Well this week I am happy to be visiting with Kristin Oppold of YaY! Jewelry
· Kristin Oppold lives in Minneapolis. MN
·
She is
Married
·
Kristin
has 2 kids
·
She
has a dog , her buddy Flint – who is a British Lab and her foot therapy while she
creates
·
Kristen’s
other hobbies and interests are making things out of peoples cast-offs (more on
this later)
BFF: What do you do with beads?
KRISTIN: I make all
sorts of jewelry. I have made cuffs with felt, basic necklaces with wire or
stringing. In fact I believe I made the first embroidered felt pendant necklace
on the Etsy but as things go with me I didn’t stick with that for very long and
didn’t establish that as a brand. I like
to try things, they may be popular but if I don’t enjoy making them or they
take too long I lose interest.
BFF: How would you describe your role in the beading world?
KRISTIN: New and learning and taking my beading to the next
level. I will be published for the first
time in Bead Trends in the September,
October, November AND December 2012 issues! I was amazed that my first submission was a success;
I was prepared for many denials. I still
doubt my talent at times but I love jewelry design so much I’d do without
breathing if I had to make a trade...
BFF: How long have you been working with beads?
KRISTIN: 10 years
KRISTIN: I had very humble beginnings. No money in the beginning and overwhelmed by all the choices. I started out doing more glam. My first order of beads was from MuddBeads and it was all Swarovski and it was a birthday present from my husband. You can barely find Swarovski in my designs today. It took me awhile to find my niche as a jewelry artist. My eye tends to gravitate toward more earthy, tribal and rustic styles in mixed media. I love the textural aspect of mixed media. It attracts me because I am an earthy person and it feels right to me
BFF: What are your favorite metals to use?
KRISTIN: I like all metals but with the cost of Sterling Silver and Fine Silver so high, I have made more with copper and oxidized silver base metals. I like brass okay but I like the silvers and coppers the best.
KRISTIN: I like all metals but with the cost of Sterling Silver and Fine Silver so high, I have made more with copper and oxidized silver base metals. I like brass okay but I like the silvers and coppers the best.
BFF: What is your favorite stringing medium to use?
KRISTIN: Beadalon 49 Strand or Softflex for stringing. Love leather for tying. I just wish it fit through more beads. I love CLon also…I haven’t used it for a
while…I think it is a diamond in the rough!
I don’t think jewelry artists have quite captured its full potential.
BFF: What is your favorite color palette?
KRISTIN: I tend to gravitate towards teals and
oceanic colors. I like the soothing feel
they give my chaotic brain.
BFF: Your technique(s)?
KRISTIN: Stringing, Wirewrapping, Kumihimo, Beginner in
metal working and patina. I don’t think
you have to be chalked full of techniques to be successful at what you do. A good design aesthetic is number one and if
you don’t know how to make components yourself. There is a ton of starving art
bead sellers looking to stay alive like you.
BFF: What else would you like to try your hand at?
KRISTIN: Now that is a loaded and
endless list of desires!!!! Let’s see
Metal Etching, Patina, Cold Forming, Enamel, Lampwork, Cold Connection,
Electroforming, Soldering, Fine Silver Fusion the list goes on. What mostly holds me back is time to learn
and space. As I said I already have a
felt lined house.
BFF: Other artist/designer(s) you admire? Any special reason
why?
Kristen: I would buy jewelry from these artists -
Keirsten Giles– Her work is well thought out and
designed impeccably. I find it fun and
interesting to look at.
Staci Klinger Smith– Her work is
interesting, unique and refreshing. I
feel at peace just looking at her jewelry.
It feels very Zen to me.
Gloria Ewing– Love her tribal
jewelry. Great use of interesting
materials. Unique and original designs.
BFF: Where do you want to be in 5 years from now?
KRISTIN: I would love
to have my own working jewelry studio so I don’t have to worry about burning
the house down. My husband doesn’t trust
me with fire. Speaking from someone who
was gardening with the teapot on in the house ready to launch off the stovetop
and leaving the house with the grill on!!!!
I can’t blame him there. I would
like to make more of my own jewelry components and maybe sell a few.
BFF: What’s your favorite quote or saying?
