SHE - Schooling at Home Etsians: 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

Monday, December 3, 2012

Interview With Leah Grace Helmrich

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am 19 years old and have been creating things with my hands for as long as I can remember! I love to create anything and have dabbled in numerous mediums and techniques, including watercolors, acrylics, clay, metal casting, silversmithing, knit and chrochet, needle felting, chainmaille, wire wrapping, sewing, lampwork and glass blowing, dichroic glass, candle and soap making, wood carving, origami, and collage.

How did you begin working in your craft and how did that craft developed into a business?

My family has been traveling in an RV for 8 years. I was 12 when I met a 16 year old girl whose family also traveled expensively. She made and sold all sorts of handmade beaded pieces; cool beads on headpins with a little wire wrapping here and there. I instantly fell in love and begged her to show me how to make earrings and bracelets that she made. Mom and Dad saw a great teaching opportunity and taught me about loans and profit margins as I bought beads, made earrings, and then sold them to my friends and acquaintances that I met on the road.

Was Home Education an easy choice for you? How did you get started in that endeavor?

There was never a choice, it was easy to start, there was a great support group in the area where we lived and my grandmothers were encouraging to my parents. My brother and I have always homeschooled and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Copper Textured Earrings

What advice would you give to other families who are also trying to juggle home education and a home business?

Balance is very important, and in schooling and business that balance can be tricky to find. I have found that hard work and passion in your craft are essential.

Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?

I find inspiration all around me and I am always on the lookout for new ideas and techniques. Often we will be watching TV and I will yell “Pause it! I want to see what she is wearing!” I also love to brainstorm with my friends and family, they always have some good ideas!

3 Mum Charms

What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

I have fallen in love with niobium and adore all of the colors that can be created. That is why these rainbow hoops are my fav right now

Hoop Earrings With Niobium

Can you tell us one of your favorite homeschooling moments?

Ohh…there are so many! One that stands out was the day I was hanging out with a few public schooled friends and one of them started complaining about the assigned reading she had to do. I just couldn’t grasp the concept that A. reading wouldn’t be fun and B. they were only allowed to read a few chapters at a time!

Do you have specific goals for your business or for homeschooling? Would you share some of those with us?

We want to keep the business small enough that we are able to continue to manage everything ourselves. We love what we do!