How is your day so far my lovely readers? Mine is quite nice, the weather is great, looks like summer time already :-)
For today's featured artist I have chosen a Lithuanian Children's book illustrator living in Tui, Spain. Entering Kristina's shop is like opening the door for a wonderland garden. Filled with special characters that you can wear to adorn yourself, others that you can frame to decor your walls & others to play. Every piece seems to have been made with a special care given the beauty of the final result.
Krize shop is open on Etsy since 2008. Are you curious? Let's find out a bit more about Kristina & her creative life
1. Is it easy to be creative every day?
For me it is easy. I like to be creative not only with the art I make, but also in other areas of my life, so it makes every day different and happy. I like to be creative in the kitchen while preparing the food or simply inventing new song to sing! I think the creativeness is the style of life! I always was a creative child and this was and still is my best way to communicate what I feel or how I see what is happening around me.
2. What's the best part of your day?
It is about 5 p.m… after I took a walk with my dog Chino and when everything is calm in my house, when I prepare my green tea and sit in the terrace just to meditate in my creative process or to observe the nature. It seems that the time stops and when the time stops the great ideas come to my head.
{that's amazing when we have time to meditate}
3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
I felt happiness! It is really great to make something and to have person who really wants to have it! And when you can live from what you really love and have people that want to wear your handmade, this is the best!
{I' know what you mean, the feeling is overwhelming}
4. Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
Actually I combine illustrating children’s books with my handmade activity. I am very happy to work full time on both. I give thanks to the Universe for this gift and possibility in my life!
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
I feel a big inspiration on animals. I love observing animals, their texture and their sweetness. They make me smile and they inspire me.
{I have to confess that I'm in love by your rabbits}
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
Taking good and funny photos and also making treasuries (I have to say that now I have no time to make one, but there was a time when I was really addicted to treasuries!)
{I also believe that photography is half the way to make a sale}
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
I love Tea very much, I have a lot of different types of teas and can´t stop to buy more…
And also I speak with cats. Don´t ask me how but I think they understand me
{I can't stop myself from buying vintage buttons, I'm almost sure that's a disease :-) }
I hope you enjoyed Kristina's interview & shop. Make sure you pay a visit to her wonderland shop.
{ Thank you so much Kristina for this lovely interview }
Featured artist: Krize
Featured artist: PapercutsByJoe
Today I'm featuring something completely different. I discovered Joe's work on Etsy FP a few months ago & I have to be honest his artwork is so real that i wasn't sure what I was looking at.
Joe lives & works on Boston, he's an archaeologist with a paper artist soul.
PapercutsByJoe is open since October 2007 & it's full of amazing original hand-cut silhouettes.
Let's find out a bit more about Joe & his creative life
No! I just finished Craftboston where I created 9 pieces just for the show. I spent over 6 months designing and cutting them and I now feel completely out of ideas. It's pretty scary, actually! What I really need to do is get out and walk around Boston (where I live) and get inspired again. Constantly working, never leaving my apartment, and the winter are all conspiring to a glut of new ideas.
Whenever I'm drinking coffee! I also enjoy the last 30 minutes of the day before my wife needs to be picked up at work, where I suddenly feel the challenge to get a TON done in a short amount of time. I honestly feel I get just about as much done in that 30 minutes as I do the rest of the day.
3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?Terrified. I was convinced that once they received it they would realize it really was just paper and wouldn't like it. It reminds me of the episode of Seinfeld when Jerry's dad returns from seeing Cats on Broadway. His disappointed and confused review "It's really just about cats..." kind of sums up my worries back then.
4. Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?I would love to be a park ranger. Wandering outdoors all day and seeing those things that nobody gets to see.
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
I want to be remembered, and having my work in peoples homes, spread online, and talked about makes me feel like I get a tiny slice of immortality. It keeps me striving to make better and better pieces to continue to catch peoples eye.
