Foxglove Accessories is the brainchild of photographer and artist Betsy Treacy Siber. If you're a regular at Renegade (Chicago), you've seen her beautiful work ... that's where I first encountered her a couple of years ago. Talk about giving things a second life! Vintage postage stamps become true works of art in Betsy's hands. I am constantly struck by her attention to detail and the GREAT color combinations in her work. All her items are lovingly handmade in her Chicago studio using found materials. Her fabulous postage collection features jewelry made with vintage postage stamps from around the world (keep reading to find out how to save 15% on her jewelry!)
Today I get to publish a mini interview with Betsy and a tutorial for her layered teardrop earrings. Yup - she's sharing some of her secrets so you can make them yourself! First, a little Q 'n A:
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up? Did you always know you'd have a creative career?
A: I have known since 2nd grade that I would have a creative career. I don't think anything in particular really sparked it, but it was definitely encouraged and nurtured by my family (many kids are not so lucky). I went to school for photography, which I find incredibly useful for documenting my work and our life, but I now enjoy other mediums as a creative outlet. At the moment, I see the most potential in metals and sculpture.
Q: Why postage
stamps?
A: My dad collects
coins and at some point a fellow collector handed off a box of stamps to him. He didn't
have much use for them, and I thought they would be a nice addition to collages
(I was in high school at the time). Fast forward 8 or 9 years to 2006. I was
moving and organizing my crafting supplies, including my old stamp
box. I often employ the "use it or lose it" method with cleaning (I
collect, not hoard), and I decided that if these stamps were going to be useful
they needed a project, like right now. That afternoon I made my first pair of
teardrop earrings, using the quick and dirty packing tape method mentioned in
the tutorial. I loved the way they turned out and ended up basing the entire
business on it. Using stamps makes every piece unique, so I find it easy to create the same type of earrings 100 times in a row. I really do take a moment to admire each stamp I'm using!
Betsy has a great offer for my readers!
Get 15% off everything at Foxglove Accessories and Foxglove @ Etsy
through March 31, 2012. Scroll down for the coupon code!
(excludes custom items)
