Meet Cara, the designer behind accessories line Little Pretties. Her cute earrings, necklaces, and bracelets can be found in the shop. Read on to find out more about how she got started, her favorite trends and what she has next for her Little Pretties line!
Introduce
yourself
My name is Cara Veeder. I'm 33 years old and was born and
raised here in Des Moines. I studied Graphic Design at Minneapolis College of
Art and Design from 1998-2000, and I got a BA in Graphic Design from Drake
University in 2003. I'm a self-proclaimed design addict and
jack-of-many-trades. Aside from making jewelry and accessories for my
"Little Pretties" line (and designing all related branding,
packaging, and displays), I also love to explore other artistic avenues by creating
illustrations, hand-lettered alphabets, graphic design (both for print and
web), writing short fiction, crafting with papers and fabrics, knitting,
photography, and sewing. I'm also obsessed with researching trends and
innovations, mainly in the design and fashion worlds. I love finding new ideas
and inspirations for color palettes, materials, shapes, and other artistic
elements. I keep countless journals and sketchbooks full of various project
ideas and new things I'd like to try!
How did
you get started?
From early childhood, I loved to draw, and as I grew older,
my drawings grew smaller and smaller, full of almost tediously ornate, complex
patterns and lines. I began to form a love for the tiniest details and for
adding in little unexpected "surprise" elements that might not be
noticed at first glance (like my own little secret message!) By my early teens,
I decided to experiment with a new medium, to see if my attention to detail and
interest in working on a small scale would translate well to making jewelry. In
middle school, I started making simple beaded jewelry for myself, my family,
and a few close friends. Then, in 8th grade, my school held an Art Fair and
allowed students to display and sell their artwork. I jumped at the chance to
market my earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, and they were a hit! I had found
my niche! Over the years, I continued to hone my jewelry-making skills and
perfect my techniques, getting plenty of practice by working at Bead Creative,
a local bead store, for several years. This long and winding road ultimately
led to the birth of Little Pretties, my line of one-of-a-kind jewelry and
accessories, in early 2008. My jewelry has evolved immensely since those early
days of bead-stringing, and my pieces will continue to change as I learn new
techniques, discover new inspirations and influences, and experiment with new
ideas.
