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March '06 Interview: Amy Peters of Amy Peters Studio
The very lovely Amy Peters of Amy Peters' Studio was kind enough to have a little IM chat with the Sampler!
Amy's jewelry is all over the place! You may have seen it on the OC for instance, or, I dunno, PEOPELE magazine! Her work can be found in over 700 shops, galleries and more worldwide! Not too shabby for a lady who started her business in a carriage house with no running water and a dirt floor!
Good morning, Amy Peters!
Hi, Sampler
For those of us who have been living under rocks, could you tell us in, say, three lines, who you are and what you make?
I'm a wife, mom and busineswoman. Our tag line kinda sums it up Jewelry inscribed with hopes, dreams and absolute truths. All of our designs hold inspirational sayings or powerful words.
I read on your site that you became a jewelry designer at the age of 8! Do you remember your very first design?
Yes! I still have it. I was taking a jewelry enameling class and I created a copper plaque with 2 frogs and a pond on it...I was obsessed with frogs as a child. My brother bent it in half breaking the enamel, so I had to take it back to class and repair it.
Your work is very positive and inspirational and optimistic... Ever feel sorta pessimistic and negative?
Oh yes...But for the most part I TRY to look on the positive side of things. I used to work at Stanford Hospital with Bone marrow and Kidney transplant patients, so I try to live each day to the fullest. I think it made me keenly aware of how short life really is...
I think knowing that about your work really lends a sense of authenticity to what you do and the sentiments behind your jewelry. BUT, and I may just be whistling dixie here, I can imagine that with work such as yours it's hard not to be beset by imitators. Does that affect you much?
Ah yes...imitators....I have seen a fair amount in my day. It can affect my frustration level, but it hasn't affected my business bottom line. The most frustrating thing about imitators is that I'm sad for them that they can't find their own true voice in creativitiy. Truly that is what is the most satisfying part of creating...
What would frustrate me would be that someone might be trying to imitate your sentiment along with the jewelry design. Half of what I find appealing about your work is how genuine it seems to be, and of course the other half is pretty!
Yeah...it's happened. I actually have several "friends" after seeing how successful my business has become who have been "inspired" by me and started making jewley with inspirational sayings.
Maybe it will be one of those cool things where they'll finally start believing in what they're making and they'll change for the better?! That would work!
With me the jewelry isn't truly finished until it becomes loved by someone. I get LOADS of emails about how someone has ended up with the perfect piece of my jewelry and it has become part of them...a talisman to help with daily life. I often get really touching emails and that is when I feel like my jewelry is real.... It is also the thought of who is going to end up with my pieces that make getting through the mountains of paperwork and bookeeping....somewhat possible....
So... right now I'm imagining your work space as the dirt-floor Victorian carriage shed you set up in 1995.
Yeah...not quite... After the carriage shed, I went to a garage at our 1st rental house, then we bought a house and moved it into the home. Then we bought a commercial building which we outgrew. Now we are leasing a 1300 sq foot building and looking to rebuild the building we own to make it bigger.
WOW!
In our current place...We have a small store front for retail. When we rebuild our building I want to build it with that as part of the focus...I love seeing the customers and hearing their stories in person!
Do you still get a lot of face-time with customers? I can imagine you're so swamped with the designing, the paperwork, the day to day stuff...
It depends on the day...Unfortunately, I actually don't get as much time in the home studio (where I make new designs) as I would like.
what are your three favorite "inspirational" words?
Tough one... Change, Balance, Hope. Give me 5 minutes and they will be different.
what would you say are the three LEAST inspriational words?
"Live, Love, Laugh" When they are put together on something...ARGH! Basically every factory in China has decided that [those three words] are what American consumers want to hear and all of the major knock off lines use that saying...so it is REALLY played out....
Is there one piece in your line currently that is your favorite?
another tough one... Probably the ring "May your wildest dreams come true."
When I was getting married that is how my dad finished an email to my hubby....so both my DH and I wear that ring.
Have your wildest dreams come true?
Hmmmm...I'm still working on some of my wildest dreams.
Do you ever take a moment to look around and give yourself a nice pat on the back? ya done good, baby! you're livin' the dream!
Sometimes...But more likely when a customer calls and starts raving about my line or me...I get shy. Which is soooo not like me.
awww... that's sweet.
Okay, here's a hypothetical you are lost in the wilderness and all you have on you are a canteen, a compass and your wits. What three pieces of your own jewelry would you chose to bring along to help you get through it?!
It's not the destination it's the journey Message Bead. Believe Chunky Choker. Wisdom, Strength, Courage, Hope ring.
That is one hardcore jewelry survival kit.
Ha Ha
Amy Peters, I have taken up so much of your time! Will you play the word association game with me to end our interview?
Sure...
I'll just type something and you type the first thing that comes to your mind... Cat!
peanut
walnut
nutcracker
tree
redwood
glass
cup
ketchup
yuck
mayo?
yep
pickles
Kyra
envelope
letter
Love
family
Live....
HA HA
thank you for doing an IM interview!
No probs.. bye!
bye!
