November kicks off a first for one of the Etsy teams I’m a part of — CREST (Capital Region Etsy Street Team!) a blog CARNIVAL!

This first month’s topic is: “How did you get started in your craft?”

I had started with simple stringing — beads on beading wire, remaking projects from a book.

It was when I took a class at a local bead store, Stars Beads. It was a simple wire wrapping class, which was a fantastic way to learn the basics of wire wrapping, loops, wrapped loops, clasps, pins — you name it! It was a fantastic start, and like a race horse champing at the bit, I wanted more.

In my class, the teacher used copper wire — affordable to learn on, to be sure, but I found that I really wasn’t inspired until I started using silver wire (even craft silver colored wire, to start out with). Sterling silver was a dream, and I was really enjoying myself.

But I wasn’t REALLY hooked until I set eyes on chainmaille. Now that was stunning. I ordered a kit to make a sterling silver byzantine bracelet, and by the next year’s February, I was investing in equipment to cut my own jump rings. And by that fall?? I was teaching my own chainmaille classes at the bead store.

For a while, my view was totally narrow — I focused on chainmaille alone, and it continues to be a true addiction! With time however, I started to expand my vision again. I took my first metalsmithing class, a 1 day affair that opened my eyes to all the possibilities! I’ve since registered for a weekly class, and then re-registered almost each successive term.

Metalsmithing opens up even more possibililities, and of course, I’ve continued to explore other techniques (kind of like a very distracted puppy — SQUIRREL!) Lately I’ve also been digging enameling, and am considering turning in my weekly metalsmithing class for a weekly enameling class next term.

It’s so much fun to experiment with new techniques while continuing on with old addictions!

Thanks for reading along — be sure to check out the other participants in the November Etsy CREST blog carnival!

Birch Tree Jewelry
Twisted Cow
CT² Designs
Sandi Volpe
Sew Artsy Amy