Interview with a Star - Irina (IrenkaR)

Today, we would like to introduce one of our team mate Irina who runs IrenkaR shop on Etsy.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself
Actually, I’m a self-taught artisan and making jewelry is my hobby. I am an economist, but I have learned sewing, knitting, and inventing all kinds of interesting things from my mother. I love the creativity and extraordinarily creative people. In my childhood I dreamed of being a designer. My daughter, Ann, has made my dream come true without even realizing it. Now she is a 1st year student at the National Academy of Art in Lviv. By the way, my daughter is my first and the most serious critic.

How long have you been creating? How did your journey in art and creativity begin?
I have been making polymer clay jewelry for only 2 years. Initially, I bought it for my daughter, she loves to sculpt. I looked for the tutorials and bought all kinds of tools for her and then noticed that I myself was exited to do all this. I fell in love with polymer clay immediately, right when I for the first time took it into my hands. There are so many opportunities for creativity!

A long time ago I made jewelry for myself and for friends at school - we really wanted to be unique. Later, I saw jewelry from polymer clay in the Internet community. Now I make it myself. Now my daughter and I have a common hobby - she also makes jewelry and all her friends wear earrings made by her.

What items do you carry in your shop?
My original works - fun brooches from polymer clay - dolls, princesses, ballerinas, little mermaids and a collection of winter brooches (kids in the big winter hats) - are represented in my shop. Also, I like to make polymer clay jewelry with imitation of knitting, and with bright prints, I like to use different textures and materials: fabric, handmade lace, beads. It’s interesting for me to experiment and I want to share my findings with everyone. My daughter wears earrings, brooches and bracelets made by me with pleasure, she takes them first! So that’s why I make many items again specifically for the shop IrenkaR

Do you have a favorite item you have made? What items in your shop do you most enjoy making and why?
I love all of my works because I put in them my warmth and love. And my favorite is a brooch of a girl with the mittens on lace . This brooch probably has a connection with something from my childhood. I love to make this design over and over again, but these brooches are never exactly the same.

What is the best reaction you have gotten from one of your pieces?
Frankly speaking, a reaction to my brooches inspired me to make them again. I'm glad to make people happy with my works, I like when my works make my customers smile and cheer them up. It is really great! I think I make this world a little bit kinder. That’s why the slogan of my shop is "Cute brooches and other jewelry for a good mood»

What are your best marketing tips?
I really like Etsy, which helps us to learn about marketing of a small business. But the best marketing tip I think is: «do what you like and do it well».

I hope it was interesting for you.

Yours, Irina Rybak