Feature : Andrea Trail, Jewllery designer.
Based: Toronto, Canada
One of the first jewllery designers we carryat goneshopping.ca is Andrea Trail. We find her jewllery modern, chic, well-made and suitable for any occasion.
To learn more about Andrea and her wonderful jewllery, here is a recent interview:
1) How did you get the idea to design jewllery? I was spurred into action in 2004 when a friend took me to a wholesale bead supplier. I purchased a crazy amount of glass beads and sterling silver clasps and created about 30 designs. I invited some friends over for my first open house and it went from there. I had always been interested in jewellery though having taking a course at the age of 12 where we did a lot of soldering and made quite a few nice pieces.
2) What do you like most of being a jewllery designer. I LOVE the fact that you can take a bunch of beads which on their own are just pretty but when put together in the right way can be used to create something beautiful. I also enjoy seeing the delight in others when they find something that really appeals to them.
3) Where do you get your inspirations? My inspirations come from just about anywhere. I can have a spilled ‘mess’ of beads and see a colour combination that I might not have thought of or I’ll see something in a magazine and come up with a way to make it my own.
4) What is your favourite stone and material for your jewllery? My favourite stone varies. Right now I have come upon some beautiful fossil jasper pendants that are raspberry in colour and some dyed jade beads of a similar shade. They are stunning!
My favourite material would have to be silver. Even though I’d consider working with gold, beads aren’t available currently the same way sterling silver ones are.
5) From your current collection, what is your favourite? One of my favourite pieces from my current collection would have to be the key charm I made the other day using precious metal clay.
6) Any advise for the gentlemen in what to get for their loved ones
this valentines day? Listen to the woman in your life. She gives lots of hints – you just have to hear them. I repeatedly hear of men going to some expensive stores and spending too much when their partner has told them about a favourite piece from somewhere else!!
