Arkansas Artists on Etsy: AREtsy Featured Member: TSmithDesigns

It's that time of the week again - time to feature another fabulous AREtsy artist. Teresa Smith (seen above in her studio - not the little one below right, although, she's a cutie!) has been a great addition to our team and brings some very drool worthy jewelry to the Etsy table at very affordable prices (my favorite kind!). I can't wait to share a bit more about her with all of you. You can find all of her lovely jewelry over at TSmithDesigns.

Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff:

My name is Teresa Smith Mulkey. I live in El Paso, Arkansas. It is a small central Arkansas community outside of the Cabot – Conway area. We raise and show horses. We also have Corriente cattle. They are a sturdy breed of cattle for roping. We compete in Barrel Racing and Team Roping. I compete in Barrel Racing events and rope at the house for fun. I am a board member of our local Barrel Racing Association. I was one of the featured board members on our Barrel Racing website. This is a family oriented club and we have all ages that compete. We also have events at our arena.

http://www.arkansasbarrelracingassociation.org/Spotlight.html

I have been a member of the Arkansas Arts Center since I moved to Arkansas and have been participating in the classes at the Museum School as well. I have been a member of the Aretsy team for some time and have also joined a team for metalsmiths. I am also a member of SNAG. My husband is a farrier. I have two daughters, he has a son and we have five grandkids with two more on the way.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I ride my horses as much as possible. I am competing on a young horse and he needs “lots of wet saddle blankets” to keep him in shape. I am looking forward to a big garden this year as well.

What first made you want to become an artist?

In High School in California I had a jewelry class for an elective. I was so inspired and kept taking the class. My instructor Bob Bass was my mentor and I hope to find him again some day. My grandmother who is 94 was a great influence as well. She is an amazing seamstress and cook. She had a garden and was a desert baker for years. She still cooks for herself, can’t do any crafts because she is now legally

blind.

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

I usually let the materials dictate the design. If I am making a custom piece I might have some guidelines to follow. I will sketch and move stones around until I come up with the design. I have a sketch book in my purse and use scratch paper while at work if a design idea hits me.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

I don’t think I have anything that my grandma made, but I have saved some artwork that my girls did when they were young.

Name your top five books, movies, songs/musical groups, and web sites besides Etsy.

I am really addicted to magazines, so I don’t read books much. I do like to look at “coffee table” books on Art & Interior Design, Fashion, and of course Jewelry.

I don’t watch much TV, but I do have a TV with a DVD player in the studio. I will have a movie on for background noise. I also sometimes have “small” metalsmiths working in the studio and they like to watch movies as well.

Here are some favorites:

Pollock

The Devil Wears Prada

Failure to Launch

The Family Stone

Marie Antoinette

Music:

Varied from Country to Rock. I have listened to most everything at one point or another. I am currently listening to Gary Allen.