"Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself." She quotes.

So Terri, tell us a little about your life.

I was born in South Carolina, the only child of two Californians, so I have been influenced by both coasts. I moved to Arizona in 2000, intent on completing my private pilot’s license and going on to obtain a commercial pilot’s license. As life so often does, it led me in another direction. I now work at a University as a grant coordinator/writer and live in Boise, ID. For the record, there IS more to Idaho than potatoes.

I love to design jewelry. From an early age, my parents helped cultivate an appreciation for all things sparkly. I started pursuing design when my husband loving encouraged me to ‘get a hobby’ during the winter months after many disastrous attempts at knitting. I have always been one who wants something to do with my hands. After a couple of years, family, co-workers, and strangers started complimenting me on my jewelry and suggesting that I sell it. Thus, Terri’s Temptations was born.

I decided on the name of my shop after reading a quote that never fails to make me smile: “Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself.”--- Rite Mae Brown. I thought the name Terri’s Temptations sounded a little like a bakery at first, then my wonderfully dear friend, said it sounded like I was in the naughty toy business. Gotta love great friends like that…anyway, the name stuck, though I do add the word Jewelry to tags and shipping labels to avoid confusion and possible misinterpretation.

When I am not at my day job or working on a new piece of jewelry, my husband and I are out enjoying Idaho’s wilderness and traveling. We hike, kayak, and go camping whenever possible. Much of my inspiration comes from the amazing palette provided by nature and I return from each of those trips renewed and with a new color combination to try to interpret through jewelry. Trying to interpret such a dynamic color palette into jewelry is my favorite part of the craft. Combining various hues, tones, patterns, textures, and luster to create beauty in subtlety is wonderfully relaxing.

There are so many great materials out there (and price tags to go with them) that I least like having to limit myself in buying new material. Like with all things however, that does make me appreciate the new materials and anticipate their arrival all that much more. I can live with that.

I am a very new shop owner on Etsy, so I am still trying to promote my business. I have tried various outlets, Facebook, Forbes Women’s Group on LinkedIn, sending updates into my undergrad and graduate school alumni newsletters, word of mouth, handing out business cards, and yes, even tacking up a business card in the recreation center in my neighborhood. I was recently approached by a blogger and partnered with her to do a giveaway. That generated a lot of traffic on my site.

My advice to other small business or shop owners is to try to come up with one new marketing idea a day and implement it, however small, have patience, keep you sense o humor, and pursue your passion passionately.

Please visit Terri’s Etsy shop, you can also find her Facebook fan page by clicking on the links provided.

Fellow Artisans and Readers: These artisans need your support; please read their interviews, look at their slide show montage, visit their Etsy shop or webpage and above all else, leave a comment below!

If you liked this article (please leave a ‘comment’ below) and want to know when I publish more personal interviews with talented artisans, or special event articles be sure to use the “SUBSCRIBE” button at the top of the page or CLICK HERE so that you will automatically be notified via e-mail whenever I publish an article (and while you're at it, please add me as one of your 'fav' Examiners). AND again, please leave comments which are vital to our exposure level.

If you're an artist/crafter and want to be interviewed contact me. I will feature you and your wonderful talents and promote your shop. "SUBSCRIBE" (above) or CLICK HERE then go to my blog where you will find the interview questionnaire. Follow the directions there and then e-mail your completed questionnaire to me, I'll be in touch with you real soon.

Don't forget to visit my many artisan friends at Etsy and the VA Etsy Team for your ultimate shopping pleasure.

Until next time I wish you a good day today and every day!

Remember to always "Pay IT Forward" because one good deed deserves another.

Cheers my ♥'s

BG

Check out some of my previous artisan interviews:

Franca and Verdiana

Susan Williams

"Speed"

Mallory

Yaakov