Interview with Sheilah Schneider of SSheilah

You’ve seen her in the Gallery, and now you can hear directly from Sheilah herself about SSheilah.

What is your craft / art / creative endeavor?

I am currently infatuated with beads and string, so I make beaded, crocheted or knitted hats and scarves and mitts; my husband makes lovely creative jewelry from elk antler, desert ironwood and hammered metal. We sell it all at our etsy shop, http://ssheilah.etsy.com.

How did you get started? Have you worked in other creative areas before the kind of work you’re doing now?

Bob made knives before he started in jewelry. He’s a bricklayer and stonemason by trade, so shaping the stones for his jewelry must have come naturally to him. I’ve always worked with my hands – I’ve mostly worked as a cook or in graphic design and marketing.

Do you work alone? With a team? Do you engage your family or friends in the work? What is your process? How do you ensure you get your work done yet still have a life?

We each work alone, with lots of support and opinions from the other. I do the computer stuff, he does the heavy lifting. I do the cooking, he does the dishes!

Where do you sell your work? Which venues are your favorites? Do you prefer selling online or in person? Do you attend shows or fairs? Is your work in a gallery or brick-and-mortar store?

We currently sell in our new etsy shop — http://ssheilah.etsy.com. We also have www.ssheilah.com which used to be my online graphic design portfolio. Bob has had his jewelry and knives in various galleries in the past, but we don’t have any out there at present. We both prefer selling on the internet, as we are loners at heart.

Do you have a favorite handmade shop or seller?

I love her work:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbysusmitha
and this one:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KauhaneKreations
and this one:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TurquoiseFish
and of course this one, where I buy yarn:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/quovadishandspun

What inspires and motivates you?

The oddest things inspire me — I have a quilt I’m working on that came from when they discovered water on Mars. The hats I’m working on are from an etsy seller in BC that is inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle, so I’m continuing that theme — it’s wonderful! Bob’s inspiration appears to me to come from deep inside somewhere — when he had a shop in the garage, he’d disappear for a while, then come back with the most beautiful work.

What do you wish I had asked you?

“How did you find us?”

Justine, etsy business blog writer, gave us a list this week of places to promote our work. I’m so glad she included you!

So am I, and thank you Sheilah (and Justine). And if you want to be featured here, just go over to DIY Interview.