Daily DIY

pThis week we caught up with Amy Olson of a href=http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=95102 target=etsyAmy Olson Jewelry/a before she heads down to LA to participate in a href=http://uniquelosangeles.com/ target=uaUnique Los Angeles/a independent design and gift sale with her husband a href=http://scottballardfilms.blogspot.com/ target=sbScott Ballard/a of a href=twoguitars.etsy.com target=tgTwo Guitars Studio/a.br / Amy, an avid a href=http://amyolsonjewelry.blogspot.com/ target=aobcraft, photography and design blogger/a is celbrating ten years of making elegant jewelry which is classic and delightfully feminine.br / nbsp;br / img src=http://www.diyalert.com/files_crafty/amy_olson_jewelry1.jpg title=Amy Olson Jewelery - Vintage Style Earrings and Necklace/p h3How did you come to be a jewelry artist?/h3 pWhen I was young, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who was a professional craftsperson, and she would keep me busy with little projects. She taught me how to crochet, knit, embroider, and make jewelry! I still spend time doing all of these things, but jewelry is my main focus and profession./p h3What kinds of things inspire your work?/h3 pI am inspired by three main things: nature, vintage ephemera, and color. I truly love spending time outside and tend to name my pieces after flowers and plants. Also, when I need inspiration, I will seek out my collections of old things or stroll through the aisles of an antique store. And of course, how could I resist gems? Being in a gem store is like heaven to me!/p h3Among all the things you've made, do you have a favorite?/h3 pWell, I would say wedding jewelry is my favorite because of the value it holds, but besides that, my favorites change weekly, sometimes even daily! I'm always coming up with new ideas, so there tends to be a lot of variety in my designs. But, if I could pick a favorite design, it would be my layered necklaces. They're always a big hit!/p h3What is the biggest challenge of running a business from home?/h3 pRunning a business from home and being your own boss can be very difficult. I think the two biggest challenges would be staying motivated and not comparing your progress/success to how others are doing.br / nbsp;br / img src=http://www.diyalert.com/files_crafty/amy_olson_jewelry2.jpg title=Amy Olson Jewelery - Layered Necklaces/p h3How would you describe the difference between Art and Craft?/h3 pI think that art is all-encompassing and it includes a lot of subcategories, like music, sculpture, painting, and crafts. Many people still think of crafts as somewhat old-fashioned, so I like to suggest that I do modern craft. That tends to (hopefully!) change the way someone thinks of a crafter./p h3What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?/h3 pI really enjoy walking through different neighborhoods and checking out the local boutiques. I also love book stores, the a href=http://www.monticelloantiques.com target=maMonticello Antique Mall/a, and the a href=http://www.japanesegarden.com target=jgJapanese Garden/a. These are three very different places in Portland, but they also provide my three greatest inspirations!/p h3Amy's Links:/h3 pa href=http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=95102 target=etsyEtsy Shop/abr / a href=http://amyolsonjewelry.blogspot.com/ target=aobBlog/a/p Source: DIY Alert blogs