Artist’s name: Sema Kaya-Gurerk
Shop name: Floweredsky
Location: Providence , RI
Etsy shop: www.floweredsky.etsy.com
Website: working on it...
Blog: www.floweredsky.blogspot.com
Twitter: twitter.com/floweredsky
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Floweredsky-Jewelry/101573266409


1. Tell us about your work
I design mostly one of a kind pieces using glass, sterling silver, gold filled findings along with semi-precious and precious beads. I also love to work with custom orders. To see the light on my customers' eyes when I finish their pieces motivates me to create for more and better.

image: etsy

2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter?
I have always been involved with jewelry design. While growing up in Istanbul, Turkey, I was an avid student with a passion of art. I was always a member of art clubs trying to exceed myself with a craving to learn marbelling, sculpting, jewelry design, working with different medias on oil paintings, acrylic and collage.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I consider my culture as a unique resource from which I draw most of my work.
And also I think I am using my analytical part of my brain to make my designs.

4. What’s your favorite item to make?
My new one of a kind evil eye bracelets. They are fun and vibrant . They give happiness when I look at them .

image: etsy

5. What’s your best seller?
One of a kind evil eye bracelets. Like the ones in the below

image: etsy

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I reside in Rhode Island since 1999. I am originally from the beautiful city of Istanbul, Turkey. I moved to the state of jewelry, Rhode Island after earning my B.S. in Chemical Engineering in Istanbul. In RI, I received my master’s degree in International Trade, later attended Rhode Island School of Design for silversmith classes.

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
I am actually very fond of the fact that we are so close to the beaches. Growing up in a country that surrounds with three major seas on its three corners is a predictable reason for one to look for this blue, green, wild, current and unpredictable part the nature. Therefore I heart Rhode Island. And I also heart Providence . It is a small city with lots of hidden attractions that you could do if you look to find them and also away from the crowd and craziness that any other major metropolitan cities might carry at their back.

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
Besides my shop that carries my jewelry , I also have 2 more shops at etsy.
I started sewing eco friendly products after my little daughter started to daycare and I saw that I've been spending a lot of plastic bags for her lunches / snacks. Doing that and seeing other people do the same thing made me realize that I can make a difference in creating a healthy environment by just using reusable eco friendly bags. You can see some of my work at: housejewels.etsy.com

Please also visit my evil eye bead and supply store: floweredskybeads.etsy.com