The Thrill of the Hunt

Don't you just love the adventure of finding new materials, and being inspired by colours, finding treasures- old and new. Antoinette enjoys the hunt for materials and finds it almost more fun than making the objects. She says ...I'm always looking for great sales and interesting fabrics and yarns. This makes for original and one of a kind items. Have fun visiting her Etsy shop~ Ants Accessories at http://www.ayoka.etsy.com/

My name is Antoinette and I am AntsAccessories. During my regular job I am a freelance makeup artist. There can be long intervals between projects and I needed a way to stay productive and creative. My husband bought me a new sewing machine complete with embroidery options and things started to take shape from there.

I love fabric,yarn and beads and just cannot resist searching for bargains and new,
fun things. Antique shops and Thrift stores are also becoming an interesting source for my pincushion addiction. So really my shop is a product of addiction and obsession. As long as I have a need to collect materials and create things I will have my Etsy shop.

I am endlessly grateful that I am able to live a creative life. And again because I am given the opportunity to share it. I thought at first it would be hard to part with the things I took so much care making. But the experience has been quite rewarding, and my customers are very encouraging. So...I keep sewing.

I don’t know that I can give advise on keeping organized since my work space and storage system is continually a work in progress. But for anyone who is uncertain or hesitates to push forward I say "Don’t stop, keep doing this thing you are driven to and good things will follow".

A Studio That Sparkles

Sparkles By Design

www.sparklesbydesign.etsy.com

Well, I finally got my studio organized...what a job. I started making jewelry about 7 years ago because I needed a necklace to match an outfit I was going to wear to a special occasion & since I've always done crafts, gift baskets, etc. since I was young, I thought...why not try making jewelry and it's been a learning process since then. I love designing & creating jewelry. It's relaxing and, also, rewarding when I see the finished pieces. I get ideas for a piece of jewelry any time of the day & anywhere.

Then, I try to sketch a picture of what's in my mind & list the materials & colors I want to use & then I start making it when I'm ready to create.

Sometimes I like the original idea, but other times, I make several changes along the way of working on a piece. I love to use some item that gives a little sparkle such as Swarovski crystals, metals, glass beads, & pearls. I have a good friend that I've known for almost 30 years & every time she would see me she would comment that I always had to have a little sparkle on me in the jewelry I would wear, so I guess that's where I came up with the name for my shop. I enjoy making jewelry because it seems that it makes customers smile & happy when they look at it, try it on, or purchase it. I especially love making jewelry for weddings, which I have done several. It's fun to get together with a customer & create a design customized especially for them and it's even more satisfying to see the appreciation on the customer's face when they are given their finished purchase. A little info about me is that I love gardening & crossword puzzles (when I have time). I always take the time to admire & cherish the beauty that nature gives us. The colors, the sparkle, & the uniqueness. Too often people are rushed and don't realize that they don't even notice the many beautiful things around us that nature has provided us with. When I need a few moments to relax, I sit out at our beautiful fish pond & waterfall. Family is very important to me, too. I have my husband, 2 adult daughters, 2 step-daughters, 2 son-in-laws, & 4 grandchildren. I, also, work 10 hours a week in a local child care program working with the pre kindergarten age. I've been there for almost 14 years. I would like to thank anyone that visits my Etsy shop and to thank you for this great opportunity to introduce myself & my Sparklesbydesign shop through Etsy. Thank you very much for your time.