Get To Know: Rebecca Jackson of elpy [Handcrafted]
Sponsor time! Let’s meet another crafty gal and see what’s behind her business.
Meet Rebecca Jackson of elpy [Handcrafted]:
Name: Rebecca Jackson
Business Name: elpy [Handcrafted]
Where are you located?
Connecticut
What do you design and create?
Macrame jewelry, woodburned magnets and coasters, and small handbags.
How did you come up with your business name?
My parents called me ‘LP’ (little person) before I was born. So ‘elpy‘ is the phonetic of those letters.
Incidentally, I am short.
Where/how did this all begin?
I’ve been a crafty entrepreneur since I was 7. I made and sold woven potholders to family and friends. My grandmother in NYC sold them to her friends too.
I learned new techniques and found Etsy by chance in 2006. It’s grown and changed from there. Can’t wait to see where it takes me.
Who or what inspires you?
My mom. She’s very talented in a more fine art way. I’m trying to get her on Etsy. Shapes, colors and words inspire me. I like to incorporate them as much as I can in my work.
What’s your favorite part of the creative process?
I love the moment when a piece goes from concept and raw materials to near completion, you can really see it and it’s tangible.
What’s your favorite indie purchase or trade?
I have a particular fondness (um, I’ve been reading Dickens) for all the things I’ve bought or traded on Etsy and elsewhere… it’s pretty hard to pick a favorite. So I’ll go with most recent- a postcard version of a poster from http://dazeychic.etsy.com
What advice would you give to other indie artists who are just starting out?
I still feel like I’m starting out in many ways. Advice, hmm. Google the name you’re thinking of using before setting up anything, even it’s your real name…just to see what’s out there, what’s already used. It seems basic but I wish someone had told me that.
Slumps are an unspoken fact of creative life…at least with me and a lot of artists I’ve talked to. Take those times to create something for yourself, try a new technique with no intention of selling or showing anyone the results, just enjoy the process. You may surprise yourself.
What TV shows are you currently hooked on?
Chuck. I love Chuck. Zachary Levi is adorable. And Masterpiece Theater. We’re watching Little Dorrit, now. (incidentally, that is NOT the Dickens book I’m reading)
What’s your favorite food?
Fried rice…I could eat it everyday. And bagels. I’m a carb freak.
What’s your favorite candy?
Sour Patch Kids…nummy!
Coffee or tea?
Tea…herb tea. Chamomile Mint, FTW!
What store could you wander around in and be happy?
Any store w/ books. I love books.
Any pets?
One uber-mellow, very affectionate cat named Taffy.
Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
I went to Montreal for an overnight trip with my cousin. I loved it. It felt both old world and modern. And it’s very clean. I want to go back for a longer stay.
Do you have a day job in addition to you crafty business? What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
At the moment, I’m temping. Currently my assignment involves processing tax payments. Shhh!
Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
I studied Spanish in high school but I don’t speak it well. I’d like to learn French, too.
What are your plans (business/personal) for ‘09?
I would like to go back to school in the fall.
Thanks, Rebecca! Okay, you get my vote for Chuck, too! Be sure to visit elpy [Handcrafted] now. All wristlets are currently 20% off. Mixed Plate readers also get free shipping {check for code below}.
Westie Wristlet in Cranberry: $16.80; Acute Macrame Earrings – Orange: $16.00:
Woodburned Coasters Set of 4 – Puzzle: $40.00; Helix Necklace – White: $26.00:
Magnets – Sugar and Snap: $8.00; Westie Wristlet in Mint: $16.80:
In addition to the 20% off all wristlets, Rebecca is offering Mixed Plate readers free shipping on any purchase. Enter code “mixedplate” in the notes to seller box at checkout.
