Feature Friday - Khan Creations

This week's Friday Feature comes from Aisha over at Khan Creations. Her shop features beautiful, unique handmade jewelry with a lot of color and personality. Let's get to know a little more about the artist!

1. How into did you get crafting?

Ever since I was a little girl I always loved the arts including music and drama. When I was 8 years old my mother gave me some embroidery floss and a safety pin. I began to make friendship bracelets every minute of every day. I had a little wooden box that I kept my supplies in and I would make bracelets in the car, at the store, on the plane while my family and I traveled Europe. I explored many facets of the arts during high-school but it wasn’t until college that I returned to jewelry making and picked up my first beading tools. I have been hooked ever since.

2. How did your Etsy shop come to be?

 In December 2010 a family member was talking about Etsy, having never heard of the site before, I decided to check it out. I was hooked and by Dec. 31 I had officially opened my own shop!

3. What is your favorite part about being creative?

Being creative brings a sense of relaxation that rejuvenates my mind and spirit.

 

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

I am a Pre-K teacher by day and a crafter by night.

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

The 3 words they would use in their search would be rings, animal print, and trees.

6. How do you create your designs? I often see a bead or pendant and then pair it with colors and shapes that compliment it. Once in a while I am lucky enough to dream a pattern for a bracelet or necklace.

7. What's in your Soundtrack to Sewing?

I like to listen to pop music on my Ipod. My soundtrack for music is the same one I use while I run; upbeat, fast paced and singable.

8. Favorite spots for inspiration?

A couple of years back my husband remodeled our office and I now have a beautiful hobby table that I work on. It is a tranquil space and has lots of space for me to spread out all my bead boxes.

9. Who inspires you?

Creative people in general inspire me, like the art teacher who makes mosaics, my grandmother who paints with water colors, my girl friend who throws pottery, and all the artistic sellers on Etsy.

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

It would be the bracelet with the floral pendant in the center. Often at school, teachers give me old necklaces and bracelets they do not want anymore to break apart and use the materials I like. Well I had these flower pendants from this old bracelet for about a year and all of a sudden one night I dreamed a design for new piece. I wish all my designs came that easy.

Thanks so much to Aisha for sharing her story and her beautiful pieces. Head on over to Khan Creations to check out more of her selection!

In other news, it looks like we may be moving very soon! We found a townhouse in a great location and things are coming together extremely quickly. The exciting part is that I will be able to use the second bedroom as my sewing room! I bought a new table (with white legs, not black) to replace the kitchen table I've been using. So I will have a station for basic sewing/cutting on the new table, plus the desk area for the more advanced embroidering and storage. I can't wait to start decorating the new place, although I am pretty bummed that the carpet is brown and we're getting a downsize in bedroom space (we're just going to be able to squeeze our furniture in there!), as well as living room closet space. It'll mean a lot of storage solutions in the living room/hall, but I'm pretty excited about that challenge.