" I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health." - Voltaire
" I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health." - Voltaire
Vanilla Chunky Czech Statement Necklace by YaY! Jewelry |
KRISTIN: Make
what you love! That was the hardest part
in the beginning for me as I like to try so many new things. In order to be successful you have to find
your niche and build on that. If you
love it – it will sell, if that is your goal.
Find your style and buy unique pieces and your jewelry will stand out.
Don’t go for ordinary go for extraordinary.
Don’t go for ordinary go for extraordinary.
BFF: What is your favorite blog that you like to follow?
KRISTIN: I
am new to the blogging community so I am still learning about all of that and
reading different ones. The ones though
that I enjoy the most are ones that teach and share techniques in jewelry
making. I also like some of the personal
stories people write about their life. I
think those are inspirational.
BFF: What has been your favorite Blog Hop
or Challenge?
KRISTIN:
Well I have only been in 1 challenge so far and that was the Sun and SeaChallenge by Creative Bead Chat ( a Facebook group). I missed the Bead Soup
one this round and feel left out “CRYING OVER THAT”…so next time I am in for sure!!!!
Quirky questions
often give us a better understanding of the real person behind the artist, so
here goes…
BFF: If you had all the money in the world, what would you
buy?
KRISTIN: Selfishly -------My own working jewelry studio
decked out with all the latest tools, a couch for a nap and a TV with a DVD
player to watch a good movie if I needed a break, a great coffee maker, air
conditioning & heating and a front showroom to display and sell my art
along with a kitchenette to entertain.
Can’t forget an automatic shut-off valve for all things that have fire!
BFF: As a child what was your favorite cartoon or tv show? Why?
KRISTIN: You are going to
laugh. I couldn’t wait to get out of
church to go home and watch Tarzan & World Wrestling Federation or WWF. I guess I thought girls got the shaft. I hated the holidays with the women in the
kitchen clucking over Thanksgiving dinner while the men loafed in front of the
television. I wanted to be tough and
maybe that was my time to feel like I could live in an altered reality other
than the 1950’s household.
BFF: Favorite toy as a child? Why?
Slab Necklace Teal Green - Red Creek Jasper by YaY! Jewelry |
BFF: Favorite subject in school? Why?
KRISTIN: Art for me was a way of
expressing myself and escaping. I love
my art teacher. She took a personal interest in me and for an overlooked
student that really meant something to me.
Thanks Mrs. Buehl!
BFF: What was your favorite YEAR of your life thus far? Why?
KRISTIN: All of my years have
presented themselves with wonders and different challenges and I have enjoyed
them all for different reasons.
As promised here is a little more about how Kristin likes to use other's castoffs in her art -
Upcycled Bag purple & Green Shag Bag by YaY! Jewelry |
"I have a funky
wacky side and make Shag Bags out of reclaimed pursed, yarn, fabric and Sari
Silk. I also love to make Sock Monkey
Coffee Cozies, pillows, flower pins and cuffs out of felted sweaters. My husband tells me I CANNOT start another
hobby. I have enough felt to insulate
our house! My insanity to create is all
consuming and quite an obsession. I have
to say though that jewelry is one hobby I have really stuck with and
enjoyed. I like the immediate
satisfaction. I am not the most patient person.
I tried making a quilt ONCE; I finished it but will never do that
again!!!!"
******************
Kristin said that she enjoys blogs where the writer shares their personal stories because from them she receives inspiration. I wholeheartedly agree as Kristin's story has given me MUCH inspiration! Her words, her designs - love them!Thank you so much Kristin for giving us a glimpse into what makes up the artist in you!
Kristin’s
contact information -
YaY! Jewelry
Website : http://www.YaYJewelry.etsy.com
E-mail: klo@mchsi.com
Address: 8900 Woodhill Circle, Savage MN 55378
Tele: 952-496-9693
6 comments:
Hey a fellow Minnesotan! Great interview Kristin.
NIce to meet Kristin, thanks for continuing BFF Shelley, I enjoy getting to know all our artsy peeps.
Thanks!!!!!
Great showcase of the pure art.Necklace are amazing love the colors you have used.
Shelly this was really fabulous...so nicely put together I just blogged about it today thanks so much...my favorite partner in crime in facebook and the CBC!
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