hOlY MoLy..... This post is loaded.....

by MaryAnn Carroll

I say that because we have a winner for the fabulous earrings that were so generously donated by Jen Vanbenschoten (vanbeads), a special interview with a special artist Lucia Tremont and to make that complete, a special giveaway donated by Lucia herself.  To win, you will have to answer a question at the end of this interview.

What is so cool about this interview is that I met this talented woman by checking out Barbara Lewis's enameling support site.  You can find that on side bar of Barbara's website by clicking HERE.  Yes, a site designed for those of who who cannot shake the enameling addiciton ;o)

What I soon discovered was that Lucia and I are pratically neighbors.  Not only that, one of her best friends is also a friend of my husband Bill.  They work together in the Syracuse City School District.  How cool is that?  I get used to meeting people who are usually a significant distance away, not one who went to high school right next to the neighborhood I grew up in. 

So, now it is your turn to meet Lucia Tremont.  She is a wife and mom of two boys 21 and 20, and a 17 year old daughter.  When not creating, she works full-time in a primary school.

Please tell us a little about your journey with jewelry creating.

I can remember the first piece of jewelry I made. I was 10 and glued stones onto a bracelet. Through the years I have tried many different mediums. I had a piece of enamel a friend had given me years ago and that sparked my interest in getting a kiln. That was three years ago and I've been making jewelry since.

I have read in your Etsy profile that you have always been involved in some sort of art, how did you first get interested in creating jewelry?


I am always making something.  When my daughter was younger, we decided to make bracelets at her birthday party that were on wire and crimped.  I enjoyed doing that and then began making necklaces for myself.  People would compliment me on the pieces, and I would make jewelry gifts for friends and family.

Enameling seems to be your art of choice.  Are there other materials that you like to combine with your enameled pieces?

Yes, I love patinaed metal, adding fiber and since I knit I've thought about adding knitted wire, natural fibers and felted wool.

How did you first decide to sell online?  Have you enjoyed your online experience?

It really was an evolving process.  I enjoyed searching through Etsy and the fact that everything I made could be just a little different.  Etsy is a very user friendly and it seemed like a great choice to get my pieces "out there".  I have asked many questions to shop owners and they have been very kind in replying and trying to help, so it's been good so far.

In terms of enameling, are you self-taught or have you taken classes to learn this skill?

I am self taught in enameling.  I decided to buy a kiln so that I could make pottery, glass beads and enamel. I did do a good amount of research before hand, I love the research part.  I did not intend to sell, it was for my own knowledge and enjoyment.  When my kiln arrived I was so excited, but the 2500 degree temperature scared me and with no one to walk me through the process,  I waited one month before turning it on.  I finally got the nerve to do a trial run, not even actually enameling, just turning it on.  I set it up in my family room and as the temperature climbed I began to relax and feel pretty good about it, but suddenly at 500 degrees my television and computer went out and the kiln shut down. I was afraid I had ruined the everything.  Luckily for me, all was fine and what I needed was a dedicated line for the kiln.  Once that was in, it was all trial and error. I did take out many library books but no enameling classes and that was 3 years ago.   Recently, I was fortunate enough to have a private lesson with Babara Lewis, who teaches her torch firing technique.

Have you explored other options to promote your online selling such as blogs, facebook, etc.?

I am only on Etsy and plan to explore social networks and blogs.

Have you set goals for your future creating and selling?

If so, what are those goals?

My heart's desire is to be known and respected as an artist. I would like my Etsy shop, Ciaolucia, to be successful, have work published and continue to grow and experiment with different techniques and mediums.  Enameling has so many possibilities, the layering of enamel powders produce such surprising results, always different.  But really, if I wasn't enameling, I would be making something.  I always have to be making something. I am a visual person, so when I see something that intrigues me, I can't wait to try it myself.

Would you offer some advice to those who may be reluctant to create jewelry using an approach that might feel out of their comfort zone?

If you have passion, you will find a way.  Research, read as much as you can, take a class and if there are no available classes, trial and error are the best teachers. Don't set limits on your ideas.

And there you have it, Lucia Tremont.....

Thanks, Lucia!

So.....

why did I leave the picture of these fab rings for the end of this post.  Yes, there is a method to my madness reason for that....a little teasing.... a little taste of what's to come....a little surprise....

 Lu has GENEROUSLY donated this gorgeous ring!!! 

 It could be yours if you just do a little window shopping and

head on over to Lu's shop by clicking HERE.

Come on back and let us know what your favorite piece is

and what you like about it.

As always, if you want to be entered multiple times, post this interview/giveway on your own blogs, facebook pages, etc. and come back and let us know each that you did (Each comment is counted once).  Please provide a link to the post.  A winner will be chosen next Sunday, July 24th so be sure to stop back (I hope you are reading daily ;o) to see if you are the lucky winner!

And while on the subject of lucky winner......

Island Girl

These are now yours!  Congrats!!  Just email Jen.  You can find her contact by clicking her name on the side bar of this blog.  She will need your address so she can get these shipped out to you.