that there is always someone else trying to sell items that are similar to yours, so you need to try your hardest to get potential customers to look at your items first. The best way to do this is by promoting as much as possible (Twitter, Facebook, Etsy forums, etc) and maybe offering a little something extra that your competitors might not have. It will take time, but always remain positive, good things will come.

Any other sites you can be found on?
You can become a Natty Creations fan on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/natty.creations) and visit my official Web site (www.nattycreations.com).

**If you live in Montreal (Quebec), or are planning a trip to the city, you can also see/purchase some of my designs in person, which are on sale at the women’s fashion boutique, Blu Berry, located at 2123 Ste-Catherine Street W.
 **All items sold by Natty Creations are not intended for use by children under the age of 12