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?I sell on Etsy, and I see a direct correlation to relisting items and getting them on the top of search results. I also find that taking funky photos that are then passed around online has led to a ton of sales. My photos always have me working at my desk with piles of scrap in the background. I can technically take much better photos, but this has become my signature style, and I think people appreciate how real everything looks and it definitely gets across that they are hand-cut paper
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.I'm an archaeologist too! I have a BA in archaeology and will be starting a Master's program this fall in Boston. I study Native American cultures in New England and go on several professional digs a year.
I hope you enjoyed Joe's interview & shop. A visit to PapercutsByJoe shop is really worth it. I personally would love to buy this one for myself.
{ Thank you so much Joe for this great interview }
Featured artist: Feltik
If you love felt you have to love Magdalena's work. It's so unique, bold & simple at the same time.
Although she's polish she now lives in Norway with her husband. What a gorgeous country to live in, I think!!!
Feltik is up & runing since January 2009 & it's full of beautiful felt necklaces & other accessories. The prices seem quite affordable.
Let's find out a bit more about Magdalena & her creative life
1. Is it easy to be creative everyday?
I think the hardest is to have time for being creative. To actually make things. This is the nature of everything handmade, it takes time to make your ideas come to life. I'm sure you all know that from your experience. I also think that doing different projects helps a lot to maintain my creativity. For example during one day I felt, knit, crochet I take photos, so I don't get tired or bored with things that I do. But of course I have days, when I don't know where to start, or when I'm not very productive or creative, then I usually step back and do something else like baking.
{I share your opinion, doing different things helps you mantain a good level of creativity}
2. What's the best part of your day?
I like mornings a lot, drinking morning coffee while reading my favorite blogs. There is also feeling of a fresh start, that you have whole day before you. I like to cross out things from my to-do list. It is really nice feeling when I accomplished my small goals.
{I do that. I love to cross goals that I've reached :-) }
3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
I was a little surprised actually, but of course very happy. It is wonderful feeling when somebody wants to wear things that you crafted with your own hands, something that took good few hours to make. It is always great feeling, very rewarding.
4.Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
Few things but all within creative field and flexible working hours. I could be freelance graphic designer (my previous work), I could be photographer (dream job) I could be a travel destination critique (if there's is something like that, it is a dream job but connected with experiences and my passion). But I'm sure I would make jewelery anyway, as I really love it.
{I like the idea of flexible working hours even if it is just a concept, because when you work for yourself you work a lot more hours}
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
I don't know if there's anything in particular...maybe some old/vintage wallpapers and patterns. I find watching some fashion shows inspirational as well as albums, pictures of nature or drawings.
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
I'm definitely not an expert as far as sales are considered. I have to find my strategy to improve my sales first! I think that listing new items as often as you can is very important though.
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
Hmm that's a hard one because I know myself, so all things about me are obviously quite casual.
For example some people find it interesting that I'm Polish, my husband is Slovak, we met in Ireland and now live in Norway, and that at home each of us speaks our own language, which may sound funny.
Also I can easily eat two pints of Ben&Jerry's during one movie and I'm telling you not everybody can do that!
{I wonder if you understand each other languages!?!}
I hope you enjoyed Magdalena's interview & shop. You really should pay a visit to her shop. I'm sure you'll find very interesting pieces beside the ones shown in the interview.
{ Thank you so much Magdalena for this lovely interview }
Featured artist: MicheleMaule
My day at work it was crazy again but finally I have the time to publish my weekly interview. For this week I choose an artist from Portland, Oregon. Her name is Michele, she lives a simple & quiet life with her boyfriend & Chloe, her Boston Terrier. She has a degree in Drawing, Painting, and Print Making & dreams one day to become a full time artist.
MicheleMaule is up & runing since 2007, it's quite a successful shop with almost 1500 sales. At Michele's shop you can find paintings, illustrations & reproduction prints. Art for every budget I might say.
Let's find out a bit more about Michele & her creative life
No. Not for me. I wish I could be creative everyday, and I suppose in some ways I am, but to be able to make art everyday is hard for me. Some days it is easier than others, but I think that to be true for most things in life.
