I Heart the Fleur de Lis

People often ask me what my favorite design is. That’s easy. The Fleur de Lis is so rich in history and has so many gorgeous variations, that it is my hands-down fave! Dating back to the 12th Century, the Fleur de Lis was originally used as an emblem of French monarchy.  Over time, it was depicted on coins, pottery, heraldry insignia, banners, crown jewels, and all things stately and important.

The phrase translates to “Flower of the Lily”, and is thought to most resemble the Iris. The three petals are often used to symbolize the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and have represented military power and strength.

Here in the U.S., New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA) has held it strongly and proudly as a sign of its French heritage. The design is has been infused throughout time in architecture, and is frequently seen in wrought iron patterns and finials.

The Fleur de Lis has recently made a huge comeback, most currently by way of interior design, and even in graphic art scrollwork flourishes. It’s particularly used as a sign of support to NOLA following Hurricane Katrina. Even the Boy Scout and Girl Scout trefoils have evolved from the Fleur de Lis. So, I guess it’s safe to say that I’m not the first to fall in love with this special design.

Interestingly, the Fleur de Lis has been said to stand for light, life, and perfection. Maybe that’s why I love it so much. Here’s my rendition of the Fleur de Lis (as seen on my Bourbon Street Fleur de Lis Tee) in perfectly light-refracting Swarovski crystal rhinestones:

So, now you tell me. What is your favorite design element?
Take care, and always let your light shine, my friends! Ellen

Meet Susan Campanini: This Week's Creative Woman in Business

Hi Susan! I found these adorable earrings in your Etsy shop!
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a semi-retired teacher of college-level French and English who does freelance editing online at home and designs one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry. I live in east central Illinois with my husband and my six cats. In addition to work, jewelry making, and family life, I love reading literary fiction, flower gardening, music, art, and movies, to name just a few of my interests.

What is your creative passion, and why?
I love collecting beautiful and unusual beads of all kinds and making designs with them for earrings and necklaces. In part, it’s because I love color so much; also, seeing patterns emerge is like magic. The creative self-expression element is important to me too. But I don’t just like making them – I like the idea of sharing them with people, so that a little bit of beauty can be added to their everyday lives. As a result, I want to keep my jewelry affordable and to make a wide range of beaded materials and styles in the jewelry available in my etsy shop  beadedjewelrybysusan.etsy.com  at all times.

What inspires you?
Beauty in nature is always an inspiration for me--water, trees, flowers, sunsets--but mainly it is the beads themselves that suggest the designs. I just open a drawer full of beads and things start to come together for me. It’s an addiction!

Any business advice for the novice just starting out?
I’m new to etsy (shop open six months and not a lot of sales--yet :) ), but I have been doing craft shows selling my jewelry for 18 years. I think the best advice is to make what you think is lovely, display it nicely so people can choose easily, and make it reasonably priced so they can afford it. I also try to give people as much information and help in choosing as they would like.

What is your favorite item that you have for sale?
I love them all! But there is one necklace in particular that my husband and I worked on together to create wire elements (he has a jig for bending the wire) with beaded units in between. It was featured a while back in a published craft book, which was a really nice honor. I’ve put it on the etsy site for sale: Black-and-White Fantasy Necklace.

It's awesome that you work has been published, Susan!  Congratulations!
What words of wisdom to you try to live your life by?
Be who you are and enjoy it. Don’t take anything for granted. Trust your heart and your instincts and be kind.

For what three things would you like to be remembered?
Hmm, maybe my loyalty, my love of learning new things, and my sense of humor?

Is there any particular cause that is near and dear to your heart?
I am sensitive to the plight of our planet in many ways, so lots of environmental organizations matter to me. I have always adopted rescue cats--the best felines of all!

What else would you like us to know?
I’ve recently started writing a blog. It has information about my beaded jewelry, of course, but also posts about fiction, felines, music, films, gardening, and armchair philosophy. Check it out! beadedjewelrybysusan.blogspot.com.

How else can we follow you?
I have a Facebook Fan Page and a Twitter site
and, if you’d like to see my beading studio, come to my flickr photo page

Online Selling Tip #1 It's Not What You Say--It's How You Say It.

I had a magnet set for sale on Etsy for months and months. It was the cutest darned puppy-paw print magnet set in a recycled Altoid tin covered in coordinating paper, with an adorable metal embellishment on the cover that said “woof”. That thing had over 700 views, but not one taker. It was named something really witty like “Woof Puppy Paw Print Magnet Set in Recycled Altoid Travel Tin”. I got to thinking about whether I had ever seen one just like it before, or would ever make one just like it again. I decided that I wouldn’t. That earned it the title “OOAK” (One Of A Kind, for those of us who are new to the terminology). So I slapped that title on it. Hmmm. Still didn’t sell. I decided to change the title and tag to reflect that this item was upcycled, instead of recycled. BINGO! Sold within a day. Why? The word “upcycled” gives the feel of something old having been improved, or given new life or purpose. You know, like the Jefferson’s—Movin’ On Up. Not just something dusted off and re-used that would otherwise have been destined for the landfill. After all, it was the exact same magnet set with a huge number of views. Selling that piece was a matter of simply reframing into the most positive light possible. Kind of like the doctor who tells his patient that her “condition is chronic”, versus having a “terminal illness”. Makes them both feel a little bit better (OK, albeit very little) about it, and able to adjust as time goes on.

Take a peek at your title and tags and see if they reflect the most positive image of your item. You might be glad you did!