I met the fabulous & talented Lindsay of Simon and Ruby for a brief second at the Crafty Feast in Columbia…we didn’t get much chance to break away from holding our pieces down against the gusty winds, but hopefully we’ll meet up at a show again another time.

I have been completely inspired by her work and life. Read on and I know you will be too!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up a couple of hundred miles south of Nashville, but at this point in my life I feel more at home than I ever have. I’ve always thought of myself as a creative thinker, but I’ve finally found my true passion. Between my jewelry design and my photography, I found myself. My little corner of the world includes my very patient, musician husband, my two children (cats) Matisse and Oz, and a dozen or so incredibly supportive friends. I tend to collect hobbies, watch too many movies, and read too many books. I would rather travel than do most other things (as long as I have my camera.) I have a Jewelry Line: Simon and Ruby (www.simonandruby.com), a photography business, Lindsay Farrer Photography (www.lindsayfarrer.com), and a collection of paintings inspired by stained glass windows.

What is one of your earliest creative memories?

I remember working in the shop with my grandfather and uncle, running my hands over the trays of glass, playing with all the little pieces. They made gorgeous stained glass pieces and used to let me work with them. I mainly made earrings or fun little abstract pieces. I just remember how I loved mixing the colors and the actual melding of the pieces of glass. Should I have been allowed to use the soldering iron? Um, maybe not, but I definitely had a great time.

How did you get started making jewelry?

Besides my small foray into jewelry making when I was younger, it took me 27 years to figure out my love for jewelry design. I played around with beads and buttons creating some pieces when I was in college, but didn’t have a true vision. I knew that I wanted to live a creative life. A life where I was able to express myself as an artist and make a living at it. I just wasn’t sure what. Or how.

In 2008, I heard about Etsy, opened up shop, and decided to see where it would go. 2 months ago, after lusting after the Etsy column “Quit your Day Job” since its inception, I finally leapt. I quit my job, revamped my studio, and have devoted every waking moment to my craft. Do you know how liberating it is to wake up in the morning and know that you get to do what you love? For a job? Its terrifying in a great way, and so, so wonderful. So now, I get to not only play with beads, but do all of the photography as well. I’ve combined some of my passions to truly shape Simon and Ruby into my vision.

Is there any special meaning behind the name ‘Simon and Ruby’?

My great grandmother was Ruby, and Simon was her first love. When you think of Simon and Ruby jewelry, I want you to get swept away by the feeling of first love, the magic and the spark behind it. I love the idea that a piece of art can romance you with its story, through color, texture, and style. Simon and Ruby is about the marriage of interesting design, textural elements and unexpected color. Each design is named after a woman, whether it is a beloved character, a dear friend, or a beautiful stranger, and I hope to communicate their tales.

Where do you get inspiration for your designs?

I feel like everywhere I go, everything I see is translated into my designs. Ultimately, I am most inspired by traveling. My Spring Collection was based on the colors, the style, and the vibe of Guatemala. My parents lived in the mountains near Solola for about 6 years and we were able to travel to see them several times. The upcoming Summer Collection, which is in the works, is based on memories of growing up in the Deep South. The hot, sticky days, the afternoons down by the river, catching fireflies at night… I’m very inspired by the way a place makes me feel, the stories, the photos, the funny adventures or wrong turns.

Tell us about your husband’s music career.

When we met, he was in a Christian rock band and I admit, I was a bit of a groupie. He moved around, toured with them and eventually we settled in Nashville, TN, the Home of Country Music. (which was not really his thing) I met this really awesome country artist, Katie Rogers (www.katierogersmusic.com), while working my first job here in Nashville. She was talking about wanting to find a guitar player and I mentioned that my husband played. The rest is history. They write together and tour around the Southeast, playing both acoustic shows and full band gigs. We joke that he said he wasn’t going to play country music and here he is. But her music is different. It has a bit of soul, a bit of rock, and a lot of heart. It just clicked. And you should hear their voices blend! I love going to hear them play – and luckily, I get to do all of their photography, too!

What is the best part of being married to another artist?

I love that he is so willing to let me try new things.

When I came home and announced we were going to create a 3ft x 3ft piece of wall art that included a lot of small wooden blocks all individually cut, sanded, and painted… he said “ok. sounds cool.” And went and got the saw out.  He understands my passion for what I do and doesn’t begrudge the times that I get totally sucked in. Luckily, I married the most patient man on the planet, so, as long as he doesn’t have to spend every day rearranging furniture, painting, or searching for beads, he’s fine.

What book are you currently reading?

At this exact moment, I’m finishing up Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Last summer I challenged myself to read all of her books and I only had one left that I didn’t get to. I felt like with the warmer weather, I could go ahead and pretend it is summer already. There is something about the time and the courtship that I really enjoy. The mystery, the restraint of the relationships. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m usually yelling at the characters to be more upfront and honest, lay it all on the line, but there is something about the slow progression of their passion. And who doesn’t love Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. ((sigh))

Where is your favorite place to travel?

You saved one of the toughest questions for the end! Where do I not love to travel? Favorite place so far: Ireland. We spent several days rambling through Dublin and some time in Cork, the Wicklow Mountains, and West, near the Cliffs of Moher. I feel like I left a little piece of myself there. I get a little emotional when I just think about it! It was truly one of the most amazing places I have ever been. I think there is such an amazing sense of history, way beyond what we experience in the States. It was so hard just to drive through the countryside. I wanted to stop about every 10 minutes and get out of the car. And the food! Everything was so fresh. I’m not terribly adventurous when I eat, but I branched out more on this trip than I ever had. And all of it was delicious. We fully intend to go back. It is just a matter of when.

What is one change you wish to see in the world?

I’d love to say all the traditional answers: world peace, cure world hunger, conquer all diseases… but I’m not a terribly traditional girl. I’d love all those things, but honestly, I really wish people could really live every moment of their lives. I think we breeze through days and wake up 5 days later only to wonder what we’ve been doing with ourselves. Months fly by and we comment on how fast the year has gone! Whether we have a short time in this world, or 100 years, I want people to experience life. To truly live. I think that if each person did this, really invested in life and the people around them, change would come.

Here’s your chance to get in on the magic: Enjoy 10% off a Simon and Ruby piece!

(Use the coupon code yellowelm11 in Simon and Ruby’s etsy shop. If you buy from the Simon and Ruby website, 10% will be refunded upon payment.) And as an extra bonus, Lindsay always offers free shipping.

Also check out Lindsay’s blog to keep up with her day-to-day happenings!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 8:00 am and is filed under interviews & introductions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.