What is your Etsy Shop Name/link? New Hope Beading http://www.newhopebeading.etsy.com
What tag categories do you specialize in? Hand-made jewelry. Mostly gemstones, Hilltribe and Bali silver
Do you create for children or adults, women or men? I create for adult women...but if any gentlemen would like to wear my jewelry I am fine with that!
What do you like about Etsy? Etsy allows me to have a job but still be readily accessible should my daughter need me. Since her diagnosis with epilepsy, last year there have been doctors visits and hospital stays that would make holding down a 9 to 5 job challenging. Fortunately, she is doing well on her new medicine and has been seizure free for almost 8 months! Knock wood :)
How did your site get it's name? People always ask me that so I have added the story to my profile.The epilogue to the story is that the engine light is still on in my mini van and my husband is too embarassed to tell the mechanic the real reason.
Where do you find inspiration for your products? People who know me well will probably giggle at this, but I hear voices…of gemstones that is. Now stop laughing, it’s not nice. All kidding aside, I will hold onto a strand of pearls or a silver toggle until I find what it was meant to go with. When I find it, nothing else will do. I love when it turns out that they come from other sides of the world…as if they were meant to come together.
I do also hear gemstones and silver saying, “Buy me” when shopping for supplies, but oddly my husband says he can’t hear them calling too. My children say it’s like that movie The Polar Express… you can only hear it if you believe. I do believe...
What do you love about your business? When I was a kid I had a rock tumbler...noisy little bugger by the way. I couldn't wait to see what came out when it finished. I would clean them up and just marvel at their beauty ... I was 6. I have not changed a bit, except now I am waiting for Hill Tribe Silver to clear customs or Labradorite to arrive. When it comes I often don't start work right away --- unless it is a special order. I like to "live with them" for a while and see what they want to become. My husband would say I just like to play with them. My Dad says I haven't changed since I was a little girl. They are both right!
What is your favorite product right now? Oh...tough one... I have always liked this jangley bracelet because I like the movement and it took a really long time to make.
I also love this Labradorite and Keishi pearl necklace because of the way the two stones each play with the light. It was a tough one to photograph, though. I think my camera thought the blue flashes were movement lol.
Caroline donates 5% of each purchase to THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION of NJ. Currently, there are two items in the shop where 100% of the sale price will be donated - Red, White, and Blue Earrings and Green Opal and Bali Silver Earrings.
