Meet Cami Tout of Camilee Designs - Featured Artist

Gorgeous Gemstones and Fine Metals are used to create the unique jewelry designed by Cami Tout of Camilee Designs.  Cami is a fellow member of The Artisan Group and I am thrilled to feature her beautiful work and a bit about Cami today.

Cami Tout, Designer

How and when did you discover your love for your craft/art? 

I started making jewelry in 2000.  I was living in downtown Portland, OR working as a telecommunications analyst for a big bank.  At the time I felt overwhelmed by job and I was looking for creative outlets.  I’ve always been crafty, but something felt different to me about making jewelry.  I wanted to know all about it and be great at it all at once.

Do you remember the first piece you ever made?
As a gift, my husband, then boyfriend, bought me a Swarovski crystal necklace and earring set from Nordstrom.  One day while shopping I spotted the necklace and peeked at the price tag and was shocked and a little horrified since we were in our early 20s and definitely couldn’t afford those luxuries!  I went on a mission to re-create that set.  I bought some jewelry making books and magazines and browsed local bead stores for hours, and spent some time googling – although there wasn’t that much info back in the olden days!   After replicating the Swarovski set (For about 5% of the price) I went on to develop my own style. About a year later I opened Camilee Designs and with my husband’s encouragement, left my job at the bank 2 months later to focus on my business full time.

Ruby and Garnet Mini Mosaic Pendant

Every Artist has a creative process, can you explain yours?
I create in my home studio, which looks like a train wreck most of the time.  It is functionally perfect - everything is out in the open for me to reach for when I get inspired, and when I don’t have time to clean up (which I never do!) I just shut the door behind me…haha!  Now that I have it where I want it functionally, I’m working on making my studio more beautiful.  I get terrible artist block (or whatever you call lack of inspiration for a crafter).  All of my ideas come flooding in all at once so I keep a design journal for when that happens and it is my go-to for inspiration during dry spells.

When people start doing their craft/art, they tend to try a lot of different things before settling down to something that resonates with them.  How has your work changed since you began?
When I first started making jewelry I was into really chunky pieces with big pendants.  Now, my line is very delicate.  Honestly, I feel like I am always searching for what resonates with me.  I feel like I find it for a while and then get bored or change my mind and move on.  

sterling silver basset hound necklace - live long

What inspires you creatively?
I find a lot of inspiration in color combinations and patterns in textiles.  I think my best ideas have come from browsing through wallpaper books or looking at bedding sets.  Inspiration can come from the wackiest places for me – a video game, shopping for nail polish, or sometimes just out of thin air.

Can you tell us about some important goals you have achieved with your work?
The most important part of being a maker for me is to be able to offer something that is authentic, original, and truly mine.  I feel like I am always striving for that, but intermixed with my classic pieces, I have some original pieces and lines that I’m really proud of right now. 

Who are some of your favorite artists/crafters and why?
Have you checked out The Artisan Group? ;)  I am in awe on a daily basis.  I admire so many crafters – especially the ones that are very skilled at what they do and have a cohesive look about their branding/product.

Mom Necklace - Sterling Silver Flower Bouquet Engraved w/4 Charms
(pictured is a Personalized Celebrity Gift sent to Jessica Alba via The Artisan Group)

Any goals for the future you would like to share?
I have 2 retail opportunities and a wholesale opportunity that I would really like to make happen.  My goal for this year is to have more time to produce new items so that I can make them a reality!

What do you do in your spare time?
Up until a few months ago when I injured myself I spent a lot of my spare time running.  I’m hoping that I can start up again!  I spend a lot of time doing crafts with my daughter who is 4 and during the growing season I love to tend to my vegetable garden. I also really, really enjoy red wine, really.

Cami and her adorable daugher

If you are displaying or selling your craft/art? Where?
I sell on Etsy at camileedesigns.etsy.com  I also sell my jewelry at a great local shop called Elizabeth’s House of Wax.

If you sell online or at physical store.  How many hours per week to you spend in the creative side versus the business side?
On an average week I spend about 10 hours/week on the creative side of my business:  designing and creating items and about 10 hours/week on the business side of my business:  photographing and listing new items, buying materials, marketing, facebook, twitter, etc.  When my daughter starts school full time I hope to get back to a full time schedule! J

What advice would you give to someone who want to start out or start a business in their craft/art?
It takes a lot of time!  It takes a lot of patience!  It can be very emotional at times to share your art with the world, but there is no job I would trade it for!

If there is anything else you want to add, please feel free to do so.
Find me on facebook at:  www.facebook.com/camileedesigns
I love to tweet:  www.twitter.com/camileedesigns

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Thank you Cami!  Be sure to also follow Cami's BLOG!

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Until next time, thank you everyone for reading about this talented artist.  Come back Friday, January 13, 2012 for our Feature of Libbi Shorts of Mt. Baldy Glassworks.

It's a Brand New Year-Happy 2012!

Here at Jewelry by Saniki Creations, my family and I hope you had a fabulous holiday filled with love, cheer and friendships.  Now that 2012 has arrived.  It's time to buckle down and start the year right.

Last year, there was a few changes to my Website in which now I am totally satisfied and pleased with the results now.  Because I redid it from scratch, I don't think I ever want to see another computer code or script ever again.  So rest assured there will be no more changes to the site and the new shopping platform I've implemented will be smooth and streamline for your shopping pleasure.

Design wise, I've been planning different ways to make my Chainmaille more, how would you put it, mainstream.  I think this will be a constant work-in-progress for me in the area I live in.  I love the sparkly bling bling which is still very dominate here, but do not want to classify myself as "everyone else", so I just don't create that style.  A couple of posts back I've mentioned the Tree of Life series... my pliers, the wire and stones are ready for me to start production on those.  I will also be adding more earring styles and have already added a few more finger ring designs.