2. What's the best part of your day?
The best part of my day is waking up to my Boston Terrier, Chloe and my boyfriend, Nate. Without them both in my life I would be one unhappy camper.
{I had a Great Dane a few years back & I also loved to come home & go for a walk with her :-)}
3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
It was so exciting! Whoa! Especially the first time I sold something to someone I didn't know on Etsy. That was really amazing!
4. Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
I watched this video about making croissants on YouTube a few weeks ago. It looked like so much fun. There was this really involved process that goes into making croissants and it was very intriguing to me. So, if I wasn't an artist I think I might be a croissant maker.
{I've to search on YouTube, but I'm guessing it's not an easy thing to make perfect croissants}
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
I think being alone really fuels my creativity. I love the people and animals in my life but it's not until I find myself alone that I can really get into it.
{I know what you mean, for example I only take pictures when nobody's at home}
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
I wish I could tell you. There really isn't one. When I first started on Etsy things were a bit slow and then sales started to really increase. Things were going really great for me in 2008 and 2009. I was blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, you name it, I was doing it. Then in the summer of 2009 things kind of came to a halt. My sales really started to slow and they've continued that way for 2010 and so far 2011.
I don't know what I was doing right and I don't know what I am doing wrong now. I think it all comes down to being in the right place at the right time most of the time.
{Maybe it's the economy, art is not food, you might love it but when you have to opt between having a beautiful painting on your wall or feed your kids the answers is simple, right!}
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
I make my bed everyday. My grandmother told me, when I was very little, I'll always get a good night sleep if my bed is properly made. So I've done it ever since. also, soggy, wet, bread products make me gag a bit.
I hope you enjoyed Michele's interview & shop. You really should spend a few minutes on her shop, I'm sure you'll fall inlove by the colors & drawing lines.
{ Thank you so much Michele for this lovely interview & hope your dream comes true because your art is amazing }
Featured artist: AstralBoutique
Sasha runs AstralBoutique since 2009, her life story is pretty amazing, studied film & herbalism, tried a lot of different jobs, lived in creative places. Nowadays she lives in the woods with her husband & two black cats. She got her first computer in 2004 {can you imagine!?!}. Besides making stories to go with vintage clothing {have you ever seen her amazing pictures?} she's starting to make her own clothing & jewelry line {I can't wait to see}.
Let's find out a bit more about Sasha & her creative life
1. Is it easy to be creative everyday?
For me, the issue is not so much a lack of ideas or inspiration, but making the time to be creative. You just can't rush real creativity, but I feel caught in the fast pace of the world along with everyone else. I might live in the country, but I still have high speed internet, and a crazy-full inbox every day, and sometimes I don't want to slow down and make room for the whole creative process!
However, I have realized that if we wait to "feel" creative before we let ourselves sit down and actually do something, then we will produce very little work, and miss out on some great opportunities. So I have actually scheduled intervals in my days when I do certain activities: 15 minutes a day I spend doing some kind of creative writing (because I dream of one day being an author, so I realized that I had better start working on my basic skills), and after I wake up every morning and write my dreams down, I sketch in a blank notebook by the bed. I don't have any agenda for these activities, I just try to let it flow. And then every once in a while I get a great idea or write a brilliant passage. Most of it may be terrible or useless, but just by showing up, I manage to produce some work. I think of it as "tricking myself", managing to be creative without self-criticism. I am only allowed to be critical if I don't make my 15 minutes.
{I agree with you, we need time to be creative & the 15 minutes is a very good idea}
2. What's the best part of your day?
I really love to be outside taking photographs. When I am working on pictures, it's like I am in a trance -- and I feel I am using every part of myself. I model my clothes myself and take the photos with a self-timer, so I have to pretend that I am a whole crew of people - hair and makeup, creative director, model, photographer. I was an only child so I think it is very natural and very comfortable for me to be 100% in charge of an operation. It keeps me from ever being bored. Also, I love nature, so doing outdoor backdrops is my excuse to hang around with the birds and the squirrels all day long.
