Scrollwork Designs is dancing the 21st century jig.
Clarity Collins
I Like: Graceful lines, brilliant colors, all things opulent, and shiny surfaces that feel smooth to the touch.
I Love: A good book on rainy days, the garden on sunny days, my creations on good days, my children every day.
I Laugh: At myself always, others often, and the absurdities of daily life as much as humanly possible.
I Work: In my living room cum studio as I can steal the time away from the hustle and bustle of two children, one husband, and a puppy underfoot at all times.
What got you started crafting?
I've always been a creator, a maker of things, and in July of last year I was laid off from a soul-sucking job that I absolutely hated. Instead of going back to work, I decided to do something I’d wanted to do for a long time and teach myself to be a silversmith. Because come on... how hard can it really be?
Whhoo boy was I ever clueless, but I found a wonderful community of like minded folks on Etsy and together we formed the Aspiring Metalsmiths team where we get along just fine with a little help from our friends. I’ve also read books, watched tutorials, and asked the experts, but in the end there’s noreplacement for good old fashioned trial and error. I’m still very much a beginner at the craft and consider myself an emerging artist. The best of Scrollwork Designs is absolutely yet to come!
What is your source of inspiration?
I feel more like a conduit for inspiration than anything else. Inspiration is all around and inside of me, the trick is getting out of the way and letting the design come through. When I am in a quiet place in body and mind the inspiration is always there just waiting for me to recognize it. When I’m midway through a project there is also the inspiration of my fingers and hands which often know better than my mind what the metal wants to do, and I am challenged to stand aside and be flexible enough to follow where the design leads.
What have you made recently?
I am launching a made-to-order line this month which features ethically sourced gemstones and recycled metals, so I've been working away to design simple and affordable designs that can be customized with a variety of Fair Trade gems. It's been a lot of fun and I hope my customers enjoy them.
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
Scrollwork Designs creations are available in local galleries and art shows as well as on Etsy.com and Artfire.com.
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
Buying handmade is an incredible experience. It allows a consumer to be an active participant in changing someone’s life instead of being just another invisible cog in the wheels of daily commerce. Every time someone spends their hard earned money in my shop they’re giving me an incredible gift, the ability to do what I love. As a buyer you are allowing me to stay home with my children who need me, create beautiful objects, and do something that makes my heart sing and my spirit soar every single day. Your purchase MEANS something to me, it’s the ticket to the life I want to live and I love you for it.
Selling handmade allows me to use every bit of my abilities to make a living. Instead of working for ‘the man’ and using a quarter of the smarts and grit I have at my disposal, I’m using every bit of my body and brain to eek out a living. I’m challenged every single day and I love what I do, and it wouldn’t be possible if nobody bought handmade.
Find Me
Location(near) Asheville, NC
Email Address
Clarity Collins
Personal Website
http://www.ScrollworkDesignsJewelry.com
Store Website
http://www.scrollworkdesigns.etsy.com
@scrollworkdsgns
http://www.facebook.com/ScrollworkDesign?ref=ts