Vicki aka LocDesignStudio is a much loved and valuable member of Zibbet.com.  I’ve had some wonderful chats with her about Zibbet and life in general.  She’s only weeks away from giving away her full-time job and will be spending her time establishing her business through local craft fairs and jewelry parties.  Very exciting times ahead!

Vicki creates some beautiful, handcrafted beaded earrings, necklaces, bracelets, beaded jewelry sets, charms, bookmarks & fobs.  You can visit her shop here.

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Enjoy our interview with her…

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   I am a true “Florida Cracker” as is my husband and both of our children. For those who don’t know, a Florida Cracker is someone who was actually born in the state of Florida! We are a fairly rare breed in the peninsula. However, here in the panhandle we are more plentiful! I live in the growing town of Freeport, just east of Destin. I’m 53 years old.

   I earned a degree in wildlife management many years ago but never worked in that field. Instead, I taught high school biology for nearly twenty years! Actually, I met my husband, Hank, when we were both teaching in the same school. We have two grown sons, Luke and Jesse. Luke and his wife, Hope, are very musical, as is Jesse. On the rare occasion that they are all home at the same time, we are sometimes treated to a concert. Luke plays guitar and Jesse plays piano. Hope sings beautifully. Jesse is also an artist. I’m so blessed!

2. Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   I am a former high school biology and computer teacher. I also have experience providing instructional technology staff development for teachers. I am currently employed fulltime as the rental and association manager for an upscale RV resort. However, effective May 1 I will leave my employment there to pursue my creative passions more fully! I am quite the “home body” and I love spending time with my family. I am also very active in my church.

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   I just love to make things! I grew up with creative parents and grandparents and was always encouraged to be creative. I love color and texture. When I start a new project, color is always what comes first. I don’t usually begin with a picture of the final product in mind though—I just play with the materials that are my inspiration, until the piece of jewelry comes together (or not)! I also enjoy creating beaded jewelry and gift items with Christian and nature themes. I have done several custom jewelry projects and find those to be the most rewarding because I know that I am creating something special and truly unique for an individual who is also special and truly unique!

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   I can’t name just one person. I respect and admire a lot of people for different reasons. I think I am most inspired by stories of people who have overcome great adversity and come through their trials with positive attitudes and amazing accomplishments. Stories of such individuals cause me to stop and count my blessings, and quiet my whining when things aren’t exactly going my way!

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   My Christian faith is the most important part of my life and all of the joys in my life flow from my relationship with God! I’m blessed to be married to my best friend for nearly twenty-eight years. We have two wonderful sons and a daughter-in-law who bring tremendous joy to our lives. I truly love people more than things and as a result I highly prize relationships and seek to nurture friendships wherever I find myself! I’m also crazy about my kitties—Lluvia, Oreo and Cali—and named my business after them. Big Boy, our outside kitty, is equally loved!

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   I most like the fact that Zibbet has a strong commitment to customer service, which to me, translates to relationships. It doesn’t matter how wonderful your widget is, if you don’t understand that the widget is being bought and sold by people, your success will be limited at best. Jonathan, Andrew and Jess are doing a fantastic job of clearly showing that customer service is their priority! They have created a community for buying and selling handcrafted items that is responsive to sellers’ input and that encourages the sharing of ideas. I’m excited to see what each new day will bring as Zibbet grows and matures and I’m thankful to be a part of Zibbet’s success.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   Zibbet has so many wonderful features, I feel a little guilty asking for anything! I’m looking forward to the new FP and I’m super happy that the shopping cart has been implemented. I think that the most significant thing on my wish list is the automatic submission of listings to Google.

8. How do you promote your work?

   My time to promote is very limited right now. However, when my fulltime employment ends I will have more of this precious resource at my disposal. I plan to work hard at establishing a local presence through craft fairs and home jewelry parties. I also will be approaching local gift and specialty shops about wholesale and/or consignment sales. I am currently spending as much time as I can promoting through my blog, Facebook and my own website at http://astitchandaprayer.com. I have links to my shops in my e-mail signature and I have my URLs plastered across the back window of my vehicle. I wear my jewelry creations and always have a pocketful of business cards to hand out.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   The Zibbet Blog is a great resource that I am just now really taking time to explore. I encourage everyone to read the articles and comments shared by other Zibbeters. I also think that the Zibbet Community forum is a great place to get to know other Zibbeters and to exchange ideas and information.

   Fill your shops as full of your fantastic creations as you possibly can—shoppers like choices. Just don’t sacrifice quality for quantity! Remember that “a picture is worth a thousand words”—great photos are a must. I know that quality photos are a huge challenge for me and I’m always working to make mine better!

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    …remembered for creating something special that made life better for the person who received it. Recently, after having made the decision to leave my job and pursue my creative passion, I received an e-mail from a customer who had purchased a small beaded trinket as a gift for someone whose life had been turned upside down by recent events in her life. The customer wrote that “she is blessed with a moment of sweetness amid the current chaos of her life” by the item that she had purchased from me. She went on to thank me and to encourage me to “keep doing just what you do.” I can’t wish for anything greater than knowing that in some small way, something I’ve made had such an impact on the life of another person!

Tags: featured zibbeter, LocDesignStudio