Soul Song Creations by Dama Holder

I have had an Etsy shop for almost a year and in that time I have had the honor of meeting some wonderful and immensely talented artists. I enjoy browsing through their beautiful shops almost as much as like buying their items. The eclectic mix of talent is amazing and I wanted to share my findings with you. My first featured artisan is Dama Holder from Lima, Ohio. Her shop, Soul Song Creations on Etsy is fresh, charming and quite inspiring. As for her jewelry, well, it's truly a work of art.


Soul Song Creations by Dama Holder features unique, hand crafted jewelry that speaks to a woman’s various moods from relaxed to thoughtful to flirty.


FG: Please give us a brief introduction about yourself.

SSC: I’m single and in my late thirties. No children but I do have two dogs who are like kids to me. They are both pugs and will be 10 years old this summer. One of them, Simon has epilepsy which has been challenging but he’s doing well. In addition to creating jewelry I also paint, make my own aromatherapy products and sew amazing winter blankets (the softest fake fur and fleece, very warm!). I love to read and also am a total comic book nerd, just ask the guys at Alter Ego Comics! I do yoga and ride my bicycle when the weather is nice.
I consider myself a seeker spiritually. I love to learn about other religions and ways of belief.
My two favorite TV shows are (don’t laugh at me!) Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the re imagined Battlestar Galactica.
　

FG:How did the idea of Soul Song Creations manifest, what was your A-Ha! Moment?

SSC: I didn’t really have an epiphany but I basically ran out of friends and family members whom I could give jewelry to as gifts. The problem was that I couldn’t stop making pieces so I thought, well I’ll have to sell them then. My business name Soul Song Creations came about because my work is so much a part of who I am, it definitely does come from deep within and I wanted a name that would reflect that.

FG: Can you virtually walk us through Soul Song Creations, What do we see? What should we expect?

SSC: At the front door of my shop you’ll see that I have a kind of fantastical collage with Soul Song Creations inscribed. Browsing through my shop you’ll find mainly necklaces in a variety of looks. Rustic and earthy with a feminine sensibility is a favorite theme of mine. I also like to experiment with different materials like fabric, shrink plastic and clay. My collection of scroll necklaces are very unique and came into being from a desire to share my love of the written word. I think that my shop has a fresh, appealing look and feel that hopefully catches people’s attention and maybe even lightens their hearts a little.

FG: How long have you been creating jewelry?

SSC: I’ve been creating jewelry for 6 years now, it’s funny when I think back. I started with some beads and wire that my mother had in her craft room; I’ve come a long way since those first stumbling baby steps.

FG: Do you have any other special training?

SSC: I don’t have any formal training but I love to learn, I think that’s what keeps life interesting. I’d be a great Jeopardy contestant! I love to read but as far as making jewelry, nothing beats picking up the tools and trying, failing and trying again.

FG: What is your inspiration?

SSC: I find inspiration in nature, literature, and various jewelry making materials

FG: Is this your primary business, if not what else do you do?

SSC: I started Soul Song Creations after my corporate job was off-shored to another country. I am so glad that I decided to do this, although I wish I’d started earlier! I’ll have to go back to work in another couple of months but I’m planning on that just being part time. I was a payroll administrator in my previous life.

FG: What is the price range in the store?

SSC: My prices range from the low thirty dollars up to seventy-five, most pieces are in the forty to fifty dollar range.

FG: Where/how do you sell your items?

SSC: I sell on Etsy at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/soulsongcreations and I also sell locally through word of mouth and home jewelry parties.
　
FG: What things do you do to market your business?

SSC: I have to admit that this is an area where I do need to improve. I’m not so much into the social networking sites as I find them to require more time than I have. I advertise by wearing my jewelry everywhere I go and locally I have friends who host jewelry parties for me. As a consequence I do better offline than through my Etsy store. I would like to do better selling online so improved online marketing is a goal for me this year.

FG: What things do you know now that you wish you knew from the beginning?

SSC: The only regret I have is not starting my Etsy store earlier. I put that down to a lower confidence level. Even though I was selling a lot locally I didn’t have the belief in myself that I needed to take that next step. Once I found my own artistic voice my confidence grew. I think that’s just a process that some artists go through…I’m my own worst critic!

She is one of my personel favorites and I wish her lots of luck in all her endevours.

♥*¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸*´¨(♥ With Love,
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥♥Chrissy

Here is a sample of Soul Song Creations, click it and it will take you to her shop.