Modern Elegance >> Meet Acute Designs (+ Giveaway Winner!)

Today's post is a special interview with this month's featured sponsor, Gina of {Acute Designs}.  Gina hand makes incredibly beautiful jewelry, hair accessories and bridal goods.  Her designs are feminine, elegant, and modern, and I loved being able to learn more about what makes her tick.  I'm very excited to be able to share this peek into her life and work with you guys!  (You can also find out if you were the winner of her $50 gift card giveaway below the interview!)

Hi Gina!  Please tell us a little about yourself.  Where do you live, and what do you do for a living?
Hi Bubby and Bean readers!  I am so happy to be here today to share a little about myself and my business. My name is Gina and I run own a handmade accessories business called {Acute Designs}.  I also run a blog with the same name. I am from the Midwest but I currently live in San Diego with my husband and two sweet and loveably crazy dogs. Running {Acute Designs} is my full time job and is something I am determined to turn into a success.

How did you become interested in making accessories?
I was working in a dead end and super boring job and I decided to start an Etsy shop as a "hobby" and as something to keep me creatively inspired while twiddling away at my boring day job. After a few weeks, I knew I wanted this venture to be more than a hobby, so I did what I did with my most things and went at it full force.  The past three years have been a learning experience – full of research, trial and error, learning about business, and an (what I assume will be never ending) evolution of my style.

What are your favorite materials to work with?
Anything vintage. Whether it is vintage lace, fabric, or old jewelry, I love the way these materials can totally transform a design that I have in my head.

What types of things inspire you in your work?  Are there any other artists or businesses who have influenced you?
Oh, too many to mention. I love businesses that work hard to create a unique, well made product, while in turn respecting their employees and creating a business that gives back in some way.

The Bubby and Bean blog focuses on living a creative lifestyle.  Aside from making your bags, are there other things you particularly enjoy creating?
Yes! I am a DIY fiend and love a Saturday afternoon home décor project.  Also, food and cooking are two of my main loves (I have a small food blog called taste where I post all my healthy-ish recipes).  I can never get enough experimenting with new recipes and trying to make the not so healthy dishes healthier.

If you had to pick one of your designs that was your favorite, what would it be?
I love my 'Something New' Modern Style Blusher Veil (seen in top image above). I think it is stunning and would suit a bride who wants just a little something different for her look.

Where do you see yourself and/or your business in 5 years?
Still plugging away – designing new products, writing every day, and supplying more stores with my product. My main goal this year has been to see my product in more stores and although I have accomplished that, I still want to grow and grow my business!  I am not sure when I will be satisfied or think, "ok, I have done enough."

One of our most popular series on Bubby and Bean is 'Friday is For Favorites.'  Tell us your favorites of the following:  color, movie, food, band, show.
Gray is my favorite neutral and I am also a big fan of yellow, gold, and teal.  I love so many movies but I would say my favorite classic is Gone with the Wind.  I have always been a tv-aholic and I have a slight obsession with anything on Bravo... especially the Real Housewives.  My favorite foods are a really rare burger, french fries, pizza, goat cheese, ice cream, or a perfect salad.

Thank you Gina for sharing a little about yourself and your work with us!  Make sure you guys visit Gina's shop a visit so you see all of her gorgeous jewelry and accessories!  Gina has also generously created a special coupon just for Bubby and Bean Readers >> Take 20% off your entire order at {Acute Designs} with code BUBBYANDBEAN

You can also find Gina on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

And for those of you who entered the giveaway to win a $50 gift card to {Acute Designs}, we've chosen a winner!  From the 259 entries, random.org chose lucky #6.  'SaraBethMcGee,' that was you!  Please contact me at bubbyandbean (AT) gmail (DOT) com so we can get you your prizes!