I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with jewelry designer Cari Taylor of Wired Originals.

Tell me a little about your work. I create original designs using sterling silver wire, gemstones, glass, and leather. I like to describe my pieces as "unordinary jewelry for everyday wear" -- jewelry that goes equally well with that little cocktail dress or your favorite faded blue jeans.

How did you get started as a designer? Since I was a kid, I've been a crafty critter, always crocheting or drawing or writing. I decided to pursue jewelry making in January of '07, and I naturally gravitated toward wire work after messing around with some wire sculpture in the past. I've also incorporated crochet into my wire and leather work. With the support of friends and family, I launched my online store in April.

What inspires your work? I find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, including the different hues of sky and earth, the angles of architecture, and unusual found objects.
Who are your favorite designers? When I first started, Eni Oken was a huge inspiration. I'm also amazed at all the wonderful talent on Etsy.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers or entrepreneurs? The biggest thing for me has been patience. I was very lucky to land a local wholesale account my first month of business, and I thought it would always be that easy. I was wrong. There is A LOT of competition in the handcrafted world, especially for jewelry, and you simply must be patient and believe in your work. If you're making a quality product, people will find you and appreciate it -- you just need to learn to wait out the slow periods and not take it personally when sales are slow. It's also very important to be an active participant in your success, i.e. seek out blogs to review your products, and get your name out there as much as possible. The reality is I spend more time on marketing and taking good photographs than I actually do making jewelry. And last but not least, keep really really good records to make tax time much easier.

Where can people find your work? Currently, I have an online store at WiredOriginals.com and recently started listing on Etsy as well.

Anything else you'd like to add? Thank you to all the people who value handcrafted quality and are helping to make it easier to find all the awesome designers out there.