Cuffed by Fantasy From hobbyist to housewife to hot commodity, Amanda Roncalio-Meyer has parlayed her love of all things elven into a thriving business — How did you first get into wire artistry? Well, when I was about 12-14 years old, I remember looking through a copy of the Pyramid Collection catalog and seeing a sterling silver earcuff and thinking to myself, "Wow, I love that, and can’t afford it… but that looks like something I could make for myself!" My grandma and mom are both crafters, and I used to go to craft fairs with my mom, so I had a little experience making and selling homemade items. Plus I, of course, inherited the crafting hobby. Once I told my mom that I had found something I wanted to make, she immediately bought me my first craft wire, and I started making a few simple earcuffs (like the ones I just released in my shop recently) to sell at her craft fair booths.
This is how I picture myself looking, when donning a pair of Mandy’s Fantasy Earcuffs
How long ago did you go full-time? In my adult/parent life, crafts have been something I've wanted to do, something to contribute to the household funds while keeping me sane, but unfortunately, I wasn't very motivated, nor did I have much time for extra-curricular hobbies. One day last year (in March or early April, I think), I found some of my old craft wire and was inspired to create elfshaped earcuffs for myself. As soon as I posted the pictures of my project on my personal Facebook page, my friends immediately started asking me where I had bought them, and, once I told them I had personally made them, they began asking if they could purchase some from me. Therefore, Fantasy Earcuffs by Mandy (originally Elf Earcuffs by Mandy) was born!
And what made you take the leap to starting your own business? I guess, in the beginning, I never really intended to start my own business. my Elf Earcuffs started as a self-project, and I had SUCH AMAZINGLY AWESOME positive feedback on my private set that I HAD to start making these to sell! Plus, being a stay-athome mom, I needed to find an income source to help out with the house-hold funds. I felt like such a bump-on-the-log before I started Fantasy Earcuffs by Mandy! The fact that I can get my crafting-addiction out as well as add to the house-hold funds is UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME!!! -20-
