Analiese's World

After answering a call for artwork on Etsy, I was please to meet and learn more about Analiese, creator of polymer clay magic. When I asked her to tell me a little more about herself for this article, she did such a great job writing that I decided to use her own words unedited.

Here is Analiese in her own words:

My name is Rachel - middle name is Analiese - which is my design name. I was born way out on the west coast in La Jolla, but moved to the east coast when I was 3 years old. I grew up in Barrington, RI and my parents still live there - so I go back and visit often. Currently, I live in Milford, CT with my husband, 7 year old son and 2 cats. We are walking distance to the beach - which is a bonus. I worked for a large intimate apparel company for 13 years and lost my job due to outsourcing. However, I was actually thrilled since I had already started to go back to school to receive my Master's in Education and become certified in Elementary Ed.

During this time is when I started to play around with beads. I was not new to making jewelry - but I had not done it in years - so it took a while for me to get the hang of it again. For some reason - I wanted to experiment with Polymer clay just to see what it was like. Well - I became addicted to it and discovered how to transfer images onto clay completely by accident. It is not a new art form but my technique is quite different than anything else out there which I am very proud of - since I have been successful in selling my tutorial.

I have been looking for a full time teaching job for 3 years now - it is very competitive here to find a job. So, I substitute teach and also teach an adult Ed GED class 2 days a week. This gives me the flexibility to run my business and come up with new ideas - which I am always trying to do.

I love experimenting and my newest addition is my glass tile pendants which are just as fun to make :) I don't sell much of my finished jewelry on Etsy since it is so competitive, but I do sell at local craft fairs.

I try to do about 6 craft shows a year and sell everything from my handmade pendants to ceiling fan pulls and my beaded jewelry. I enjoy running my business and hope to continue working on it even if I do get a full time teaching job.

I had started my Etsy Artists Pendant line a long time ago and bring it back now and then with new artists - since there are so many wonderful artists on Etsy.

You never know what you mind find in my shop :)

You can find Analiese on Etsy at http://analiese.etsy.com/ and her pendants with my own images can bee seen at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=35723&section_id=5322804. Give her a visit, I can guarantee you'll like what you see.