MF: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your shop -

T: My name is Tracy Owens Chasteen and my Etsy shop of jewelry and accessories is Polished Two.

Outside of my crafty endeavors and work with my Etsy shop, I have an office job working in business development. When I take time off from work, I love to travel, shop for vintage treasures, attend bead shows, and spend time relaxing with my family and friends in the Texas Hill Country.

I was inspired to start my Etsy shop after making jewelry for friends, family, coworkers, and everyone I knew. I was having little trunk shows, but I still needed another venue. Etsy is amazing because it has given me worldwide exposure. It is a wonderful community of artisans and such a great place to shop! My shop includes many one of a kind designs with porcelain pottery shards as well as a wide selection of bold and whimsical accessories to add a little fun to your wardrobe.

MF: What are the inspirations for your designs?

T: I’m often inspired by shopping trips, especially a long day at a big flea market. I have to bring a notebook with me! I’ll see lots of great vintage materials and find inspiration in their history. I have to jot things down so I’ll remember how I want to use them when I get back to my studio. I love working with vintage buttons and jewelry parts – giving them new life in a modern piece of jewelry. The quality of vintage materials makes them great for recycling into new designs. I really like to mix old and new, so I’ll combine vintage parts with new materials to get my latest inspired designs. I also get inspired by the chaos of life. Some of my best necklace designs have sprung from a wild mix of orphan beads on my desk after a long, busy week when I haven’t put everything away. It may look like a mess to someone else, Ibut I tend to find the most interesting and unexpected color combinations in an intermingling, wild pile of beads!

MF: In your opinion, what makes the items you sell unique?

T: A lot of my favorite items are the one of a kind pieces, like pottery shard necklaces. I may never find the same two pottery shards, so the necklaces are truly unique. This if often the case with some of the rings I make, as well. I love that an orphaned clip-on earring from grandma’s long-forgotten jewelry box can be given new life as a kitschy cocktail ring. The great thing about shopping at my etsy site or many of the other etsy shops is that you can define your style without buying what everyone else has from a big box store.

MF: What items are your best sellers?

T: My best sellers are my pottery shard necklaces and earrings, as well as my wire earrings and nearly any jewelry with birds. Here are some examples -

MF: Do you welcome custom orders?

T: Yes, I definitely welcome custom orders. I have several repeat customers who come back to my shop when they have an idea for something they want. It is great to turn their ideas into something wearable and unique. I also welcome wholesale inquiries from boutiques that like to specialize in handmade goods.

MF: Do you have any other link besides etsy that you would like to share with our readers?

T: I’m on Twitter as http://twitter.com/polishedtwo. I have a blog, but I haven’t updated it in the past six months as my etsy shop has really taken off…and I felt like I didn’t have anything that interesting to write about. Most often, time is the issue! I like to get my etsy orders out within 1-2 business days and I make that a priority. You can also find me on MySpace at http://MySpace.com/polishedtwo and Flickr at http://Flickr.com/polishedtwo. Feel free to add me as a friend on any of these sites and you’ll see my latest jewelry designs as they’re made.

MF: Last but certainly not least, will you be our Valentine?

T: I would LOVE to be your Valentine!

Posted by Nicole Ibarrondo, former editor here at Mom Fuse