Featured Mom - Melissa of Shezarealgem Designs - incl Giveaway!

Today's featured mom has taken her craft and hobby of four years to a more professional level. Her jewelry business has been up and running for nearly a year now and Melissa takes many of her inspirations from nature.

H: Tell me about your craft.

M: My jewelry consists of a lot of re-purposed vintage pieces, copper and silver work, natural stones, and bold, bright color. I love to make colorful, chunky pieces as well as some more subdued, feminine things.

My creative process is pretty unorganized and haphazard to be honest! I always carry a journal in my purse to scribble designs or ideas. Sometimes I wake up during the middle of the night with a vision for a piece and must get up and sketch it out for fear that I'll forget it come morning!

H: How did you get started? Are you finding success?

M: I started when I was pregnant with my daughter. I wasn't working at the time and was so bored. I needed to find a hobby to keep myself busy. I love jewelry so it was a simple decision.

I am more successful than I had imagined at that time but less than I wish! Actually, I am quite pleased with my success and I have never felt so validated as I do making money doing something that I love.

H: Were you creative before you had children?

M: Yes, I have always been a creative being. I used to love to design the homecoming floats in highschool and revamp vintage clothes. I was the head of the arts and crafts division of our town's summer camp for 5 years while I was going to school. I'm always thinking of something to make!

H: Have your methods changed?

M: YES! I am older and wiser now! I work with more expensive materials and I use proper tools. I am teaching myself beginning metalsmithing and making many of my own findings for my designs instead of purchasing them.

H: How do you find time to stay creative?

M: I'm not sure, most days are a blur! I'm a mommy of two small children. My daughter Audrey just turned 4 in May and my son Dane is 20 months. I am married to a great guy that works nights so we are like two ships passing in the night. I work part time for the local court system 20 hours a week. I have basically cut out all housework in order to design. My husband loves that....

H: Do your kids show any creative spirit?

M: My 4 year old loves to design jewelry and has made some really cool, wearable pieces! My son is very musical and loves to play daddy's guitar and make music with anything that he can get his grubby little hands on.

H: What have you learned after having your kids (in relation to your art)

M: Having children has taught me to take chances in my creative life. Children are such great artists because they are not afraid of failure, they don't care that ducks aren't blue. If they want to make a blue duck they do, and they think it is great. I try to be true to myself like that, I design what I love and just won't compromise to sell more or appeal to a larger audience.

Melissa has generously offered this pair of lovely earrings up as a giveaway item! To win, go to her Etsy shop and pick out your favorite item. Come back here and leave a comment to let us know what it was. Be sure to leave your email address too so we can contact you should you be the lucky winner.

On top of that, anything you purchase between now and Oct 24th will be available with FREE SHIPPING. Just leave a comment in the note to seller box that reads "Maternal Spark". She'll send you a revised invoice for the sale amount.

Thanks for joining me Melissa, it was a pleasure having you at Maternal Spark!

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