Name: Irma Peredne
Business name: Amber Box
Location: Cleveland, OH
Website & Blog:
Amber Box
Amber Girl
The story behind my business name:
I grew up in Lithuania and spent my summer vacations on the amber-rich Baltic coast town of Palanga. I would look through the sand for pieces of amber that the sea washed up, and feel like I found gold when I’d uncover the smallest nugget of amber. I have a great love for amber, not only for the nostalgic memories it brings back of my childhood, but also of it’s inherent organic nature. I find that this fossil (it’s really a fossilized tree sap, not a gemstone) compliments any skin tone and no two pieces are alike. There’s clear and opaque amber, and colors that range from honey yellow to green and brown. You will also find sand, plant, and insect inclusions- it is like having a million years of history wrapped up in one piece of amber.
The “Box” part of my business name is another story. All of this amber that I collected got placed in a very special box that my uncle made for my mom, his sister, while he was imprisoned in a camp for anti-communist activity. He was Lithuania’s freedom-fighter, and that had cost him 23 years of his life. Nobody expected him to come out alive, but he did. It’s a great story of courage and determination not to give up hope. The box is made of different color wood inlay, and it shows Lithuania’s capital Vilnius, proudly flying the Lithuanian (not Soviet flag). I still don’t know how that box didn’t get confiscated, but after all these years, I’m the proud owner. Every time I look at that flag and cover, it reminds me to take risks whether in art, or in my personal life.
My creative process:
I have to confess that I have split-focus when it comes to creating; I dabble in many different artistic pursuits besides jewelry. So when I start feeling like I’m getting burned out in making jewelry or generating new, fresh ideas, I switch focus to another medium. For example, I wanted to try a new beading method called the coralling technique. I wanted to make earrings that resembled a coral branch, but since I had no experience with seed beads it really intimidated me. With a jewelry business, customers expect the highest level of quality, so I expected perfection out of myself. Yet, I found myself paralyzed by perfection in my first attempt to make these earrings. Later,I gave myself permission to fail, deciding that if it doesn’t turn out well, I can still use them to alter the cover of a photo album that I will use to house our vacation photos. The album cover turned out great and I had lots of fun making the coral branches. I believe to facilitate the creative process we must first give ourselves permission to fail.
My training:
My training comes from books. I’m truly addicted to getting my hands on every art or craft book, and I boast a personal library of idea books that puts my local library to shame. The only class I had was for working with PMC (Precious Metal Clay). The brown pearl necklace and oak leaf acorn earrings were a product of this class. I was so fired up about this new medium of working with precious metals in clay form, that I was ready to get a kiln, and stock up on PMC…which leads me to another question…
What advice do I have for artists wanting to take their jewelry from a hobby to a business?
Focus, and don’t run out and buy every gemstone that beckons at you at a gemstone trade show, or stock up on numerous supplies, idea books, kilns, etc. You really need to research the jewelry business, know your strengths and find your own niche. I wasted a lot of funds in start-up costs because I didn’t do my homework. Only later, I went to many local art shows and talked to other jewelry makers to find out their lifestyle, looked at their work and took mental note which booths really attracted customers. Also, be realistic. In talking to many other jewelry artisans, I gathered that in order to live off their art they are working on it full-time. They travel a circuit of art shows around the country, promoting, advertising their art. Jewelry is tactile goods. People want to touch it and try it on. Just having a website to sell your pieces will not put the bread on your table. You need to promote your work whether it’s through home-parties or art shows. Find out your strengths as a jewelry maker and excel in that. My strength is wire-wrapping method of attaching beads. But to reach the high level of consistency in wire-wrapping, and not to waste expensive raw materials, I practiced, practiced, and practiced some more on cheap wire until I could make those loops with my eyes closed.
What inspires me to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Switching focus to another hobby, even just for a day. I enjoy scrapbooking, decoupage, refurbishing old furniture, needlepoint, photography, painting. Sometimes I’ll see a scrapbooking layout that demonstrates really innovative use of color, and I’ll have an “A Ha!!” moment of a great color combination for a jewelry piece.
What takes up the majority of my time besides my art?
My two energetic boys Omar and Adam. They keep me on my toes and remind me not to lose my sense of wonder of life’s intricate details
I can be bribed with:
-white chocolate
-an outing to the Cheesecake Factory
-promise of time to dabble in my oasis-of-an-art-room, without interruption.
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