Today's featured indie artist Rachelle Matherne of greenKangaroo has been crafting up various handmade jewelry and accessories since 2003. Her current focus is on resin jewelry, combining elements ranging from the natural (flowers, feathers, and fibers are some of her faves) to kitschy (candies and toys can be found in the mix) to create colorful, affordable handmade jewelry.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. I started making stuff when I was little. Everyone in my family is pretty crafty in their own way. My mom was always sewing or doing cross-stitch, my grandfather was always building furniture, my grandma was always crocheting or painting.

I've always wanted my own business since I was a teenager, I just wasn't sure what the actual business would be. I started crafting professionally in the summer of 2003. I'd wanted to start before that but I did a lot of research on crafting as a business first because I'm a nerd like that. I was selling a variety of things back then, but about a year or two into it, my focus changed to resin jewelry.

What inspires your work? I get inspired from the typical places: seeing other people's work (particularly non-resin stuff), jewelry and accessories in fashion magazines or in movies, etc. Sometimes I find inspiration in unusual places -- something that's not at all like jewelry, but the way it looks inspires me to try something new with resin.

Who are your favorite designers? I think everyone in the New Orleans Craft Mafia is pretty freaking awesome. Most of my friends do some sort of art and I'm a fan of them all.

I am also a huge fan of Faryn Davis of Fernworks. When I saw her stuff, it totally opened my eyes to new ways to play with layers in resin. I'd love to see some of her pieces in person.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? Dim light. Just kidding. I'm a redhead, so I must have mascara or my eyeballs disappear into my head. I wear really plain clothes most of the time, most often black, and hardly ever anything that's not a solid color. So, accessories are really important to me. That's where I bring in the color and playfulness. I have two freestanding jewelry boxes full of stuff -- as in, actual big pieces of furniture.

Any advice for aspiring designers? Take inspiration from other designers, but don't just imitate. Try to find your own point of view and style.

Where can people find your work? At my website, greenKangaroo.com and on Etsy at greenKangaroo.etsy.com.


We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.