• What fashion accessories do you make? I make necklaces, bracelets, belt buckles, hobo bags, charms, hand-painted wearable cowboy boots and upcycled furniture.

• Where do you get your materials? Most of the materials I use come from inventory in my antiques shop, such as books from the late 1800s and early 1900s, that have fallen apart. I also use broken vintage jewelry pieces, old lace and old linens. I order all my glass supplies (for my soldered art charms) from Etsy and eBay. I also frequent the Belleville Flea Market every month for vintage jewelry pieces and silver-plated flatware to use in my belt buckles, cuff bracelets and flatware jewelry designs. I also purchase most of my belt buckle blanks from Tandy Leather in South County.

When did you start making jewelry? I started making my simple soldered art charms in August 2008 and my upcycled belt buckles soon afterward. I added my upcycled hobo bags and hand-painted wearable cowboy boots in December 2010.

Where do you get your inspiration? My love of Victoriana and the romance and history of that era greatly influences my design style. Also, I had a book for about five years on how to make your own simple soldered art charms, and with the encouragement of a very artistic friend, Sydney Woehler, and the need to save some old books in my antiques shop, I sat down and went to town cutting and designing these wonderful little art charms. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as it looked. I then went on to make my upcycled belt buckles after seeing one in a magazine for $300. I decided I could make the buckles with all the unloved and unsold pieces in my shop. The same idea came into play when I started designing my upcylced hobo bags, which were inspired by Robin Brown of Magnolia Pearl.

How much for your pieces? My simple soldered art charms range from $7 to $10 each. Other filigree adorned art glass charms range from $12 to $29. My upcycled one-of-a-kind belt buckles range from $30 to $70, which includes a leather snap belt. My collaged hobo bags range from $99 to $169,

What's your most expensive piece? A hobo bag for $169.

Future events

• TABC Art and Craft Fair 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Triad High School, 703 East Highway 40 in Troy, Ill.

• ETR Destination Design Fashion Show at 7:30 p.m. March 13 at St. Louis University, Wool Ballroom/Busch Student Center, 20 North Grand Boulevard

• Off White Wedding Show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 20 at Third Degree Glass Factory, 5200 Delmar Boulevard