1.) Hi Shana! Thanks so much for doing this with me! First off, can you tell my friends a little bit about yourself and what you do? Hi Dori!! I am honored that you asked me to do an interview with you. My name is Shana Rainey. I am the artist/owner of Winged Goddess Studio. I live and create in Boone. I am married to Mark and we have one son, Will who is 17. I also work full time at my day job. Creating handmade jewelry and being surrounded by art it what makes me happy. I have a tendency to get bored easily so that is why I have such a wide variety of styles and collections.
2.) You and I became friends through doing the same art show a while back. I remember hitting it off with you instantly. You have such a wonderful positive vibe that I admire, and you really make people feel cared for and at ease. Do you ever feel discouraged or disappointed? If so, how do you deal with that? I am so grateful that we were able to become friends. As an artist there can be a lot of discouragement and disappointment. It can be discouraging when at a show a customer makes a negative comment about my jewelry. It has taken awhile but I try really hard not to take it personally. Not everyone will like what I make. I try to focus on my customers who do like what I make. It can also be disappointing to apply for a show and not get in. I usually will take a couple of hours being disappointed that I was not accepted but then remind myself of all the shows that I have been accepted to. I try to find the positive in the rejection. For example, it gives me more time to spend with my family or time to work on new pieces.
3.) You are so prolific! The amount of work you produce boggles my mind! How do you find time to get it all done? Do you have a schedule or routine you adhere to? It is sometimes really hard to get it all done since I still work full time and have a busy family. It truly depends on my schedule of shows and what I have going on in my day-to-day life. I don't necessarily have a schedule or routine. I will work on my jewelry during my lunch hour or here and there in the evenings and on weekends. I generally make all of my jewelry in large batches. Most of the time it takes me at least a month or more depending on what collection I am working on because there are several steps involved. It always takes me longer than I think it will to complete it too. It can be very challenging to balance everything. Most days it feels like I am failing. Right now, my house looks like a tornado hit, clean laundry is still in basket and we eat a lot of quick or carry out meals lol. I am grateful because my mom helps me do the finish work of adding price tags for me. You will also find me finishing up pieces during shows. I try really hard to be organized but it usually doesn't work. A friend once said "we have the best intentions but the worst follow through".
4.) What do you do when you are feeling uninspired and need to get the creative juices flowing? Feeling uninspired happens a lot especially after last year. It was hard being creative when there was nowhere to go or anyone to share it with. One way I get my creativity flowing is looking through the supplies I already have on hand and find a new way to use or create with them. Sometimes I will buy a new supply for an idea I have in my head and then my idea won't work. I will set aside the supply until someday I come up with something new. I also like to mix my different collections together to create a new look. For example, taking my leather earrings and adding wood to them. It seems like my new ideas always come right before a show so I am scrambling, trying to get it done in time.
5.) What is the ultimate message you hope comes across in your creative expressions? I just want my customers to enjoy what I make. I want it to be affordable. I try to create simple pieces that can be layered with jewelry that the customers already own or on its own. It makes me smile when I see a customer wearing my work. I want to make people smile wearing it or giving it as a gift.
6.) What’s coming up for you? I will be in Waukee this coming weekend and several more shows throughout rest of the year. I will be updating my Facebook and Instagram page detailing when and where.
7.) Where can we find you?
Shana's website, click HERE.
Shana's Facebook page, click HERE.
Shana's Instagram, click HERE.
Thanks so much to Shana for popping by to say hi and answer a few questions! I hope you will go visit her links and check out the goodies she has to offer! Personally, I'm obsessed with all of her stud earrings. I'm slowly building my collection! Ha! Have a great weekend, friends! XOXO -Dori