Etsy Feature

With the holidays approaching I always think it is great to shop handmade. There is so much passion and effort put into creating products for people, it is just something a little extra every buyer gets, which makes handcrafted so great. I came across this etsy shop that does just that. Her name is Risa, and she has the shop, www.createdbyrisa.etsy.com. She has really beautiful jewelry pieces, which would make the perfect holiday gift for someone special.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your work:
I'm 47 years old--well 48 in a few weeks. My many roles include mom, new wife, friend, social worker, and last, but not least artist. One way or another, I've been making art most of my life. As a student, I always found a way to take extra art classes. After college I went off to work, but continued to make art in my spare time. Finding that spare time was harder as a single parent. I scrambled to find time and the space to make art. Now my kids are grown, I have an art studio (!) and I spend as much time as I can making art, jewelry, or whatever creative endeavor tickles my fancy.

How did you come up with your shop name?
Not too complicated...my name is Risa. I love that my name is unique. It means laughter.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
That's really hard, since I fall in love with every piece I make. But if I had to pick one piece close to my heart, I would pick my "Follow Your Heart: Create" necklace (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16367935) because it exemplifies my philosophy. It's also the piece I opened my shop with.


Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?
Follow your passion. And you are never too old to do that.

What are your favorite materials to work with?
I enjoy working in a number of different mediums, so it varies. If I'm making jewelry, I love including colorful seed beads and various glass beads. When painting, I choose to paint with acrylics on canvas. And then I have a passion for crafts using tissue paper and modpodge!

You can find her work at www.createdbyrisa.etsy.com, and you can check out her blog at www.createdbyrisa.blogspot.com