Internet Artisan Interview - Tania Cavenecia Torres

I love looking at the jewelry in Tania's online shops. And we are both members of Passport, one of my favorite 1000Market's marketplaces. As she states in byhand.me, "My Peruvian heritage is a great source of inspiration for me." Tania uses rich colors and even seeds from the Peruvian rain forest in her jewelry. Neat. Take a look at some of the beautiful pieces this jeweler has in her shops:

• What's the name of your business/shop?

My business name is Tania Cavenecia Torres

• Do you have a registered domain name and/or a blog?

I'm a new business so I don't have a registered domain name or blog yet.

• What type of handmade products do you sell?

I make jewelry using sterling and fine silver along with a variety of materials like semi-precious stones, seeds from the Amazon rain forest in Peru and leather.

• Show us a piece you recently finished

I recently finished a piece called "Carte Postal" a sterling silver necklace with Turquoise and Smokey Quartz and a Fine silver pendant charm as a focal point. The necklace is named for the focal piece, a portion of a stamped French postcard.

• What are you working on right now? Any sketches?

My latest work are some bracelets made of thin leather cords in great colors like metallic gold, true red and olive green. They have sterling silver components and semi precious stones that dangle. They're very playful.

• Which online selling vendors do you use? What do you like best about each one?

I have two shops. My first I opened on Etsy the end of last year. I've learned so much from their community section and forums, that's been great help just starting out. My second shop I opened on 1000 Markets a few months ago. It's been exciting to be part of something from the beginning to grow as it grows.

• Are you involved in social networking? What's your favorite and why? If you're not involved, you must have a good reason!

I joined Byhand.me, a great community of artisans. A place to show your wares and interact with other artisans.

• All of us can use a helpful business hunt once a week. What's yours?

I try to keep a balance on the advertising/promoting aspect and the creative part of the business. It can seem overwhelming at times especially when you're just starting out.

• Do you have a "modus operandi" for computing the price of a handmade object? Tell us your formula?

I haven't quite found my system yet. A lot of times the price is not just about the cost of supplies and time spent but it may be its appeal factor. When a design is finished sometimes I have to see what kind of statement it really makes.

• We'd love to see your little corner of the world, where you create.

I work on my dinning room table so trying to develop an organized and practical system of storage is my main challenge.

• Where do you see your artwork in one year? Any plans in the works?

I have always loved drawing and painting and expressing my creativity in many ways. Right now all my creative juices are going into my jewelry making business and I love it. I've found that I can use my art and creative talents in all aspects of my business and am really enjoying that. Even the final phase of wrapping and sending off an order is important to me. I want each piece I make to bring joy to the person who will receive it starting from the moment of opening the package. So a year from now I would like to continue to advance in my craft and be able to share my work with many more people.

• OK, it's the storybeader's turn to pick a favorite!

Tania's Llama Bracelet is one of my favorite pieces in her collection. I love ethnic jewelry, and the distinctive way it presents itself. Made with oxidized silver bracelet links from Peru.