Interview:A Journey Through the Hemlocks

Interview:A Journey Through the Hemlocks

Gloria works to capture the true essence of nature through her hand crafted jewelry. I had an opportunity to speak with the founder of Hemlock Hollow Creations and here's what she had to say.

Q. What is the main site address for your business?
My main site address is http://www.hemlockhollow.etsy.com

Q. Tell us about the products you make and the materials you use.
I make various pieces of jewelry. Fine silver pendants, fine silver earrings, earrings and necklaces from semiprecious stones, Swarovski crystals (with which I am in love), pearls, focal stones and carvings, I also use glass lampwork beads. The metals I use are fine silver (99.9% Ag (silver)) and sterling silver. I also occasionally use materials that I find in my woods, such as animal bones, dragonfly wings, and leaves.

Q. How long have you been developing your craft?
That is hard to say - I started when I was about 12-13 making pendants out of turkey wishbones painted gold on ribbons. My girlfriends thought I was nuts. I even did some early stone wraps with sterling silver. But I have to say that in last 5 years I have been working on jewelry more and developing my skills more. I also am learning to do stained glass.

Q. How did your craft evolve into a global store front?
One of my friends saw my earrings and suggested that I sell them through Etsy, so I started my shop.

Q. What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
My most effective marketing has been person to person and handing out my business cards everywhere I go. I have some up in a lot of different places and local restaurants. I also keep an ongoing presence in the forums and on Facebook. I put my newest items on Facebook as they are made and listed on Etsy. And I have a mini widget on Facebook. I belong to 2 Etsy teams: The BBest team, or as we call it, the boomers; and a local Etsy team, Tri-Cities TN Etsy Team. My best marketing tip is: talk up the business wherever you go, wear your own pieces and give out business cards - try to give out at least 5 every day you go out somewhere.

Q. What mistakes have you made while building your Etsy shop that you wish someone had advised you NOT to do?
I've probably made a few, especially with experimenting with photographing my items. I don't think that anyone has really advised me on something that I wish I hadn't done.

Q. Is your Etsy business a full time job or is it something you do in your spare time?
I am retired and have some disabilities, so my Etsy business is not a full-time job, but rather when the inspiration to design something hits me. Fortunately I do not have to rely on this for my main income, but it would be great if I could make more to help my income.

Q. What goals do you wish to accomplish within the next year for your Etsy shop?
My goals for within a year: have a larger presence and be known for great jewelry; learn more and more on making jewelry, possibly by taking classes at ETSU (East Tennessee State University) (at my age I can audit classes), teach myself more and not be afraid to try a new technique.

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
Hmmm...a little bit about myself... I am a retired RN, worked as a Hospice Nurse, a Visiting Nurse, home health care nurse. Previous to that, I had so many different jobs: landscape laborer, living history museum, park naturalist, street vendor in DC, sold plants out of my school bus remade into a plant store, photographer, census taker and probably a lot more. I was involved in politics in the late 60's in NYC and DC. I have traveled quite a bit in my younger days: Peru, England, France, Amsterdam and lived for a year in Israel. Phew, that's quite a lot! If we had the money my husband, Stev, and I would still be traveling! In all those places, I studiously looked at the jewelry.


I was born in Boston, MA and moved to Bethesda, MD with my parents. Previously to moving to the mountains of northeast Tennessee, we lived in Florida (mainly to take care of my parents as they got older). I met Stev online in 1992 on Prodigy - we got married June 1993. He was in Missouri and I was in Gaithersburg, Md. I am an avid contra dancer (can't dance as much as I used to due to my disabilities) and worked with folk festivals ‘til we moved to Florida. There I was extremely involved with the Temple, Beth El. Here, we are over an hour away from any synagogue. Phew, I think that is enough!

Q. Outside of Etsy, in what venues do/have you sold?
I have only sold on Etsy - I don't do craft shows.

Q. What sets you apart from other sellers in your niche?
What sets me apart? I would have to say my eye for colors, designs, my love of nature and my photography using the outdoors and my sense of weirdness.

Q. List one or more Etsy sellers which you admire? And why?
Etsy sellers I admire: Oh there are so many of them! Anyone on the BBest team! and Tri-Cities Team, metalworkers, etc. It is hard just to pick out a few. I like those that are doing something different.