Customer Feature: Kelly W and Two Weeks to Nashville!

Jodi: This week’s post is a feature on the lovely Kelly W of Milton Keynes, UK!  Kelly had contacted me recently asking for specific custom pieces and I was so thrilled to work with her on her items!  

Kelly – the floor is yours, baby!

The beautiful Kelly rocking her Eldwenne's Fantasy gear!

The beautiful Kelly rocking her Eldwenne’s Fantasy gear!

First off, my name is Kelly Winafred Work, I am a mum of 1 little boy named Marc who will be 5 in July. I have been with my other half Darren for 8 years now we have a cat called Scarlet.

 

Kelly's son, Marc and her other half, Darren

Kelly’s son, Marc and her other half, Darren

Kelly's kitty Scarlet - who looks like my kitty Molly's doppleganger!

Kelly’s kitty Scarlet – who looks like my kitty Molly’s doppleganger!

Molly aka the US Scarlet

Molly aka the US Scarlet

I don’t work as I’m a full time mum home schooling my son (Jodi here – um, THAT’S WORK, Kelly!  Hats off to ya!)

We live in Milton Keynes, UK. My favorite sayings in life have always been, “live life to the fullest” and “a smile will always brighten someone’s day.”

As you can probably tell by those sayings, I’m a very bubbly and friendly kind of person and always enjoy meeting new people, let it be online or in everyday life 🙂

I’m a MASSIVE supernatural fan and some day dream to meet the cast. I would also love to one day travel the world bit by bit. I’ve already traveled to some places: Africa, Florida, USA, Turkey, Spain and Ibiza.

I don’t class myself as having a creative outlet, but I do love doing arts and crafts with my son.  We do things like animals from pom poms or flowers out of tissue paper and baking cakes to decorate 🙂 (Jodi here again – CREATIVE ALERT, WOMAN! GREAT STUFF!!)

Awesome tissue paper flowers made by Kelly and her son Marc!

Awesome tissue paper flowers made by Kelly and her son Marc!

 

I blew my diet just looking at this pic - it all looks AMAZING, Kelly!!!

I blew my diet just looking at this pic – it all looks AMAZING, Kelly!!! Very creative  – and I love the Moose!!

I prefer handmade jewelry most because it’s more personal, made with care and unique. Plus I’ve always preferred to help out small business than to spend money in a shop that doesn’t need it or care if they get it or not.

The kind of pieces I enjoy when it comes to jewelry is gems and stones and anything shiny (swear I was a magpie in my past life).  I prefer silver to gold as I feel gold always looks dull and fake but silver always looks new and shiny.

I like wire work as long as it’s done right there are some jewelry I have seen in the past with wire work on and it just looks out of place or like it was rushed or just added for no reason

I have to say when I found Eldwenne’s Fantasy Quality Handmade Jewelry by Jodi Zulueta I fell in love straight away.

I was looking at Supernatural jewelry online and came across etsy. When I looked on there a few people’s shops come up, but I saw a piece in Eldwenne’s and went to that one and I couldn’t stop looking!

As soon as my birthday came around and my other half asked what I wanted, I knew straight away.  The hard part was to pick what I wanted most, lol! I’ve always wanted a salt ‘n burn necklace but could never find one design I liked. So when I sent Jodi all the pictures of the ones I liked,  I left her to design it and somehow she knew exactly what I was after.  It was PERFECT –my dream necklace and I love showing it off everywhere I go!!!!  Jewelry from Eldwenne’s Fantasy is made with love and care and every bit in its own way personal to each person.

A salt 'n burn necklace with a pentagram, an angel wing, a pistol, and a handstamped Salt n Burn charm! Kelly's ready to face everything from vengeful spirits to demons!

A salt ‘n burn necklace with a pentagram, an angel wing, a vial of salt, a pistol, and a handstamped Salt & Burn charm! Kelly’s ready to face everything from vengeful spirits to demons!

And most of all, it’s all done in a friendly way. Jodi spoke to me and kept me updated every step of the way.  It was not a case of ‘yeah, thanks for your money, you’ll get it when you get it…’  I felt nothing but safe buying from Eldwenne’s.

Jodi again – WOW, thank you so much, Kelly!!  You rock!!  And I must say your little one and other half make a lovely family!  So proud to have my pieces in such good company!

Kelly brought up some things that I take to heart – one of the most important elements of my work is that it’s personal.  Each piece I make is not only made exactly for you, but the buying experience itself is always personalized as well.

Every time someone purchases something from www.eldwenne.etsy.com, I contact the buyer to thank them, ensure I know proper sizing if they’ve not already indicated, and to let them know there’s a human being behind every piece.

