Artist ~ Keri Giacomini ~ Riverside
Artist’s name: Keri Giacomini
Shop name: Crafting with Keri
Website: Craftingwithkeri.etsy.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/craftingwithkeri
Instagram: @Kericreates
1. Tell us about your work:
I have been crafting forever. I dabble in everything from wood working to making badge reels and buttons. I also love to do some digital design work, like making invitations, announcements, ect. I did all the decor and design work at my wedding, 4 years ago. I have never received so many compliments on my work before. But my all time favorite craft type is paper crafting! It is a passion of mine. I love making cards, props and my most favorite part of paper crafting is scrapbooking! I absolutely love to scrapbook!
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
Since I dabble in a lot of different types of crafts, I decided on Crafting with Keri because it gives me the freedom to be able to do whatever craft I want, since my shop name isn't too specific.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
After my wedding, people started to come up to me and ask them to do projects for their weddings, showes and parties. This snowballed and it really lets me create from all different angles. I was also encouranged to start an Etsy shop. Now my Etsy shop is completely different from decor work. I make badge reels, buttons, bottle caps and magnets. The inspiration for my shop came from my husband. He works at Rhode Island Hospital and one day I made him a fun badge reel, and that spiraled into a nice little business. My badge shop just hit over 400 sales and I carry over 150 items, with more being added daily!
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I look at pop culture and see what trends are going on, then I take those trends and design them to my liking. From there, many of my projects or items are then born! I also like to take inspiration from the seasons we are in. I love to make seasonally appropriate items for my shop!
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
Like I said before, I love to scrapbook, so making premade scrapbook pages for people to order is pretty fun! A lot of people do not want to go through the motion or do not have time to sit and crop. So that is where I come in. My scrapbook pages are premade, all is left to do is to tape a picture in the designated spot!
6. What’s your best seller?
In my Etsy shop my best seller is my Disney's Monster's Inc. glittered badge reel. I must have sold well over 100 of them! A close second is my black glittered Beauty and the Beast badge reel.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I have live in this beautiful state for my entire life - going on 35 years!
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
There are quite a few things that I heart about living in RI. I love that everything is close by. I love that it has a small town feel, even if we don't live in a small town. But my most favorite thing that I heart in RI is Newport! My husband go down a few times a month in the summer. Its just a nice little get away and is so perfect and peaceful there!
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
If you come into town, and you haven't been there yet, I'm taking you to Our Place, in Riverside, RI, for breatfast. It is small, quaint, and has the BEST Oreo pancakes ever!!!
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
I would say, do something you're interested in. Don't make something because you think it will sell. Make what your passionate about and then everything else will fall into place. It's hard to not want to start off fast, but remember slow and steady wins the race!!
Shop name: Crafting with Keri
Website: Craftingwithkeri.etsy.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/craftingwithkeri
Instagram: @Kericreates
1. Tell us about your work:
I have been crafting forever. I dabble in everything from wood working to making badge reels and buttons. I also love to do some digital design work, like making invitations, announcements, ect. I did all the decor and design work at my wedding, 4 years ago. I have never received so many compliments on my work before. But my all time favorite craft type is paper crafting! It is a passion of mine. I love making cards, props and my most favorite part of paper crafting is scrapbooking! I absolutely love to scrapbook!
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
Since I dabble in a lot of different types of crafts, I decided on Crafting with Keri because it gives me the freedom to be able to do whatever craft I want, since my shop name isn't too specific.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
After my wedding, people started to come up to me and ask them to do projects for their weddings, showes and parties. This snowballed and it really lets me create from all different angles. I was also encouranged to start an Etsy shop. Now my Etsy shop is completely different from decor work. I make badge reels, buttons, bottle caps and magnets. The inspiration for my shop came from my husband. He works at Rhode Island Hospital and one day I made him a fun badge reel, and that spiraled into a nice little business. My badge shop just hit over 400 sales and I carry over 150 items, with more being added daily!
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I look at pop culture and see what trends are going on, then I take those trends and design them to my liking. From there, many of my projects or items are then born! I also like to take inspiration from the seasons we are in. I love to make seasonally appropriate items for my shop!
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
Like I said before, I love to scrapbook, so making premade scrapbook pages for people to order is pretty fun! A lot of people do not want to go through the motion or do not have time to sit and crop. So that is where I come in. My scrapbook pages are premade, all is left to do is to tape a picture in the designated spot!
6. What’s your best seller?
In my Etsy shop my best seller is my Disney's Monster's Inc. glittered badge reel. I must have sold well over 100 of them! A close second is my black glittered Beauty and the Beast badge reel.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I have live in this beautiful state for my entire life - going on 35 years!
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
There are quite a few things that I heart about living in RI. I love that everything is close by. I love that it has a small town feel, even if we don't live in a small town. But my most favorite thing that I heart in RI is Newport! My husband go down a few times a month in the summer. Its just a nice little get away and is so perfect and peaceful there!
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
If you come into town, and you haven't been there yet, I'm taking you to Our Place, in Riverside, RI, for breatfast. It is small, quaint, and has the BEST Oreo pancakes ever!!!
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
I would say, do something you're interested in. Don't make something because you think it will sell. Make what your passionate about and then everything else will fall into place. It's hard to not want to start off fast, but remember slow and steady wins the race!!
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