T.E.S.T. Interview: Landfill Designs

We hope to introduce you to all the great etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 17^th in our series, an interview with Emma of LandfillDesings.

Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you been making jewelry?

My earliest memory of actually making jewellery was when I was 12 or 13 and I dipped pieces of old spring into my brothers neon yellow model paint and then (when dry) I attached them to two ear wires I’d scavenged. I was so proud of myself and my neon yellow spring earrings. It was the 80’s, and neon was huge in my Jr. High school and I’d just had my ears pierced so very quickly everything I could put on an ear wire became an earring. Lego, candy, Barbie boots, you name it I wore it dangling off my ear. Really nothing much has changed. I’m still focused on found objects, especially if they’re free, and I still like using “strange” components or pieces that other people might not consider.

Where do you find your materials?


I find stuff everywhere. Thrift stores, eBay, antique markets, the beach, and of course bead stores. I think I’m always shopping, pretty sure my boyfriend would agree with that statement! I’ve also been known to buy current “fashion” jewellery and then take it apart for its components. And friends, all my friends now give me pretty glass bottles or all their broken jewellery.

I love that you're making something pretty out of items most people would consider trash! Tell us about why you choose the materials you do.

From an early age I remember going to garage sales with my Grandfather, we’d go early in the morning, 6 or 7AM, and he’d be bargain hunting. Looking for something that was worth more than what it was being sold for, he was a Watchmaker and jeweler and knew a lot about antiques and collectibles. So we all not only absorbed a lot of that knowledge, we also absorbed that bargain hunting gene. Garbage or “trash” truly is another man’s treasure. I’ve gotten furniture, computers, and collectibles, all out of the garbage. Just because someone doesn’t want them anymore doesn’t mean they aren’t good!

How do you promote your work?

I do a lot of blogging, and twittering, and facebooking. I need to do more, and I do plan to do more as this grows, I’m just not sure what that “more” looks like yet. Probably more blogging. I really like blogging. :)

What are your plans and goals for Landfill Designs?

To be honest I don’t have big plans for Landfill. I see Landfill as always remaining a small but very active part of my creative life. I don’t want to create full time, but I’ll always need a venue to allow my creations to get out into the world, but I don’t see Landfill as the main event. There are many other ventures I want to explore, and Landfill will be a part of that, but Landfill won’t be the focus.

Do you have any tips for new Etsy sellers?

Don’t get discouraged if your first sale is a long time in coming! To date I’ve only ever had ONE sale on Etsy, and that was very recently! But that’s not to say that Etsy hasn’t been very successful for me, I sell things because of my items being listed on Etsy just not through Etsy. Oh, and one other thing! If you can, list one thing a day! It keeps your shop fresh, and keeps you “on the top” so to speak! And blog, blog, blog! Blogging is your friend!

You can find more of Emma's work in her etsy shop Landfill Designs and on her blog. Follow her on twitter. One of her other creative outlets is ShopCats. If you don't already know the Wandering craft shows, check out ShopCats - whose mission is showcase local crafters and artists and exhibit their locally-made handicrafts & goods at one of a kind pop-up markets!

Interviewed by Sara of MrHandsomeface in March, 2011.