Where are you from? Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am from Riga, Latvia. This is small European country. It is lovely Northern country with great four seasons - hot summers, cold, snowy winters, fantastic autumns and beautiful springs. And capital Riga is truly charming European city. There are many great artists from Latvia in Etsy, I think it's worth checking their work.
How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
My shop name is foxfragaria. It includes fox, which is my totem animal, and fragaria, which means strawberry in Latin - I love the juiciness and cuteness about it! I started making jewelry more that 3 years ago. Initially I only wanted to make couple of things for myself, but making jewelry turned out a very addictive thing! I have learned a lot during the process, which is a great feeling. Gradually I started selling my things to acquaintances and in local craft fairs, and it fills me with enormous joy to see wearer of my jewelry looking so good. As I wanted to expand the circle of my customers, I opened a shop at Etsy.
What are 5 things you want people to think when they see your product?
I hope they see that my things are:
- interesting
- well made
- one of a kind
- wearable
- joyful
What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass up?
It changes through times. For instance, there was a period when I loved wood beads and used them a lot! I still love them by I use them much less. I loved silver toned metal most but just recently I start to feel that I might try to work with brass, and so on. I have always loved quality stones and lampwork beads. I feel very lucky that I have this amazing opportunity to buy beautiful lampwork beads from my good friend, lampwork artist Laila Strazdina. And colours - I like them all, actually color is main component in my jewelry - I, kind of, try to "paint" certain scene with bead colors.
What do you do when you’re not being an artist? What activities do you enjoy?
I work in PR and as a translator and interpreter, mostly with arts therapy field. I love reading, cinema, theatre and art exhibitions.
Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
Oh, I can't tell. :) Just one? No. I love them all! The interesting thing is that sometimes the simplest designs are the ones that had required most work and consideration. It amazes me, that when it is finished it looks so easily put together. But actually every single bead is in it's place and sometimes it was a lengthy experimentation until the right solution was achieved. And when you have it, that is, when the piece becomes "living and breathing", it is a great joy.
What keeps you motivated?
To be honest slow sales at Etsy rather demotivates me. :( But making the jewelry is a truly captivating activity so it is not difficult to engage in it!
If you could give a piece of advice to a new shop - what would it be?
I think from business point of view it is very important to have distinctive style dedicated to very certain type of customer. To have it, to develop it and to evolve it.
Are there other places on the internet we can find you?
I do have a blog about my jewelry but it is in Latvian I am afraid. But, on the other hand, I believe that picture is worth a thousand words, so I have very many pictures in my blog, therefore, if you feel interested to take a curious look at it, you are very welcome! The address is: foxfragaria.blogspot.com.
I also tweet things every now and then, and I do that in three languages: in Latvian, in Russian and in English. The address: twitter.com/#!/foxfragaria.
