Locals create homemade jewelry for craft website
by Jenna Moran / ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR
Finding vintage homemade jewelry has become as easy as a click of the mouse.
Etsy.com is a website where people can buy and sell handmade items, such as jewelry and clothing.
Designers nationwide sell their items on the website, including designers from Auburn.
Laurie Cook from Enterprise has been designing jewelry since elementary school. But creating homemade jewelry didn't become a passion of hers until after graduation.
Cook graduated from Auburn in 2007 with a degree in biomedical science. She soon moved to Birmingham and less than a year later, she decided it was time to leave her home state.
"I called one of my friends and said, 'I've got to get out of this city,'" Cook said. "So we went up to New York for a week, and when I was there I fell in love with it and told my parents I was going to move up there in a month."
Cook moved to the city with her new roommate, who inspired her to start designing jewelry again.
"When (my roommate) was making her jewelry, I was like, well, I want to make some too," Cook said. "And then she told me about the Garment District."
The Garment District is located in Manhattan and is known as the center of American fashion design, with multiple avenues filled with jewelry and fabric design stores.
"The first day I went there, I was so overwhelmed," Cook said. "I stayed there for four hours, bought jewelry supplies and started to get really into it again."
Cook's jewelry designs vary from basic and simple to loud and eccentric.
Recently, Cook returned to Auburn for pharmacy school and began to sell some of her jewelry on Etsy after hearing about the website from her friends.
"It's hard to be successful (on the website) if you're not putting stuff up there constantly," she said. "And since I go to pharmacy school, I don't have time to put jewelry up there daily."
Even though Cook has sold items, she said she considers jewelry designing as more of a hobby right now.
"I put way more money into supplies than I will ever get back until I make my own company," she said. "The biggest thing about Etsy is I love that people want to wear my jewelry."
Cook said she takes pride in the fact that women from around the country are wearing her designs.
Another form of inspiration has come from her boyfriend, who has also created a side business of his own.
"I'm in pharmacy school, but I like to make jewelry; he owns nursing homes, but then he just started a company--Steady Arms--that makes balance bracelets," she said. "It's kinda neat because we feed off of each other."
Once Cook has completed pharmacy school, she plans on working part time as a pharmacist and part time as a jewelry designer.
Cook hopes to eventually open her own jewelry company in New York.
Meredith Jedlicka, senior in horticulture, also sells handmade jewelry on Etsy.
The Marietta, Ga., native was inspired to start designing after a friend introduced her to Perch, an Auburn shop that allows customers to create their own custom jewelry.
Initially, Jedlicka only designed at Perch for fun, but soon she began to submit her items to local shows, Auburn's Stamp and eventually, to Etsy.
The majority of her designs appeal to college students, and she has sold jewelry to shoppers in America and Canada.
Jedlicka recently started a blog to bring together all of her hobbies under one business name, Jedlicka Design Group.
"It will be sort of a brand name for my jewelry, landscape design and eventually home goods," she said.
Jordan Pease, junior in hotel and restaurant management, is a regular online shopper who visits Etsy's website weekly.
Pease said Etsy is one of the many websites that is changing the way people think about online shopping.
"I have always had an interest in hand-crafted jewelry because I like the idea that what I am wearing is something truly unique," Pease said. "I'm glad that by shopping on (Etsy), I can support different artisans, especially those from Auburn."
Bead store provides creativity for community
by Destiny Brown / WRITER
Nestled in the same shopping strip as Auburn's treasured Amsterdam Cafe and The Gnu's Room is one of Auburn's rarest gems: Perch Bead Studio.
Open for almost a year and half, this quaint bead shoppe and design studio offers Auburn locals free jewelry-making workshops and parties for any occasion.
"We are an open studio," said owner Barbara Birdsong. "Anyone can come in at any time and make jewelry."
With lots of open space to shop through their wide variety of beads, Perch encourages buyers to sit at one of their craft tables and create a unique piece of jewelry with the help from their friendly staff.
They will assist shoppers in make jewelry for weddings, formals or any occasion.
Buyers can pick from a collection of semi-precious gems, fresh water pearls, sterling silver charms and much more.
Different types of beads vary in prize depending on their material.
"You can make a piece of jewelry for under $10, or you could make an expensive piece," Birdsong said. "It's really up to you and how much you're willing to spend."
They also offer a wide range of supplies for the buyer to use for free.
Each Friday, Perch Bead Studio collaborates with another local business to provide a night of entertainment for Auburn jewelry patrons.
Having worked with local businesses such as Earthfare, Birdsong said the collaboration nights help promote both businesses and showcase their specialties.
Birdsong said Perch and Blueshoes of Auburn will collaborate for a "boots and beading" event Friday from 6 p.m. to close.
Blueshoes will bring boots and purses to be sold at 50 percent off.
Shoppers can browse all of Perch's bead collection while enjoying free cupcakes and wine.
The beads will also be on sale for an additional 25 percent off.
Large groups should call head to prepare staff.
Not only does Perch work with local businesses, it also offers services for private events like sorority functions.
"I just booked a sisterhood event for my sorority at Perch," said Catie Faison, sophomore in public relations and sisterhood chair for Zeta Tau Alpha.
"I thought it'd be a great time for the girls to have some bonding time."
Perch also hosts a week-long camp during July known as Camp Perch.
Birdsong said campers learn all the techniques of bead-making while creating their own collection.
At the end of the week, they showcase their work at the studio for their friends and family.
Camp tuition is $175 and includes instruction, all materials and a T-shirt.
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