CLOSED. Interview and Giveaway: Wrens and Roses

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to everyone who entered...stay tuned for a winner!

Little know fact (unless you live in State College or Ford City, PA):  the Miska side of our family has been in the jewelry business for many years.  Our dad's parents owned a small jewelry store, our dad fixed jewelry for them, our aunt works at a cousin's jewelry store, and our uncle owns and runs two jewelry stores.  Suffice it to say, we grew up with a love for pretty, shiny things...which is one of the reasons I fell so hard in love with the pieces in this week's featured Etsy shop.

Meet Dominique of Wrens and Roses

--What does your life outside of Etsy/blogging look like? 
I went to art school like a lot of the sellers on Etsy. But my major was Audio
Arts and Acoustics, about as far from visual arts as you can get. I want to be
a successful freelance audio engineer when I grow up.

I get to spend a lot of time at an awesome recording studio here in Chicago
called Electrical Audio. I’ve helped out on some seriously educational
recording sessions by bands like The Breeders, Jarvis Cocker, Sparkle
Horse, Om, and Magnolia Electric Co.

I also engineered a full length album last year, by a band called Roxy
Jones. It was just released on Oct. 28th. I’m super happy with the way it
sounds. The whole session was completely analog. My passion for creating
handmade jewelry is second only to my passion for classic analog recording
techniques. I learned all the digital stuff in school but it just doesn’t do it for
me. My favorite sessions involve reels and reels of tape, musicians playing
together at the same time, very few overdubs, and no computers.

--Describe yourself (or ask someone else to do it!) in three words.

Little, brunette, different

--Fall piece you can’t live without: 
My handmade, cable-knit, tights. I made them with fingering weight
silk-merino wool. It took almost a whole month but it was so worth it.
Check them out if you want: http://wrensandroses.tumblr.com/post/
1153024080/falltights2

--Most recent fashion-related purchase: 
I scored a couple great finds at the thrift shop recently. I found the winter
coat I’ve been dreaming of. It was made in America by Bounders, I believe
in the late 70s.The outside is water resistant, canvas-like fabric in warm
brown. The inside is lined in dark brown faux fur and quilted polyester
lining. It has a faux fur-lined hood, gathered yoke and adorable puffed
sleeves. Plus it fits me like a glove and is in PERFECT condition. I still
can’t believe how nice the faux fur is. I also found a great pair of red-brown
leather knee high boots with a stacked wood heel. I had my mojo working
that day, or something. I do almost all my shopping at thrift stores. I like it
because it’s as if fate decides what my wardrobe looks like.

--Do you craft/make anything else outside of what’s in your shop? 
When it comes to crafts I have done almost everything, fimo clay, peyote
stitch, embroidery, macramé, wire wrapped stones, sewing etc. (I was a
hippie kid). But the things that really stuck were crocheting and knitting.

I guess outside of my shop I mostly knit but I may add some knit stuff once
my Christmas knit list is finished. Who knows?

--Any pet peeves? 
I hate it when people stand still in the middle of the escalator. I also hate
it when people stand in the front of an empty bus blocking the isle, and
forcing the rest of us to squeeze past them to take a seat. I also get annoyed
by the people who insist on standing in the doorway of the “L” train. Hmm,
I guess all my pet peeves involve public transportation. I never noticed that
before.

--Bad habits? 
I smoke (but never inside my house) and I watch bad television like “Wife
Swap” and “What not to Wear.”

--Desert-island food? 
Crab Rangoon

--Three bands/singers you can’t get enough of:
Howlin’ Wolf (“owwwooo somebody knockin’ on my door”)

Jean Ritchie (Fulbright scholar, song collector, folk revivalist )

Jason Molina of Songs Ohia/ Magnolia Electric Co. (great voice, amazing
songs)

--Another blog you follow regularly (link us!): 
My internet habit is like my T.V. habit, BAD. You will catch me reading
ugliest tattoos, regretsy, look at this fucking hipster, texts from last night
and fail book. I hate to admit it, but it’s so true. I’m totally missing the
opportunity to promote some fantastic little-known blog right now. Sorry
internet. I sort of like you for the crap.

--What made you decide to start a shop? 
Well, once I discovered shrink plastic I started making all kinds of charms
and brooches and things. I thought I would put them out there and see if
anyone else was into it. I have been collecting and re-assembling thrift shop
jewelry since junior high. I had a few pieces that I love that had been in a box for years so I decided to throw that stuff in the mix too.

--Significance of your shop name? 
Well, Guns and Roses it pretty much the most bad ass band name ever. I
wanted a name like that. But I’m not quite as bad ass.

--Favorite item in your shop right now (link us!) 
I love this crochet necklace.

I’m actually wearing one in my photo. I think it’s an eye catcher and adds
some warm texture to an outfit. Other necklaces can be a little hard and
cold. I think throwing a little cotton doily action in the mix softens things
up and is really unexpected.

Giveaway

Of course we wouldn't tempt you with so much gorgeousness if we weren't going to give you the chance to win something!  Dominique has graciously put one of her multistrand necklaces up for grabs in this week's giveaway.

  

Multiple strands of chain in sliver, gold and brass tones give this necklace a feeling of movement, and texture. The three faceted glass beads in a smokey grey/brown give it subtle sparkle. It is made from 100% upcycled chain and findings from thrift-shop jewelery. The three glass beads are new.

How to win (do you have these memorized yet?!): 

1.  Become a follower of our blog and let us know in a comment below (if you're already a follower, skip to the next step). 

2.  Visit Wrens and Roses, and link to your favorite piece in a comment below. 

For additional entries:

3. Follow us on twitter @miskabelle. (Let us know in the comments.)

4. If you already follow us on Twitter, retweet this giveaway once we tweet it. (Let us know.)

5. Link this giveaway through your blog or Facebook page (and let us know in the comments too!). 

This contest will run until November 19th--one week!  The winner will be chosen through a random number generator.

Good Luck! xo

 

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