Today we’d like to introduce you to Arabela Baer
Hi Arabela, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started drawing and crafting at an early age. I grew up making art with my Nana every summer and holiday, and my parents are also both artists. But after college and grad school, I lost touch with that side of myself. Then in late 2022, I wanted to reconnect with that part of myself and started drawing again, alcohol ink painting, and playing around with UV resin to make jewelry. That led me to wire wrapping and making jewelry that I myself wanted to wear, and it just evolved from there. I came across some uranium glass at my day job as an archaeologist, and it inspired me to incorporate it into my jewelry designs with the uranium glass beads. And my best friend found some snake bones in her flower bed, and I’ve always been into little oddities, so I incorporated that also, plus I love the idea of honoring the animal by turning it into something beautiful. This journey has given me an outlet to combine many of my interests and create some really unique pieces. After I moved back to Austin for a new job, I was working multiple jobs and decided to start selling my jewelry at craft markets so I could expand my hobby into something I could do for profit or at least to pay for the supplies so I could keep making new things. Participating in markets around Austin and San Marcos has been life changing for me. Most of my college friends had moved away when I came back, but I have made so many new friends through this process, some of whom I know will be lifelong friends. My art has really given me the opportunity to make connections and build community, and that has honestly been the most impactful part of this process for me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A big challenge was honestly just getting started when it comes to entering the market scene. I wanted to have the perfect setup and all the supplies right from the beginning, which just wasn’t practical or necessary. Luckily, I had my mom to help me, who also sells her art up in Waco, and other artists and vendors were so generous with their tips and advice. Ultimately, I just had to dive in and start somewhere. I think my biggest struggle though is trying to run my business, create, and attend markets while also having a full-time job. That being said, it’s totally worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I primarily make wire-wrapped jewelry using semi-precious stones, uranium glass, and ethically sourced animal bone. I also sometimes make stickers out of my drawings. The animal bone and uranium glass are definitely what I’m most known for, and diving into that niche has been really fun and also pretty successful for me. I’ve also made a few body chains, which is something I’m putting more focus on currently. I’m really proud of how far I’ve come in my wire wrapping, overall design, and how things are progressing with the body chains, which are size inclusive and custom fit to the customer. As a plus sized woman myself, size inclusive body chains are hard to come by, and I love being able to make unique custom pieces for any and everybody.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think there’s always risk putting your art out there for the public to see. I’m putting a little bit of myself into each piece and hoping that someone else will not only like it but want to take it home. And getting started with markets when I’d never done anything like that before was a risk. Jumping in and finding markets and submitting applications when I had barely started and only had a few design options with the hope that I’d be successful enough to keep growing and making new things. Each new market is a risk, because there’s so much of it outside your control.
Pricing:
- Earrings: $12-35
- Necklaces: $15-65
- Body chains: $45+
- Decor/suncatchers: $40+
- Stickers: $4
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardencrow/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/p/The-Garden-Crow-100090188311538/