{I'm also a crew of people too, I guess a lot of etsy artists are}
3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
One summer after college I tried my first experiment at being self-employed, I gathered t-shirts and dresses from thrift stores, and painted on them. I did all different things: octopus, planets, faces, flaming hearts. I took them to a craft fair and had a friend help me sell them -- I was painfully shy. I am not sure if I remember the very first one that sold, but I do remember this lady buying my personal favorite item, a dress with a giant snake wrapped around it. She was 40-something, super cool and arty and classy. I was shocked - she wanted my art? And she was going to pay for it? It was an incredible feeling of connection between dreaming something up, making it, and then selling it to someone for whom it was obviously perfectly intended.
{it's a great reward when someone buy us something because he loves it as much as we do, right?}
4.Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
This may sound funny, but sure! I could do anything for a living where I have a lot of independence, I get to be my own boss (at least over my little world), and I get to be creative for the majority of the workday. I get along with all kinds of people, and I like to direct large groups (from my film background, and my work as a nanny for many years), so I could really work in a lot of different capacities, as long as they made me feel "yes! I am making art here.". That said, I was never able to find this kind of happiness until I found Etsy and made this my full-time job. Etsy is magic to me -- it offers endless opportunity for creative change and growth, and an incredibly supportive community.
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
Music is vital- it is a part of every day, and especially my workdays. I have a large music collection, but I also like to listen to radio DJs (WFMU out of New Jersey and KALX from Berkeley are my favorite stations). I play in a couple of bands, so I get to go out and see a lot of live music and "street fashion" both locally (you would be surprised how fashionable the girls in this little rural town are! It is a kind of artist's colony, really) and in the Big City. My husband follows "real" fashion more than I do (he likes the popular culture gossip about the models and the designers), so he always sends me links to things like Fashion Week collections. He is very handy that way!
I also love film, on the big screen if possible. I will spend forever at a good magazine or bookstore, looking at art and fashion pictures or speed reading a book. I am primarily a visual thinker, so I need to get refueled with images every once in a while.
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
The most fool proof is the most difficult: to try to list as many new things each week as possible. Of course, they have to be good things! And that takes a lot of time. Also, re-doing photos to make them better is a proven way to increase sales.... as everyone on Etsy will tell you. It's boring and it takes time, but I swear that it actually works!
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
I do not even know where to start! I have a lot of friends who are a lot weirder than I am who tell me that I am "the most grounded person they know". I guess that it true in that I have been with my husband for 19 years, and I seldom move house. But I feel pretty quirky in general, especially compared with the "average" American woman my age.
Okay, I've got it. Most people don't realize that I have an alter-ego who is a hip hop star (in her mind). Her name is "Jelly" (she used to be called Jelly2000, but I shortened it). One day when I am rich, I am going to get a vanity license plate that says JELLY. I recently bought some hot pink metallic Reeboks to satisfy her... but so far she only has one recorded song ("You Owe Me A Buzz"- about hating a boring day job I used to have). I think we are going to have to get cracking if she is going to be a superstar.
I hope you enjoyed Sasha's interview & shop. Make sure you pay a visit to her fairy tale vintage clothing shop.
{ Thank you so much Sasha for this lovely interview }
Featured artist: JustFeathers
Are you having a lovely day so far my dear readers? You might be wondering what kind of artist I'll be interviewing today & let me tell you that is quite an amazing artist. I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do, it was so hard to choose 6 pictures from her shop, the color combinations are so fantastic that I wanted to show them all.
I guess the name JustFeathers says it all, but besides creating gorgeous earrings made of colorful feathers, the new yorker artist Holly Nelson is also a freelance violinist. It's just me or can you see the resemblance? The violin is one of the most delicate instruments so does the feathers touch. The violin has one of the most powerful sounds, so the feathers are strong & resistant.
