Spotlight on...

Diaspora Designs African jewelry with beads from my world travels

Gloria's Jewelry Box is very excited about our weekly Artist Spotlight Series. This is the first interview of many to come. Show her some love!

1. Tell me a little about yourself! What inspired you to open an ETSY shop and what is your business?

I have a background in ceramics and sculpture and received a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Alfred University. I love working with my hands. I have been sewing, collaging, drawing and sculpting with anything and everything for as long as I can remember.

2. What ETSY team(s) are you a part of?

Etsy Artists of Color and It’s a Zen Life

3. When did you begin your business?

I opened my shop last August (2010) after one of my friends suggested that start making hemp jewelry to sell at some local festivals around Boston. I started making things and I just couldn’t stop, I love having multiple projects going and I am a workaholic by nature.

4. What inspires you to create?

Traveling the world inspires me. Every new city and country has so much rich culture, architecture, color, smells, food, crafts and history. I went to Egypt this past October (2010) and I am still unpacking the experience.

5. What do you envision your business in the next five years?

I hope that in five years I can afford to have a line of jewelry whose proceeds go tocharity. I really want to be able to have my business give back to places that have been struck by natural disaster such as New Orleans, Haiti and Japan. I also want to expand from just the jewelry and sell my travel photographs of all the places I visit.

6. What is the best business advice you have ever received?

Hire an accountant to handle your taxes and use an online accounting tool to track your income and expenses.

7. What are three of your favorite ETSY shops?

naKiMuli because she showcases truly one-of-a-kind afro-funk style that blows my mind!

BoutiqueDeBandeaux because I love to see fashion forward hair accessories made for natural and curly hair.

HotBunnyLove Jo’s glasswork is phenomenal I am so glad another Alfred graduate is sharing her work on Etsy!

8. What is something that you tried crafting, that turned out to be a disaster?

Knitting--- I never had the continued patience and the yarn always seems to get tangled in knots!

9. What are three things that few people know about you?

I learned to swim before I could walk, I prefer the quiet countryside to the city, and I want to go to Las Vegas before I die.

10. Check out this fabulous seller at:

Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/diasporadesigns
Twitter: twitter.com/DiasporaDesigns
Facebook: www.facebook.com/diaspora-designs

Enjoy ;)