Hello dear friends and readers. Today I bring you Sara from gwaen. She has a lovely little shop filled with upcycled leather jewelries such as brooches, bracelets and other accessories. Stop by her shop to check out her goodies.
1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
I'm Sara, I live in Italy between Bologna (my hometown) and Tuscany coast (homeland of my boyfriend Dario). We both are cartoonists; we draw comics and illustrations for books. We also love doing urban sketching: in fact, we always carry in our bag a sketchbook, and we instantly draw everything we see and like of what surrounds us.
2. What do you sell?
In my shop I sell mostly jewels made from leather scraps: romantic bow bracelets, mosaic geometric necklaces and brooches all made from colorful upcycled leather, but I sell also my self-printed comics, zines and sketches collections.
3. Why handmade?
Handmade products are very personal; they have their own language. Moreover, you know their provenance, you can talk with the crafter, make him/her questions, ask for customizations. Buying and selling handmade is very satisfying, it's also a way to make relationships and establish a connection between customer and seller.
4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
Actually I don't know…from everything I see and learn, I think! Exhibitions, artworks, vintage pieces...I love experimenting, so every time that an idea, or the beginning of it, pops up into my mind, I start the process to realize it. I search images, color palettes and materials that could help me, then I create a first attempt and keep on perfecting it.
5. Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
As I wrote above, I'm a cartoonist. I spend a lot of time with a pen, a pencil, brushes and colors in my hand, or in front of my PC to create digital images. Handling the leather, using a blade to cut it, getting the hands dirty with the glue and the acrylic paint, is my way to take a break remaining involved in a good creative mood.
6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
I don't like to say that I'm an artist. I don't feel like an artist, yet. I'm still looking for my own path.
7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
It's impossible to tell! As I wrote before, I can't even tell where my inspiration comes from…!
8. Where would you like to be in five years?
Everywhere my career will lead me: I want to follow every opportunity that will knock on my door. In my most uncontrolled dreams I'd like being invited in every corner of the world to sketch places and people, then publishing sketched travel books about each journey.
9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done?
crafts, sports, life in general?
I'd like to learn screen printing technique. And sewing my own dresses very well, too.
10. Besides online where else do you sell?
I sell my self-printed comics during the biggest comic exhibition in Italy, Lucca Comics and Games, and during other smaller exhibitions, too. My leather jewelry is on sale only in my Etsy shop, instead!
Ways to contact you:
::etsy shop::
::saramenetti.it::
::blog::
::twitter::
email writeme@saramenetti.it
1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
I'm Sara, I live in Italy between Bologna (my hometown) and Tuscany coast (homeland of my boyfriend Dario). We both are cartoonists; we draw comics and illustrations for books. We also love doing urban sketching: in fact, we always carry in our bag a sketchbook, and we instantly draw everything we see and like of what surrounds us.
 |
| This is me while sketching in Assisi |
2. What do you sell?
In my shop I sell mostly jewels made from leather scraps: romantic bow bracelets, mosaic geometric necklaces and brooches all made from colorful upcycled leather, but I sell also my self-printed comics, zines and sketches collections.
 |
| Comic journal zine Italian Language |
3. Why handmade?
Handmade products are very personal; they have their own language. Moreover, you know their provenance, you can talk with the crafter, make him/her questions, ask for customizations. Buying and selling handmade is very satisfying, it's also a way to make relationships and establish a connection between customer and seller.
 |
| Handmade leather bow pin |
Actually I don't know…from everything I see and learn, I think! Exhibitions, artworks, vintage pieces...I love experimenting, so every time that an idea, or the beginning of it, pops up into my mind, I start the process to realize it. I search images, color palettes and materials that could help me, then I create a first attempt and keep on perfecting it.
 |
| Boho Leather Necklace Grey Geometric pendant |
As I wrote above, I'm a cartoonist. I spend a lot of time with a pen, a pencil, brushes and colors in my hand, or in front of my PC to create digital images. Handling the leather, using a blade to cut it, getting the hands dirty with the glue and the acrylic paint, is my way to take a break remaining involved in a good creative mood.
6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
I don't like to say that I'm an artist. I don't feel like an artist, yet. I'm still looking for my own path.
7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
It's impossible to tell! As I wrote before, I can't even tell where my inspiration comes from…!
8. Where would you like to be in five years?
Everywhere my career will lead me: I want to follow every opportunity that will knock on my door. In my most uncontrolled dreams I'd like being invited in every corner of the world to sketch places and people, then publishing sketched travel books about each journey.
 |
| Handpainted bow bracelet |
crafts, sports, life in general?
I'd like to learn screen printing technique. And sewing my own dresses very well, too.
10. Besides online where else do you sell?
I sell my self-printed comics during the biggest comic exhibition in Italy, Lucca Comics and Games, and during other smaller exhibitions, too. My leather jewelry is on sale only in my Etsy shop, instead!
Ways to contact you:
::etsy shop::
::saramenetti.it::
::blog::
::twitter::
email writeme@saramenetti.it
what a great interview, and interesting artist! off to check out her Etsy
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work -- I especially love her abstract pieces :)
ReplyDeleteWow Sara, great work! Claudia, thank you for sharing her with us :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow thank you for sharing this artist. I really really love the bow bracelets :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks for the link to the crochet tutorial. I think that will definitely help with the learning process!
Sara's Etsy shop is wonderful. So many goodies! Being a cartoonist sounds like so much fun too. :)
ReplyDelete