Feature Friday - Jazzy Custom Creations

Recently, I started an Etsy Team for fellow teachers, called An Apple A Day. I've met some great artists and seen some amazing items in shops as the team grows. You might want to skip on over to the Sensational Shops page to check out the new additions, but in the meantime, let's get to know Mary from Jazzy Custom Creations!

1. How did you get into crafting?

I got into crafting as a means to spend time with my physically disabled mother. Since she couldn't stand or sit for too long we needed something that she could do while laying down or reclining. Since we loved jewelry, we thought that would be a good craft to try. Then we got addicted. We always talked about expanding the business into bath products.

I finally ordered bath supplies in July of 2010 so we could begin our bath line and my mother unexpectedly passed away. My new craft partners are my 2 children, ages 5 and 10, who love to help me make my bath products. They mostly like to decide on the scents and their names. I haven't made much jewelry since my mother's passing, but am trying to get back into it (I have too much stuff to let it just sit here)

2. How did your Etsy shop come to be?

When I was teaching at a junior high school, my neighbor across the hall was also a crafter. She is a very talented scrapbooker. She told me about Etsy and suggested I give it a try. I signed up but never really put much effort into it until August of 2010.

3. What is your favorite part about being creative?

I like the feeling of accomplishment that I get when I transform various beads into something beautiful, or taking some wax and creating a awesome smelling lotion candle. Crafting is helps me relax and cope with things that are stressing me out at home. I feel like I have control over something in my life!

4. Are you a full time crafter or do you have a "day job?"

I am a full-time mom, part-time Developmental Reading instructor at a local university, and a part-time crafter. After my mom became sick in 2009 with the Swine flu, I resigned from my full-time teaching position to care for my mom. I also was able to spend more time with my son. July and August of 2010 were 2 of the toughest months of my life, because my mom passed away and my husband lost his job. While I LOVE spending time with my kids and enjoy staying home with my son, I had to get a paying job to bring some extra money into the house, so I began teaching again. Luckily my husband found another job in September, but I like my teaching job, so I'm keeping it. I craft whenever I get the time- mostly on the weekends.

5. If someone were to buy you a birthday gift on Etsy, what 3 words would they use in their search?

How about 2 words: Gift Certificate! I would be ecstatic with a gift certificate that I could use in one of my favorite Etsy stores! I always ask my husband for a gift certificate as a gift but never get one :(

6. How do you create your designs?

Sometimes my jewelry designs just come to me and I can see it clearly in my mind. Then if I am lucky, I have all the required material to make it happen. Then there are other times when I have to try something, and then take it apart and try something else until I find the design I like.

With my bath products I read various recipes and adjust them to meet my needs and expectations to make then unique.

7. What's in your Soundtrack to Sewing?

As far as what I listen to while crafting, it just depends on my mood of the day. Sometimes I listen to gypsy music when I am in a fun and carefree mood, and I end up with a product that represents this mood. Then there are days when I feel a little edgy and funky, I put on rock music and create something reflecting my mood.

8. Favorite spots for inspiration?

For my candles inspiration comes from everywhere. I notice scents all over the place and think about how these scents would work in a lotion candle. My jewelry designs come from my imagination or from my need to have something that matches an outfit I want to wear.

9. Who inspires you?

My family inspires me. Everything that I do is for my family; they inspire me in more ways than one everyday.

10. If you had to choose one item in your shop as a signature piece, what would it be and why?

Since I make both jewelry and lotion candles, I will pick 2 items. I would choose my cha-cha bracelets much like the one in my avatar and my favorite smelling lotion candle. (It depends on my mood but Cucumber Mint and Apple Harvest are at the top of my list!)

Thanks so much, Mary, for taking the time to let us know a little more about you! Stay tuned for more Sensational Shops, and I have a little project I am working on which I can hopefully finish soon. Have a great weekend everyone!