Featured Artisan -- Bonhomie

This week's featured artisan is Kirstie of Bonhomie. A fellow Etsyian and work-at-home mom, Kirstie creates gorgeous, earthy jewelry designed to enhance and celebrate your natural beauty.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I'm a stay-at-home mom of one toddler and I'm married to a wonderfully supportive husband! In addition to my jewelry, I run my own business as a virtual assistant/legal billing specialist. I'm a self-taught jewelry artist. I've been working on my jewelry for only a little over a year and I love it!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Organic, funky and down-to-earth. Does that count?

What inspires you?
I'd like to say that I'm inspired by nature or the world around me but really, I'm not certain what inspires me. The act of creation itself inspires me!

What drives you to create what you do?
I just started working on a new line of enameled jewelry. I had no previous experience or training with enamel so I just sat down at the bench to see what happened. Most times it's a new technique I'd like to learn that drives me create. I wanted to learn to enamel and what came out of my experimentation are pieces that I connect to.

What makes your work unique?
My work is unique partly because of my lack of training. I know that sounds odd but what I mean is, on many an occasion, what I intend to create comes out completely different than what I've pictured in my mind but it ends up as it should be - in 'my style'.


What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
As I mentioned earlier, I have a very supportive husband. He recognizes that creativity is something I require in my life and working with jewelry fills that need. He's my biggest fan and supports the fact that, even though my work isn't supporting us financially, it takes a leading role as though it will someday.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope to have fully developed my 'signature' in my work - so that people can look at my work unidentified and KNOW it's mine. And I fully intend to be a full-time jewelry artist (with a full-time income!!) five years from now.

Where can we find you on the web?
Bonhomie jewelry is available on Etsy and 1000Markets. You can also visit my blog for sneak peeks of new designs (and the sometimes twisted thoughts of my mind!)

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.