Hello! Today is a very late in the day Crafty Friday and I wanted to take some time to feature an artist I was introduced to by my sister. Her jewelry she creates is beautiful and I was fortunate enough to be given her handmade jewelry as a gift by my sister. I was able to customize colors and had a choice between earring designs to compliment the butterfly necklace! I know if you take the chance to check out her shop you'll find something you love! I was able to take some time to interview Lorelei Lam with Princess in Pink Designs a few weeks ago.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I'm originally from California, but I live in Chicagoland now. Currently, I'm a 3rd-year podiatric medical student at the William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (at Rosalind Franklin University). Over the next two years, I will be rotating through different hospitals all over country. I hope to one day open my own practice. In my spare time, I want to work on my hobbies: jewelry-making, writing, and scrapbooking!
What do you sell in your etsy store?
I sell handmade jewelry. I might expand to other items in the future (i.e. hair bands), but for now, my focus is on jewelry.
What got you started in jewelry making?
I initially got into jewelry making because I was really obsessed with designing earrings; also, all that jewelry-making really helped my fine hand-eye coordination, which is invaluable for a surgeon.
What do you enjoy about it?
I love that it takes me away from the craziness that is my day and gives me a creative outlet. I find that my most creative periods are those in which I am very stressed. I also love doing custom designs for customers; there is a certain satisfaction in knowing that I designed a piece perfect for my customer's personality and style.
What would you say to encourage someone thinking about opening an etsy shop?
I would say go for it! It can be slow in the beginning, but make sure you market -- buy ads, get business cards, blog/Facebook. You really get what you put in; some people can quit their jobs and focus on their shops. Others run it as their hobby. I feel that if you really love doing something, it shows; it reflects in your work and your shop, and people can sense that when they browse your products.
What is your philosophy about your jewelry?
I always try to make jewelry that I would wear myself. I like to make pieces that someone could fall in love with. I also try to make my designs versatile; I love pieces that can be dressed up or down.
How would you describe your style?
Romantic, whimsical, sweet, simple. I'm a very romantic person, and this is reflected in my designs. I love to work with Swarovski pearls, Swarovski crystals, Czech glass, and all manner of metals. Most of my pieces are inspired by nature, fairy tales, movies, or books. When I was taking medieval and Renaissance studies, I fell in love with courtly love. I loved the art and imagery associated with it (in fact, the main image I use for my shop is one of these paintings – ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci,’ by Sir Frank Dicksee). I like to make pieces drawn from this art and imagery. I also draw a lot of inspiration from fairytales and books/movies like ‘Pride and Prejudice.’
Why did you pick the name you did for your etsy shop?
Fairytales, especially the Brothers Grimm and Disney fairytales, are a major source of inspiration for me. Inside every woman is a princess, and I like to make my customers feel like they just stepped out of a fairy tale. I have seen lots of princess jewelry marketed for children, and I wanted to make some for adults. As for the pink part of my shop name…well, that’s my favorite color. :)
Thanks again for featuring me, I feel so honored! :)
You can stop by and check out Princess in Pink Designs at princessinpink99.etsy.com. Enjoy!