When you receive your order, you get a handwritten thank you from me as well.

It’s that personal touch that I’m also going to be applying to my new upcoming career – teaching.  I’m putting it out there right now – I am NEVER stopping my jewelry business.  I will continue Eldwenne’s Fantasy both online and at Salute to Supernatural conventions!

In two weeks I’ll be in Nashville to begin my training with Teach for America.  It’s going to be hard for many reasons; it’s a rigorous program, and I’ll be away from my family from June 1 through July 18.  Forty-eight days.  Then I come back to New Jersey, round up the troops and we move down to Tennessee permanently.

On May 23, we are rounding up a group of our friends and family for a “Farewell New Jersey” party – we are going to venture into New York City (which counts as a farewell to New Jersey-trust me on this), watch the brand spanking new X-Men movie, then venture back into New Jersey and grab a bite.  Going out in true geek fashion.

If you can be in the metro area on May 23 to catch a 7pm showing, please contact me so you can join us!  It’ll be a blast!

And now I leave you with the newest additions to the Supernatural Inspired Necklace Series: The Strength of Jody Mills and The Duplicity of Gabriel!

The Strength of Jody Mills

The Strength of Jody Mills – Sam and Dean Winchester are lucky to have her!

 

The Duplicity of Gabriel

The Duplicity of Gabriel – you never know who you’re dealing with!

 

Advertisement

My Featured Customer – Ana Marie S. and YOU Can Choose King or Queen of Hell!

Jodi here! Ana Marie and I met at VanCon last August.  She is quite an amazing woman who is talented, driven, and inspiring as all hell!  She shares my passion for giving time to charities, she’s an avid Supernatural fan and makes my jewelry sing when she wears it. 

Ana Marie and Her Hubby/Best Friend, J!

Ana Marie and Her Hubby/Best Friend, J!

Take it away, Ana!

Tell us a little bit about yourself, anything you’re comfortable sharing, family, work, philosophy, etc. also, if you have a website or brick and mortar business, please feel free to include that here!

What am I comfortable about sharing?  Hmm… I have been married to my best buddy since 2006 – we got married in Las Vegas by an Elvis impersonator (my idea).  That should give you a good idea about my personality.  My husband is a local musician and we met on the local music scene when I reviewed his band for an online music magazine that I wrote for at the time.  (They did a killer metal version of Billy Jean.)  We knew each other for about 2 years before we started dating, because when we met he had a girlfriend and I had a boyfriend.  But once we both figured out the other was single, we have been together since our first date.  It really is true, you always know when it’s the right person (you just make sense). 

I am a first generation Spanish-American and am bilingual.  I speak with an authentic Castilian accent and visit my family in Spain as often as I can.  I love Spain and it is my dream to retire there, so my hubby had better start learning to speak Spanish a little better than he does now (considering he has 20+ years to learn…) 

I am a big believer in volunteering.  When it comes to charity, I give them my time rather than my money.  I don’t have a spare $25 or $35 to donate, but I do have my free time that I can give – and I encourage anyone who reads this to give up some free time too.  Nothing is more rewarding.  I have volunteered for the Special Olympics, Wounded Warrior and Make-A-Wish.  It’s just something that makes my heart smile; there is no other way to put it.

The Lovely Couple - How Awesome are They??

The Lovely Couple – How Awesome are They??

Do you have creative outlets? Tell us about them and if you have photos of your work, please feel free to share!

 I actually do have some creative outlets.  I like to keep busy, so a lot of my creative outlets lend themselves to personal entertainment.  I make jewelry (easy beaded necklaces, earrings and bracelets) for gifts; I am a firm believer in handmade gifts when I have time to do it.  I crochet, not well but it helps me think and pass the time.  Sometimes I draw – I used to be pretty good, now I am just out of practice.  I enjoy it when I have the time and patience with myself to do it.

I also restore classic cars with my brother when we have time and money.  We have had a love affair with the Ford Mustang since both of us could walk (we have 3 in this household alone). My brother has a ’66 Mustang that we will be working on hopefully during the Fall.  He threw a rod, which is a perfect opportunity to revisit the original 289 block and see what we can coax out of it.  I have a ’68 Mustang; her name is Stella (it’s because she is throaty and sexy).  We took her apart and rebuilt her from 2008 through 2009, 13 months of Sundays – drinking beers and turning wrenches – it was a blast and I still work on her myself.  Right now we would love to find a nice ’64 Falcon and do some fun stuff to it, but I don’t think we can talk our spouses into the expense (well that and the garage space is limited at both our houses).

