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Friday, September 13, 2019
Sacramento jewelry maker becomes finalist in global competition - KCRA Sacramento
A Sacramento artist is getting international attention for her handcrafted jewelry.Elyse Tolles started selling her jewelry on the popular site Etsy. Now, she’s competing against artists from around the world in the first Etsy Design Awards.“They had thousands of applicants, and they narrowed it down to around 120 finalists across 12 or 13 categories,” she said.More than 150 sellers from around the world were selected to compete for $15,000.“Each pair is slightly different,” said Tolles of her handmade polymer clay earrings. “You get that kind of organic quality.”It’s her gossamer-style earrings that were selected for the competition.“It’s incredibly flattering, and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do this,” Tolles said. “I try to remind myself of this as much as possible.”Each piece is handmade in a studio in Midtown. It’s a process that can take days.“It’s definitely a labor of love,” Tolles said. “It takes longer than people probably think it does.”But, her career didn’t start out this way.Tolles was working on her doctorate in flute performance when she tried jewelry-making as a hobby. After her Etsy shop TidyClutterings took off, she began selling wholesale to boutiques around the country.Now, she has a space inside Together Midtown, where she designs and assembles her one-of-a-kind jewelry.“I have the opportunity to be around all sorts of other female entrepreneurs,” she said. “It’s just been a huge blessing to be part of that community.”The winners of the Etsy Design Awards are expected to be announced by the end of September.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A Sacramento artist is getting international attention for her handcrafted jewelry.
Elyse Tolles started selling her jewelry on the popular site Etsy. Now, she’s competing against artists from around the world in the first Etsy Design Awards.
“They had thousands of applicants, and they narrowed it down to around 120 finalists across 12 or 13 categories,” she said.
More than 150 sellers from around the world were selected to compete for $15,000.
“Each pair is slightly different,” said Tolles of her handmade polymer clay earrings. “You get that kind of organic quality.”
It’s her gossamer-style earrings that were selected for the competition.
“It’s incredibly flattering, and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do this,” Tolles said. “I try to remind myself of this as much as possible.”
Each piece is handmade in a studio in Midtown. It’s a process that can take days.
“It’s definitely a labor of love,” Tolles said. “It takes longer than people probably think it does.”
But, her career didn’t start out this way.
Tolles was working on her doctorate in flute performance when she tried jewelry-making as a hobby. After her Etsy shop TidyClutterings took off, she began selling wholesale to boutiques around the country.
Now, she has a space inside Together Midtown, where she designs and assembles her one-of-a-kind jewelry.
“I have the opportunity to be around all sorts of other female entrepreneurs,” she said. “It’s just been a huge blessing to be part of that community.”
The winners of the Etsy Design Awards are expected to be announced by the end of September.
