Trendy Shoppes

Today we are featuring our designer, Cheri from Mystic Rose Designs.  We have asked Cheri a few questions.  With each featured designer, we will include specials for 4 days in a row.  Today we have chosen her beautiful Silver Leaf earrings - on sale today for only $17!

Tell us about your business and your designs.
I’ve been designing and making jewelry for about ten years. My son is a lampwork bead artist and I am one of his biggest fans. I love using his beads in my designs. They are just amazing in detail, color and design. I often accent his beads with my own handmade sterling silver links, beads and clasps and have made some lovely pieces with precious metal clay. I’m working on different ideas for  using my photography with the jewelry as well.

What is your inspiration?
Nature, architecture, light, contrast - seeing ordinary things in new ways.

How do you stay on top of the indie world?  What websites, blogs or magazines do you read?
Many bead and jewelry making magazines (Art Jewelry, Wire Jewelry, etc.) as well as Photoshop World, and others. I’m a member of Etsy. I read, browse shops, do research on line.

What has been your favorite indie purchase?
Besides the lampwork beads I buy, I think it would be some prints from a local artist/friend who makes pictures using flower petals and leaves. They are gorgeous. The original pieces sell quickly, but the prints are beautiful, too.

Do you have any advice you would like to share with new designers entering the market?
Working for yourself can be totally time consuming, but when it’s something you love to do, also very rewarding. I worked in an 8 to 5 job for many years and find that I work more hours now on my own (and don’t have sick leave or vacation pay), but I think it’s worth it. Making a real living at this can be challenging. Like most others who enjoy being creative, bookkeeping and marketing are not my favorite things to do, but it’s important to keep up with that part of it.

Just for fun - Do you have a favorite recipe you can share with our readers?
It has been too hot to cook lately in California. I’m a vegetarian and enjoy making casseroles and soups with brown rice, vegetables and beans. My daughter loves the nutburgers I make. For this summer weather a simple platter is nice:

cherry tomatoes
mini carrots
cucumer chunks
broccoli pieces
hummus for dipping
low-salt, low-fat multigrain chips/crackers

That’s what I made for dinner last night!

Thank you Cheri!!  Here are just a few gems you can find from Mystic Rose Designs: