CheapTweet Blog

Today’s interview is with Vera Battemarco (@getglam). Vera Battemarco was born in Brazil and grew up two blocks from the beach, so the sun, the ocean, the sand and the big open sky have always been a source of inspiration for her. She has been designing and teaching others how to make jewelry since the 1980s.  Currently, she sells both her own designs as well as re-purposed vintage pieces. You can find Vera’s jewelry in her Ruby Lane store and in her Etsy shop, and get to know Vera better through her website, her blog and on Facebook.

Tell us a little about your background.

My academic background is in Architecture and the Arts, but jewelry has always been my passion.

In the early 80s I moved to New York City and immediately felt as if I had found a new home. I worked for Lisandro Sarasola and designed jewelry for his fashion shows. He was then as famous as Carlos Falchi for his beautiful and truly inspired purses and accessories.  Once Lisandro branched out into clothing, I became his Showroom Manager. We sold over $1M of his high end ready to wear that year, a first for his label. Our clients included stores such as Bergdorf, Saks and Neiman Marcus to name a few.  It was a wonderfully fun and exciting time.

As I had a child to raise and did not want him to grow up confined to an apartment we moved to Philadelphia where I continued to work on jewelry and sell to the local boutiques. I also taught basic jewelry making. The classes were small but always packed. It was very rewarding to be able to share my knowledge which is almost entirely self taught.

Upon our return to New York City, the option to bring my business to a new level presented itself. Participating in several different wholesale shows including the JA Show, Accessories and Fame opened new doors. Met wonderful store owners and buyers including the Buyer for the Philadelphia Art Museum, who commissioned pieces, first for the Salvador Dali exhibit and more recently for the Frida Kahlo one.

We are now in a rural area near the Pocono Mountains. The unending year round beauty that surrounds me, although very different from the beaches in Rio, is nonetheless my home and the inspirational source of my new collections.  It also allowed me to revive my passion for vintage jewelry and components.  It seems that the vintage jewelry collection on my site continues to grow and expand. As most of my designs are one of a kind and cannot be reproduced I have rekindled the re-purposing of antique and vintage jewelry and findings.  Many times I will re-purpose a piece of jewelry that cannot be repaired and give it new life incorporated in a new design of my own.  The response to these is tremendous and they sell almost immediately.

How did you get started making jewelry?

My mother always had a wonderful appreciation of hand made things. She is the best seamstress I have ever known. I would always tag along to all the different classes she would take and she took as many as she could. We attended classes from knitting to oil painting. There was always something new to learn. A friend of hers taught her jewelry making and to keep me occupied she handed me pliers, beads and wire and I haven’t stopped since!  When I was 14 we walked into an accessories boutique in Rio. The owner happened to be there and admired my necklace, asking where I got it. I responded that I had made it.  She asked what else I had designed and could I bring it in for her to see. That second meeting resulted in an order for 144 necklaces which sold out in two weeks!  I knew then I had found my calling!

In addition to making and selling jewelry, what are some of the other ventures you’re involved in?

Currently I am an active member of JewelryRing and JewelryCollect, both are groups dedicated to research of Vintage Jewelry, Costume and Fine.

Tell us a little bit about your artwork.  What sorts of pieces do you specialize in and where do you get your inspiration?

Re-purposing feels so right to me now. I have done it in the past but because I now carry Vintage Jewelry on my site, I have great new sources and resources. It’s also a very strong trend in my opinion as we as a society have finally woken up to the fact we can’t just keep using up the planet as we have. With repurposing there is no waste, what would have been deemed useless some years back becomes the foundation for something totally new and unique.  I know I am not alone as the response to the collection has been tremendous.

How do you market or promote your work?

Always have professional business cards with you is the number one rule. I have my website which is optimized for search engines and acts as the HQ for online operations. I participate in forums, have two blogs (one is geared for collectors and the public at large, the other to designers and crafty people like me), Twitter, Facebook, exchanging links.  We also do art shows and even the better flea markets like GreenFlea, on Sundays at Columbus Avenue and 76th Street on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.  I started my current business there 11 years ago and many of my first clients have become wonderful friends.  Love seeing them!

How do you use Twitter to help with your artwork and your business?

Whenever a new item or design is added to the site it is tweeted, whenever we have a special promotion, I post it on CheapTweet.  Informational blog posts are also tweeted and I started a Twibe.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

You have to be passionate about what you do, really passionate. Believe in yourself and your work. Be smart, focused and be persistent. And learn, learn, learn. As my mom always says, knowledge does not take up any space!

At CheapTweet, we love to talk to people who run their own businesses and sell things they make. If you’re interested in being interviewed for our blog, please send us an email!