Arts & Entertainment

Q&A With Local Artist: Cristina Gildner

Artist sells jewelry locally through Etsy.com

Local artist and Woodbridge resident Cristina Gildner sells her jewelry online through Etsy.com, an online community and eBay of sorts, which sells handmade items in 150 countries. Gildner sells her creations under the username "Sogni in Pietra" and has been creating unique pieces since 2008. Her one-of-a-kind jewelry sells anywhere from $22 to $45; with new pieces being added all the time. Psst. At the bottom of this article, you'll find Gildner's promise to Patch readers that visit her site!

Q: Where does your inspiration come from?
A: From a lot of different things and places, from anywhere really. I read several magazines, not only fashion, but also home decor and travel. I often get color inspiration from fabric prints or even paint chips from the home improvement store. The design of the jewelry comes often from the stones themselves. I have stones that I have acquired months ago, and just now they are "speaking" to me of a new piece.

Q: What is your favorite piece you have created?
A: It is hard to select one piece as my favorite because I literally have hundreds that I have made for my personal use or for sale. Although I mostly use semi-precious stones for my pieces, I think that my favorite one is actually a multistrand of oxidized silver chains and artists lampwork beads. The colors are denim blue and gray and it just seems to go with everything. It's in my jewelry box and it's not for sale!

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Q: What types of jewelry do you design?
 A: I design all jewelry, earrings, bracelets, but I seem to gravitate around necklaces. They are my favorite piece to wear and I think that you really get a lot of style "bucks" for your money with a necklace. If you select the right piece, it really makes an outfit. Never leave home without one! I like to use different media and try new techniques, some with more success than others. Wire wrapping is one of my favorite techniques, the repetitiveness of the process, really opens my mind and allows me to relax.

Q: Where does your jewelry ship to?
A:  I ship my pieces everywhere in the world. My first sale was to a lady in the United Kingdom. She bought a cute Halloween inspired necklace with lampwork bead, stones and a fun pewter bat bead.

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Q: Do you have any unique clientele?
A: I have not sold a lot of pieces through Etsy but most of my sales are face to face with friends, coworker, friends of friends, neighbors of friends. My most "special" client was a lady I have really never met in person, but she would periodically ask a common friend to bring to her every single piece I had available so that she could try every thing on before buying. She bought eight to 10 pieces at the time!

Q: What is your favorite thing about crafting and designing jewelry?
A: I began making jewelry for my own use, because I was never really able to find the perfect piece that I could also afford. I think this is still my favorite thing about this craft, the opportunity to make something that is completely "you," that can boost your confidence and really reflect your personality, that can speak to other of who you are, where are you coming from and where are you headed. The fact that is fun, relaxing and allows me some "me" time doesn't hurt either.

Q: How long have you been creating jewelry?
A: I started beading when I was a kid. My aunt bought me a loom and I tried different pieces and techniques with seed beads. Making jewelry it has been part of my life on and off since then, although I use to dedicate a lot of time to other crafts also. In the past five or six years, jewelry-making has really taken center stage in my life and I spend most of my free time either creating new pieces or shopping for new supplies, but I still don't forget what my mother and grandmother taught me: knitting, crocheting, embroidering and sewing, especially when I can use it -- in jewelry!

Q: What would you like Patch readers to know?
A: I would not be half as creative as I am without the support of my great hubby, who set up my work space in the spare bedroom and bought me a cool orange TV that I can watch while I am beading. To all the Patch readers: visit my shop at www.sogniinpietra.etsy.com and visit often. A gift with every purchase if you mention Patch!


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