It's Your Life - feature #7

Name: Nicole Tirona
Website links: It's Your Life Shop, It's Your Life Blog

What do you make?
I make costume jewelry and sometimes I sew pouches and other bits.



What or who inspires you?
My need to make something, but mostly, my need to make a living.

How did you get started?
I started selling stuff online when I was not able to work yet in Canada.



What are your favourite materials to work with?
I love finding the nicest vintage for my jewelry, like wicked cameos and perfect lockets, strange and well made charms of past eras. When sewing, I like to use new Japanese printed cottons and linens.



What is the hardest and most favourite part of crafting?
The hardest part for me is finding the motivation to continually make new designs and inventory over and over again. My favorite part would have to be creating new designs that are pleasing and well balanced to my eye.



List 5 of your favourite links and why you like them
Hmm.....

Instant Coffee: For art listings, it's pretty covered

Chalked Up: For club parties and shows

Avaaz: For all things activist

Vancouver is Awesome: For all things awesome in van

Bansa: For their tagalog-english online dictionary, i think it is the only one available (Nicole originates from the Philippines)



Do you have any advice for those in the biz?
Keep trying, keep a record of stuff you made so you can see how your work progresses, dont just always ask othercrafters how to make stuff or where to get stuff, be resourceful, join as many fairs as you can and have fun.

Art vs. Craft - Are these terms different? Do you consider yourself an artist or a crafter?
I am going to say these two are very different. I went to art school and what I am doing now is definitely craft. Though how I make the stuff, my process, how the materials dictate what the outcome will be, I believe that to be art.



If you are interested in being featured, please send us an email at info(at)gotcraft(dot)com.

Check out our past features...

Faythe Levine - feature #6
Coco Cake Cupcakes - feature #5
pomomama design - feature #4
GroovyGlassGirl - feature #3
Bueno Style - feature #2
The Beautiful Project - feature #1