”My background is in art and science-specifically fashion and chemistry. I'm part MAD scientist. Part designer. ALL artist. Life for me is one BIG experiment.” -Dana Ayanna Greaves

Who says recycling can't be chic! Designer Dana Ayanna Greaves composes some of the most creative and unique jewelry! She transforms old magazine pages, recycled paper, and images into some seriously fabulous jewelry and accessories. Her pieces are rich and juicy with color, texture, and pattern and a must have for any creative-nista! She has been featured in some of our favorite fashion magazines like Lucky Online, Venus Zine, N.E.E.T, DC Modern Luxury, Carpal Tunnel, and even Time & You may also recognize her from her appearance on the NBC Today Show in 2007 as one of the finalists in the Winning Idea Contest. She promoted the fabulous idea of an organic beauty bar where you could get your very own beauty products mixed and customized just for you!(truly fabulous idea by the way). For all the fashion frenzy sisters in the D.C area, you may know her as the lovely host of the annual summer shopping parties known as Femme Fete were you can find and shop designer venues, enjoy some good music, mingle, get a makeover, and a whole lot more.

She has a new line of some scrumptious organic sugar scrubs and she carries a true passion for art and design, in which you can see by visiting her Etsy shop! She shares with us some creative tips and daydreams a bit with us about all things creatively inspiring:

ymib: Why is creativity important to you?

Dana Ayanna: It's my life. I think creativity is about movement and therefore it is life. Without it we live in a stagnant place without growth. It is the source of all discoveries and inventions and pushes society forward. I'm always pushing myself to create something that is fresh and new. I think creativity is important because it strengthens my spiritual relationship. I look around at the beauty and intricacies of the world and I'm so grateful to be connected to the source of it all.

ymib: How would you describe your most creative spot/atmosphere?

Dana Ayanna: In order for me to be creative I have to be in a playful state of mind. It's sometimes difficult to get to that place- especially when you're surrounded with the responsibilities of life. So I clear my thoughts, spread out all my colorful paper beads and have fun! I think you have to allow yourself to enjoy your craft and experiment with it.

ymib: Favorite T.V show, magazine, or network that sparks your creativity?

Dana Ayanna: I enjoy home decor magazines and draw inspiration from the architecture and decor of different cultures.

ymib: How would you describe the character/decor of your studio/design space?

Dana Ayanna: I wish, wish, wish I had a studio or design space. I work from home. I live sleep, eat, design, create and do everything else in the same place. All I can say is it's one BIG mess. Sometime there's no floor-just piles of paper, fabric, magazines, chains, and more.

ymib: What have been some of the biggest challenges with being a designer, starting your own business, and promoting your work all at the same time...what advice would you give to others in the same boat?

Dana Ayanna: I never thought that I would have to dedicate so much time to promoting and managing my company. I would love to just design 24/7. I absolutely hate administrative work but I've learned to make it bearable by carrying the creativity into the boring fields of business. Instead of creating a traditional website I infused it with my illustrations and added lots of color and energy-so now I enjoy updating it.

ymib: What is your favorite jewelry product on the market and what have you enjoyed making with it the most?

Dana Ayanna: I like to use unusual materials. I specialize in paper jewelry so I love discovering new papers. I recently made a pair of paisley-shaped earrings. They're made from colorful strips of paper and they look absolutely delicious.

ymib: What crafting tools/products could you not live without?

Dana Ayanna: pen and paper because I love to draw.

ymib: What is something that you wish you knew about starting up a boutique when you first started that you know now?

Dana Ayanna: My boutique is online (artisticaya.com) so I'm sure that my experience is different from a traditional storefront owner. I wish I knew that it would be a constant roller coaster ride and I wish I knew that the highs would balance out the lows. You just can't give up because opportunities like this interview comes along and makes it worthwhile.