Interview with a star - Inessa (SmaFactory)

Please, let us introduce our fellow team mate Inessa who runs SmaFactory shop on Etsy


- Please tell us a little bit about yourself
Hello! My name is Inessa, I live and work in Kyiv, Ukraine, I’m a proud mama of a beautiful 6 year old son. Recently I managed to work as a mediaplanner in advertising agency by day and jewelry designer by night, but now I decided to quit my job to became full-time jewellery maker. I'm extremely happy to be doing what I love.


- How long have you been creating? How did your journey in art and creativity begin?
I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands. As a child, I enjoyed taking children's art classes, crafts, I attended music school for classical piano study...
About three years ago I discovered stained glass paints and that’s how my craft addiction started. My first work was a glass tea cups that I painted with cute orange flowers. As a self-taught crafter, I searched for a tutorials on the web, I learned basic tips and techniques on a related craft forums…
Shortly after this I found a great site about polymer clay. I was intrigued by polymer clay jewelery and tried to make a piece of my own. It was so exciting!
I’ve been working with polymer clay now for about 2 years, and there is still so much to learn, but I really love it!


- What items do you carry in your shop?
I am a self-taught and eclectic artist, who works with a variety of techniques. I have some jewelry created in stone-imitation technique, some in decoupage, some is hand sculpted or molded and I use texture on clay technique in my jewelry also. I am fascinated with the process of jewelry making. I strive to always improve on my designs and techniques and to make jewelry that is creative, lovely and easy to wear.


- What are your main sources of inspiration?
Inspiration comes from everywhere and everything: daily life, nature, seasons, daydreams, love… and whatever I see.
But most of all my inspiration comes from nature. Gardening is another passion of mine. I love growing flowers, especially roses. That’s why there are so many flower-themed jewelry in my shop.


- Do you have a favorite item you have made?
Yes, that’s my Ancient Leaves earrings, which are molded from real leaves. They looks so refined because of the beautiful texture, and they are very lightweight too.


- Do you have a Favorite quote you'd like to share with us?
Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.