You know what they say—an outfit isn’t complete without accessories. Jada Pinkett Smith was even quoted saying the accessories are the outfit. “If I had it my way, I’d wear jewellery, a great pair of heels and nothing else.”
Well whether or not you’re wanting to make a statement or just add to your outfit, we’ve found a local business who has all your quirky and bold accessory desires covered with her handmade earrings.
We sit down with creative genius Alisha Taylor from With Love Design to talk all things business, creativity and how we can get our mitts on her designs.
Hey Alisha, thanks so much for chatting to Forte. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
Well, I am 26 years old and I work full time in finance. I have been with my partner for five years this year and we got engaged in December 2017, due to be married next year! I have a gorgeous little dog named Mishka who is four years old and that’s about all really!
How did you get into making earrings?
Well I do love earrings and love a bit of a statement earring. I have sensitive ears so really I was stuck with gold and silver and the odd time I would find some surgical steel earrings, so I thought why not make my own, and it stemmed from there.
Where do you draw the inspiration for your designs from?
I tend to just see colours or patterns that I like and think about what I could do with that. Sometimes I just have a play around and end up coming up with something I like!
What products do you use, and where do you source them from?
The main part of the earring is made from Polymer clay. All of my earring posts are surgical steel. I sometimes use some acrylic paint in the patterns too. I source most things online, all the main jewellery supplies for the posts and the jump rings are from Jewellery Supplies Co.
Do you find it hard to not keep one of every design for yourself?
I certainly do! My partner has to tell me I can’t keep them all. I do love all of the ones I have made so far so it is hard for me to tell myself I can’t keep them!
How can people go about purchasing off you, and do you do custom orders?
Both my Facebook and Instagram have the link to my Etsy store. All my designs available are listed on there, or alternatively keep an eye on my social media and I will be attending some markets. Custom orders can certainly be discussed, I am open to suggestions and ideas and I would love to see what I can come up with.
Is there anything exciting coming up for With Love Design?
Always something exciting in my eyes, any new design is so much fun and I find that exciting. I hope to experiment with some elements other than Polymer clay at some stage too so that will be a lot of fun.
Check her insta out @withlovedesign_
Written by Chloe Cicero