...of
Amy Olson Jewelryby Dawn of
creatively anew
I had the pleasure of being in a show with Amy Olson. Being neighbors I thought it would be fun to interview her for the blog. We chatted about art and life, which evoked some questions about her artwork.
DW: How did you get started crafting?
AO: I got started crafting when I was very young. In order to keep me entertained when I was a child, my grandma would teach me how to do different crafts, which I'm sure could keep my attention for hours! I great pictures of me sitting with my grandma when I was around 3 years old and we would be crocheting together! I think that was the first craft that I learned. From there, I also learned how to knit and then I got into jewelry making. I started making
beads, first with paper, then with puffy paint (oh my!), and then polymer clay. I experimented with all different kinds of mediums for jewelry when I was in my teens, then I went to work for Mark and Viki Lareau, who own
the Bead Factory in Tacoma, WA. That was where I began to perfect my skills in wire wrapping and experimenting with gemstones.
DW: What made you start a craft business and what were you doing before?
AO: I started doing trunk shows about 3 years ago back in Bellingham, WA and they would go really well. Then, when my husband and I decided to move to Boston so that he could go to grad school, he suggested that I make my art a full-time business. So, as of September of last year, I've been considering it my full-time job, though I don't always clock in full-time hours!
I also work at a little wine bar/bistro a few nights a week. It's good for me to get out of the house and be social.
DW: What was your inspiration for your Winter Collection?
AO: Well, honestly, I'm not really sure. What usually happens is I will make something using colors or materials that remind me of the season and if I like it, then voila, there's my inspiration for the rest of the collection! I try to do things a little differently, though. Like, for my last year's winter collection, I went with blue and white. This year, it's brass, pearls, and mixed metals.
DW: You have a distinct vintage look do you use vintage pieces or new?
AO: I use both! I've seen people use solely one or the other, but I want my look to be a combination of both. I like to take vintage components and incorporate them into a modern design for a fresh look!
DW: So the process for building your collections comes from the materials?
AO: Well, yes, I guess so. I really enjoy shopping for supplies and I tend to get inspiration from what I find. I'm also a magazine junkie, which is great for fueling my creativity. I also love antique and book stores and little boutiques. The boutiques are great because I can see what colors and trends are popular right now, but also because I would love to own one someday! Actually, what I'd like to have is a little studio boutique, where my studio would be in the back
and the front would house my work, as well as other artists', which would be for sale.
DW: What a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing your artwork. If you want to hear more about Amy Olson check out her
blog.
