Ashley Olmsted
During college, I was the president of my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and I credit that experience was the true source of my college education ;)
I have a phobia of velvet. There's just something about the texture - it's like nails on a chalkboard.
Beads and buttons make me more excited than Christmas morning! Nothing makes my day like stumbling upon a new bead store or discovering an incredible vintage button :)
Likes: Good wine, great movies, and Antiques Roadshow.
Dislikes: Bad wine, bad movies, and people who think it's silly that I love Antiques Roadshow.
What got you started crafting?
I was studying abroad in Alicante, Spain during the summer of 2009. While there, one of my closest friends, Hannah, came to visit. The Mediterranean coast set the stage for what would be, for both of us, an unforgettable summer. We sipped sangria on white beaches, played by day in the surf, and danced with locals in the streets by the moonlight – we had a truly wonderful experience and I am so grateful to have shared it with her.
On our last night, we went out for a glass of wine in the Barrio District and I presented her with two bracelets I made for us to commemorate our spanish summer. The colors were reminiscent of Alicante so that we could treasure forever the July we had together.
“A toast,” Hannah said raising her glass. I smiled and lifted my vino toward hers. “Cheers to… Spain, to… the summer, to wine” I said half laughing. “Cheers to us,” Hannah continued, “Cheers to July!”
... And the rest is history!
What is your source of inspiration?
Besides jewelry making, traveling is my greatest passion. Experiencing other cultures and meeting new people inspires me as well as my work. I take great pride in my craftmanship and it is my sincere hope that Cheers to July will serve as an inspiration to my customers as well.
What have you made recently?
I was recently commissioned to create a custom bracelet for one of my best customers. Together, we collaborated to create a multi-gemstone wrap bracelet inspired by her favorite city - San Francisco. We chose blue lapis lazuli to represent the bay, gray jade for the court house (a gorgeous building), gold vermeil for the golden gate bridge and red czech glass for the 49ers!
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
I sell my bracelets on the best handmade site ever created, Etsy.com!
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
I prefer the human element, plain and simple ;)
Find Me
LocationHouston, TX
Email Address
Ashley Olmsted
Personal Website
http://cheerstojuly.etsy.com
Store Website
http://cheerstojuly.etsy.com