The Throaty Beauty - Stella

The Throaty and Sexy ‘Stang – Stella

Ana Marie is also an avid runner - here she is at the Color Run - a well-known 5K - one of the many things I admire about her!

Ana Marie is also an avid runner – here she is at the Color Run – a well-known 5K – one of the many things I admire about her!

 What draws you to handmade jewelry as opposed to store-bought, factory manufactured pieces?

Anyone can buy a ring or necklace at the big named stores that are machine made.  Jewelry making is an art.  I like to wear pieces that are one of a kind, that are unique and made with craftsmanship and care.  I want something that when I wear it I remember who made it, that I found it and it was special treat to me; not something to match an outfit that I wear maybe twice a year. 

 What types of pieces stand out to you, for example, wire work, crystals, etc. and why?

I am in love (and have been for years) with Celtic knot work jewelry.  For 12 years, I have worn a Celtic wheel cross made by a local artist.  I bought a similar piece for my husband for our first anniversary.  I am fascinated by the attention to detail the work requires and how simple it is – the beauty is in the simplicity of the work.  I think that carries over to what I like about jewelry period – something that is beautiful and simple.  It doesn’t have to have a big stone or be made of platinum, it has to be pretty and stand alone as being pretty. 

Is there something specific about Eldwenne’s Fantasy – Quality Handmade Jewelry by Jodi Zulueta that stands out to you? (Don’t be afraid to say no, Lol!)

I met Jodi at a Supernatural convention in Vancouver in August 2013.  I think I scoped out her table for a day and half until I found the perfect thing I could not live without.  It was a deconstructed charm bracelet made with wire.  Every single time I wear it, I get compliments.  It is simple, understated but pretty and unique (and can stand alone).  I have since made several more purchases, some for myself (I can’t help it) and for friends for birthdays and this past Christmas.  Each piece was made with care, each piece was unique and each piece beautiful.  I think what I like most about what Jodi does it that Jodi makes jewelry that makes sense to her – and those that buy from her get that. 

Ana Marie with some guy...can't QUITE place him.  Looks familiar...

Ana Marie with some guy…can’t QUITE place him. Looks familiar…

Jodi here again – THANK YOU ANA MARIE!  What a great interview this was.  Ana Marie and I are trying to figure out if we can get together at the next BurCon, so hopefully the planets will align properly and we can make that happen.

Ana Marie with Richard Speight Jr - lucky ladies!!

Ana Marie with Richard Speight Jr – lucky ladies!!

A couple of vamps with a vamp - Ty Olsson!

A couple of vamps with a vamp – Ty Olsson!

So I bet you’re wondering what the hell (pun always intended) I meant by ‘You can choose King or Queen of Hell.”  I figured it would be fun to let us fans choose, so next week at VegasCon – let’s have some election action! (please note that this is an independent contest that has absolutely NO bearing on the show.  This is strictly for fun and a chance to win a piece of my handmade jewelry).

We all know that Crowley and Abaddon are having a little tiff, so I figured let’s try to sort this out the democratic way.

For $1, you can buy a raffle ticket and cast your vote for either Crowley or Abaddon.  This will go on during the entire weekend, starting on Wednesday night, for those who are VIP pre-registering, all through noon on Sunday.

An hour before the vendor room closes on Sunday, stop by and find out who the fans have chosen to reign over Hell.  I will be selecting a random raffle ticket from the Crowley votes to win a King of Hell necklace and I’ll also be selecting a random raffle ticket from the Abaddon votes to win a Queen of Hell necklace.  It’s going to be a ton of fun!

Ana Marie and Erin with Hell royalty - maybe! YOU decide at VegasCon!

Ana Marie and Erin with Hell royalty – maybe! YOU decide at VegasCon!

At this time next week I’ll be in VegasCon!  I can’t believe how quickly it’s approaching.  I’ve been working nonstop with brand new designs being done daily.  It’s been an amazingly prolific time and I do hope that if you’re going to VegasCon that you come by and see me, just to say hi.

And don’t forget that Kat Sloan and I are running some great promotions – including a meet and greet with the author herself! Come check her out at http://www.katsloan.com and follow her on Twitter via @katsloan7

Kat Sloan's amazing book - Half Blood

Kat Sloan’s amazing book – Half Blood

If you can’t be there in person, you can always come say hi to me virtually through my shop www.eldwenne.etsy.com where you have 24/7 access to everything I make!

Looking forward to seeing all of you!!

One of the brand new designs you'll see at VegasCon!

One of the brand new designs you’ll see at VegasCon!

SPN Bookmarks made of galvanized steel and personalized for YOU at VegasCon!

SPN Bookmarks made of galvanized steel and personalized for YOU at VegasCon!