I am a native of Virginia Beach, VA. I was raised along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Spent most of my childhood walking and playing along the shoreline searching for shells, rocks and anything organic the waters yielded. My parents were avid gardeners. I spent the rest of my childhood afternoons running among the trees, bushes and flower beds. I loved to pick flowers, and string necklaces. This was the beginning of my love affair with nature. After a professional career as a registered nurse, and raising 3 wonderful sons, I have returned to my real love, creating art. I studied art and design at a local visual art center for 3 years. A couple of seasons ago, my family took a trip to the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina, where we went rock hunting. I was instantly hooked. The beauty of the stones we collected were just incredible.
I started designing jewelry soon after. I love to work with the organic rhythm of the stones or shells as I incorporate it into my designs. Now, I am constantly on a treasure hunt, looking for nature’s treats. Living here at the beach, I am always searching for sea glass and or shells that may have washed up. Each treasure is then embellished with either sterling silver, copper, and or crystals.
As I started this adventure, I was encouraged to sell my goods and share the beauty of the pieces with the others. I am alright with this as long as I continue to enjoy the process and it does not turn into production work. My pieces are available at 4 local venues; I do 2 or 3 outdoors shows each year.
Short term goals, sell enough to pay for my materials and continue to make a high quality product that can be worn and enjoyed for years to come. I will not compromise the quality of my pieces. With the prices of metals going through the roof, once again I will only use the best materials to create the best product. I will just have to scale back on inventory for now until metal prices begin to drop.
Long term goals, to create a cottage shop business that I may someday be able to make a living at doing what I love doing.
Also, I feel that we need to continue with our awareness and education of the natural world around us, and the gifts it has to offer.
I feel I have the talent, drive and belief in myself to continue with this adventure. This is what I was meant to be doing all along in my life, just took awhile to get here!
As with all of the arts, while wearing any of my pieces evoke emotion weather positive or negative, I have achieved my goal. The reaction speaks for itself.
Eileen Shirk
Portsmouth, VA
Here's where you can find Eileen!
Etsy Shop- www.indiocrab.etsy.com
Facebook account/site: CLASSIC COASTAL CREATIONS, VA
Wonderful and Inspiring Work- thanks so much for sharing with us all!
~Lynnette
**Also, I haven't heard from Eileen today- and we send prayers to her area from the recent Hurricane Irene. Hopefully she will check in with us soon, and let us know all is well!
Sorry for the technical difficulties on this post and the position of the pictures!
