Article and Interview with Create Peace owner Danielle Swidrak

I love handmade things. Correct that. I love very unique and remarkable handmade things.
I have been dating a remarkable girl the last three years and she makes the most AMAZING jewelry made out of hemp. I highly support her efforts and am so proud of her, I decided to really help by doing an article on her online business.

From the dazzling and delicate lady necklaces, to the ravey style glow bracelets, all made out of energy sustainable hemp, this girls jewelry has a certain special quality about it. It is handmade and homemade! In other words, it's made with a touch of love.

Here are some pics and descriptions of her art.

Like this one,  Look at the beauty in its simplicity. It starts out as a thick, complex pattern, then slowly molds into a frail delicate pattern, much like the inner workings of the artist herself. It would be a very good choice as a holiday gift for that sweet chick you cant get outta your head. I love the way the various strands criss-cross with each other, and the magnificent way the beads accent pattern.

How about these! Perfect for any fan of Day-glow or Rave-style items! These items are some of my favorite, Here's Why.

During the day these products would only look like a very colorful accent to any outfit to the naked eye, but at night! Get out the Glow-sticks and Thumping, Ground shattering club music and be the talk of everyone  there with your magnificent light trails capturing the eyes of all created by your glowing bracelet or necklace. Don't go to the show without em!

These three are for the dudes. Notice the thick and durable criss-cross pattern built to take on all the stresses of being a dude. It even comes in awesome variations, like the white preppy style for those sophisticated types. The natural style for those nature lovers who wanna take hikes through the tress and fields, and the Rasta Design for all the tokers and jokers.

Danielle has also made a habit of using the most captivating colored hemp, sometimes dyed herself, sometimes purchased. The outcome however always turns out to be breathtaking. Sometimes you will see the beautiful effect of Tye-dye, sometimes various hues of purple, brown, blue, or white. A very Good Technique to continually create diversity and interest in your product. Keep it up!

Last but not least, are the earrings. Though they look simple and easy to make, these beautiful creations are intricate and captivating in design. Danielle will create various forms of earrings using beads, feathers, and in some cases, she re-uses soda can tabs to add flair to these ear dangling beauties! Go Swoop A Pair!



I was able to ask her some questions about her craft, and she kindly answered them wonderfully for me. Enjoy!

Q-I've seen your business starting to expand more over the past few months; About how long have you been making jewelry?

A-I've always considered myself to be a crafty person, even from a very young age.  I remember back to childhood, I tried my hand at friendship bracelet making but gave up on it fairly quickly after realizing the patience it requires!  I didn't become reacquainted with the craft until about 2 1/2 years ago.  A good friend of mine, Heather Carpenter shared her hemp twine and showed me a few simple techniques.  That night, I made a necklace for myself, a collar for my dog, and started on my biggest project to date, a hanging hemp doorway curtain.  I've been doing it ever since!


Q- Where does your inspiration derive from?

A-I find a lot of inspiration in nature.  I love using neutral colors, especially browns and greens.  And I love mixing other natural resources into my creations, like shell, wood, and bone beads.  Not only do they compliment the hemp so well, they also remind me of the power of nature when the elements come together.

I also get a lot of inspiration by looking at similar products out on the market.  I'm always imagining how I can make it better!


Q-What are some goals, long term and short, that you have for your business?

A-I have so many goals!  In the short term, I want to continue expanding my craft.  I've recently learned some new knotting skills and expanded beyond jewelry to accessories like belts and small handbags.  There's still so much to learn and I want to continue getting noticed along the way.  I also want to become more involved in my local crafting community and sign up for more craft fairs.  for the long term, I'd love to own my own store!  I want to sell my own creations and the crafts of other budding artists, and also have a space to teach and share my craft with others.

Q-How have you worked on promoting and furthering your business? Any special events coming soon?

A-I've done most of my promoting through Etsy, my host website.  It's a site designed for artists and is very helpful in establishing communication.  Promoting is difficult for me though since I'm naturally shy.  I try to hand out my business cards as often as possible but it's hard for me to be forward when talking about my business.  I do have a great even coming up soon though.  Another local artist invited me to participate in a holiday bazaar hosted by the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge in Laurel, MD.  It's going to bring together many art and nature lovers and 20% of my profits will be donated to the refuge!  It takes place Dec. 1st from 9am to 4pm.  I'm very excited for this opportunity.

Q-When has your art form help you overcome any challenges,if any?

A-My craft helps me overcome my regular challenge of STRESS!!  I find it relaxing when my hands are working, and it helps me to keep my mind off of my day job.




Well  there you go folks. Wise Words from Create Peace Owner Danielle Swidrak!
Be sure to go to her website www.createpeacehemp.etsy.com and purchase some of her beautiful and amazing products!



REMEMBER TO KEEP POSITIVE!



-W. F.

Hidden Gems: Art Jamz

DuPont Circle in NW Washington D.C. , is a place where diversity screams at you the moment you arrive. Things like Embassy Row stand out above most others, but as always, when you are looking for something interesting, you have to go beyond the norm, and search for those hidden gems. Well the other day I found one: Art Jamz.

This Place is located a little north of the DuPont Circle Metro Station and it is well worth a visit.
Before you even walk into the magnificent building, you are immediately drawn to it from the outside by its wonderful hue of color and design. Upon entering, your eyes must do some serious adjusting for a minute or two in order to take in everything around you. The ENTIRE surface of this space is covered in Art. Every inch. Even the Floor. This "PAY TO PAINT ART SPACE" is ideal for any artist having trouble finding a place to call their creative spot. Just pay a small fee and you're all set! I even managed to pop in during an rt sale and meet some of the artists and people involved. this place can truly become a new home for those Lost artists out there. So next time your in DC, near DuPont, Go stop by ART JAMZ and unleash that inner painter! Below are the various pictures Took while I was there.

 These above photos were all paintings for sale in the Gallery Room.

 This is Nikki, one of the artists hard at work creating a masterpiece

 Nikki's Daughter Lauren, Another Great artist. What A Wonderful thing to share!

 Above and below are all the examples of the amazing art in this building, and ON IT!

 SO MANY DIFFERENT PAINTS TO CHOOSE!!!

 MORE WALL ART!

 Nikki replenishing her Paint

 This is Elizabeth Grazioli , she showed me around this magnificent place and was extremly helpful to me. She was selling art in the Gallery Room. She Works for ArtSeeDC.

I thank you for taking the time to read my article. Go Check out Art Jamz next time you can! Its worth it!

Be sure to check them out on Facebook, Google, and Twitter!

W.F. Mick