I am currently toying with the idea of having my design go into a few retail boutiques and galleries.  My statement remains the same that I will not mass produce my signature pieces, so finding a suitable place that will accept only a few select one of a kind designs will probably take some time to accomplish.  I will keep you all posted as I move my little company forward.

~ FEATURED ARTIST INTERVIEWS ~

As my website already has a "Latest News" module for me to conveniently update what's happening with Jewelry by Saniki Creations in relation to Promotions/Sales/New Products.  I decided to only post about super duper sales going on or really cool news about the store or me personally that needs a good shout out to the world in this blog.

But to keep you all interested in coming back, I plan on starting up my Featured Artist segment again.

I have met a lot of wonderful and talented Artists last year through The Artisan Group in which I am a member.  So I will be featuring their talents. Plus I will also be featuring my dear Artist friends at Artists in the Boro, whom I have mentioned a couple of posts back.

The first Feature is scheduled for Monday, January 9th.  Stay tuned!

Until next time, remember "Support an Artist today!"

Featured Artist Special ~ Meet Payton Jett

I love glass lampwork beads, especially if I can somehow use it to make pretty jewelry or to keep for my personal stash. As I was building up my Facebook Fan page back in January of this year, my 125th fan was this wonderful glass artist, Payton Jett.  From just being a fan to being a friend, I got to know this lovely woman and her joy of what I would describe as setting rods of glass on fire until it melts and molding it to become a spectacular piece of art.  I know it's a little more complicated than that and  I would never attempt to play with fire, mainly because with three kids, a dog and a husband running around, I'm bound to set something other than the glass on fire.

So let's get to know about this ever so talented Artist, here's my interview with Payton.

How and when did you start making your craft as a business?
I started lampworking in October of 2006, I think I officially started my business in July of 2007. That's when I established a .com and also started to sell online.


Do you remember the first piece you ever made?
I do; it was big and ugly and had a lot of primary colors. My beads were big even back then lol.

Ingot Lampwork Focal

Every artist has a personal “creative process”, can you explain yours?
I can try. The creative process never really stops or starts. It's very integrated into my daily life. I will see a color, pattern or design and say "that could be a bead" or the best "bead moments" happen when I'm falling asleep.. there is that little half-lucid time between actually being asleep and sorta falling asleep when the ideas start to flood my brain. I have a notebook next to my bedside just for that reason.

But if I were to give you the process lets say before I actually sit down to make glass then it would be to take a few hours and sit with magazines, bead books or to go on the internet and look at art. My brain starts to swirl and the designs start to come and I always write them down. I do until I can no longer sit still and I have to try my new idea. New ideas can be hard because I might spend an entire 10 hour session trying to get it just right but it's always worth it. By the time I am done I have learned something new and created (usually) beautiful, one of a kind art!
 

Nero Owl

When people start doing their art, they tend to try a lot of different things before settling down to something that resonates with them, how has your work changed since you began?
My work is ever-evolving and changing. I used to think that I wanted to try to find a "signature piece" and then realized that a big part of who I am is that you can always expect the unexpected from me. Part of my business mantra is "uncommonly beautiful and always handmade" and I think I live up to that for the most part. I do make my fair share of "garden art" ;)


How many hours a week do you spend in the creative side vs the business side?
My week is a good 50-50 split. I am thankful for that as I need a lot of variety. I wouldn't be happy just making glass nor would I be satisfied with just web design or listing or doing all the other things that come with this business.

Sin Focal

What inspires you creatively?
Quite honestly most anything and everything. I really pull a lot of what I do from nature and my surroundings. I love to go places and let the images I see inspire me. I might just go down to a culturally rich part of the city and walk the streets to find something to obsess over in terms of design or I can simply take a nice long bike ride and find that I'm turning around to go back home and draw.


Where do you sell?
I sell at Artfire and Etsy mainly. I do have a ShopEnvy store and 1000 Markets as well but I've had better luck at Artfire and Etsy.

 Inner Goddess

 Kalie Pendant

Can you tell us about some important goals you have achieved with your work?
My work has lent its self to who I am as a person overall. When I first started in this business I was really nervous and insecure about who I was as an artist. I had a lot of growing up to do and I feel I owe it mainly to my glass and silver work. I was too shy to even show people my pieces or try to sell it when I started out but over time I have learned so much about what it is to be an artist and how "baring your soul" can be freeing.


What advice would you give to someone who is interested or starting out a business?
I have no one "pat answer" to this but if I were to try to give good, sound advice I would have to say that you really need to be open to learning as much as you can. Keep your eyes open and your finger on the heartbeat of your community to learn where the trends are going and also how to be a good business person. I feel like I had some basic instincts starting out but most of what I learned, that seems really important to me now, I learned from trial and error. Being humble and open to lessons is very important.

 Patina Bird

Who are some of your favorite artists and crafters?
Quite honestly I find something I love/like in everyone's art. I love it all. It all inspires me on a daily basis. I'm very fortunate to be a part of this big, eclectic, wonderful group of artists I call my community.


What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend a lot of time outside doing just about anything. I love to ride my bike, camp or do anything that involves water. I paint, draw and take photography as well.

Tiny Galaxy Two

If there's anything else you want to add, please feel free to do so.
I just want to thank you, Penny. I really appreciate the time you took to compile this interview. Great questions!

(Awww, thanks Payton!!)

Be sure to visit Payton's Shops on Artfire and Etsy, plus don't forget to  follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Blogger!