We love one of a kind looks, and it's hard to get more one of a kind than pieces created from vintage and recycled components. By wearing one of the original jewelry creations from Hey Lola, you're guaranteed to be the only person with that unique look. We chatted with Hey Lola designer Jessica to find out what inspires her to create this beautiful recycled jewelry.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. I use mostly thrifted, salvaged, vintage and antique components in my jewelry. I do this because I'm pretty passionate about responsible fashion but also because it challenges me to be more creative. I can't just walk into a craft store and pick out what I need -- I have to find a way to work with what's available to me. Of course, this means every time I see something I might be able to use eventually, I have to get it right then. I have a LOT of supplies right now. Between my new creations and my thrifted remnants, my studio pretty much always looks like the world's biggest jewelry box just exploded!

How did you get started as a designer? I've been a painter for years. I had a friend who designed jewelry and we would sit around together while I painted pictures and she made necklaces. After a while I kind of wandered over her way and had her show me what she was doing. We spent a lot of time learning about the various stones and their meanings, and experiment with different color combinations. Eventually people started asking us to buy our jewelry and we went for it. We had fantastic success at craft and art fairs and I even opened a successful brick and mortar that sold our jewelry and vintage clothing.

What inspires your work? Other artists inspire my work. I'm so amazed and awestruck by some of the talent that's out there. Music is super inspirational -- I always have it playing while I work. Strangely enough, garbage also inspires my work. The other day my fiance was throwing away the cardboard from a roll of packing tape and I yelled, "Stop! No! What are you doing?" He looked at me like I was crazy and I told him, "This is OBVIOUSLY going to be a bracelet." Now he asks me before he throws anything away. I have special bins in the kitchen for all of the "non-garbage."

Who are your favorite designers? I love Betsey Johnson dresses and I love her attitude! I think I'm drawn to designers that are not afraid to just be completely off the wall. Patricia Field is another good one -- she has a real knack for pairing the unexpected and making it work. Of course, more than anything, I love vintage. I don't care who the designer is, a great 1940's house dress will have me dancing all over the place with happiness -- and with enough money left over for coffee!

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? Conditioner. I have naturally curly hair which is code for "morning bird's nest." If I don't have a good conditioner, my hair is a lost cause. Origins skin care line goes with me everywhere -- I absolutely love it. Origins "Really Rosy" lip gloss and Maybelline Great Lash mascara are both must haves. Fashion-wise, I kind of just go day-to-day. I collect vintage so some days I'll feel very Jackie Kennedy and other days I really need to channel Cyndi Lauper. Much to my fiance's dismay, I embrace fashion "don'ts". I guess that's my fashion must-have -- "must have no rules!"

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? Do what you love. As any indie jewelry designer can tell you, our market is saturated. However, if you really love what you do, I think it shows. I think people are drawn to it. I know that my success at art and craft fairs has a lot to do with the fact that I'm really, REALLY happy to be there, doing what I'm doing. I also think that it's really important to look at what other people are creating. I try to keep an eye on current trends and color combinations but I also try to make sure that what I'm doing isn't just another version of what everyone else is doing. Standing out and being unique is so important. Marketing is also really important. You might have the greatest product in the world but if no one knows about it, you're not selling it. Finally ... hang in there. Success takes time, but it's worth every tear and every ounce of sweat when it finally arrives.

Where can people find your work? My store is currently online at www.shopheylola.com. I'm just focusing on jewelry and hair accessories right now, but I'll be offering vintage clothing and accessories very soon.

Anything else? I'm a blogger! Just like everybody else! While I love fashion and jewelry blogs, I'm not very good at writing them. I tried for a minute but it soon became apparent that I'm just ridiculous. So I embrace that. You can find me being ridiculous at www.loveheylola.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.