Holly loves to run her shop as a fun outlet for her creativity, so let's find out a bit more about her & her creative process
1. Is it easy to be creative everyday?
Well, yes and no. I am a pretty creative person, and find inspiration in many things around me. I'm often excited to get back to work because I've thought of a new design while on the subway or while taking a walk, or perhaps I'm eager to try out a new color combination that I've thought of. On the other hand, there are certainly days when I don't feel like working!
{I guess everybody needs a day off from time to time, I'm also like that}
2. What's the best part of your day?
I have to admit, I love lunchtime. I am a big time foodie, and I take my meals very seriously. I always treat myself well. : ) I love to cook, so I always have several tasty homemade dishes in the fridge waiting for me. Today I had homemade baba ghanoush, israeli salad, beet salad, hummus, pita bread, chorizo, smoked mozarella and pita bread. Quite a spread! Also some delicious African Rooibus tea.
{You really love to eat, I love to cook & to be creative with food. I agree with you, the African tea is delicious}
3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
I felt a little surge of excitement. Now every time I make a sale, it encourages me to work harder. I analyze what pieces sell best and try to make new pieces that share something in common with the strongest sellers.
{That's a very smart idea}
4. Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
Well, my full-time profession is as a freelance violinist. I sell on Etsy and at craft fairs to supplement my income, but also to fulfill my desire to create beautiful things.
{i have to confess that the violin is one of my favorite instruments, although I can't play anything, I just love to hear. I hope you can manage both creative professions because your earrings are gorgeous}
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist
I am especially inspired by color. I love creating fresh, inventive combinations that are both elegant and surprising.
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
I create treasuries, and through these many people on Etsy learn about my work. In return they often include my work in treasuries. The extra publicity generated by the treasuries helps my sales. I also place an ad on Craft Cult from time to time. It's all about exposure. No matter how good your work is, if nobody knows about it, nobody will buy it!
{You're totally right & if you're lucky enought to reach the Etsy's FP that would give you lots of exposure to new potential customers}
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
I'm a super language geek. I speak Mandarin Chinese, German, French, some Turkish and Korean and of course, English. I am currently trying to learn Spanish. : )
{Wow I'm amazed, I know how to speak spanish in case you need any help :-)}
I hope you enjoyed Holly's interview & work. Make sure you pay a visit to her funky & contemporary shop, filled with fabulous color combination earrings.
{ Thank you so much Holly for this lovely interview }
Featured artist: nomilktoday
Are you having a good day so far my dears? I hope so, if not I'm sure the interview with this talented crafter will help you to put your mood right back where it should be.
Eva is a polymer clay jewelry artist living in Athens - Greece. She's also a student of Agricultural Biotechnology. During her childhood she made jewelry from recycled objects, shells, etc with her best friend & since January 2010 she runs this magnificent shop called nomilktoday {I mean... the name itself it's fantastic} where she sells her colorful & geometric jewelry made of polymer clay.
Let's find out a bit more about Eva & her creative process
1. Is it easy to be creative everyday?
Well, that’s a nice question. No, it’s not easy, and yes you have to get used to it! I have accepted that, so the days I feel creative I just take a pencil and a paper and file my ideas to use them in the future!
2. What's the best part of your day?
I think, the best part is when I work on a new design, and choose the color palette. A satisfying result is my “energy drink”. Apart from this, I really enjoy convos on Etsy, as a way to get connected with the community!
{I do like convos to so I totally understand what you mean}
3.The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
Hagar from Israel (she also owns a shop) was the first one, non-relative, to buy something from my shop, last spring. I still remember the day, I found the transaction mail and how thrilled I was! Also, she has been my most returning customer so far, and I really thank her for this!
4.Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
To tell you the truth, I am an amateur jewelry maker. I am a student in Agricultural university here in Athens, and will continue my studies with a Master degree next year. So this will be my main occupation, but I will try to keep working on polymer clay jewelry…it relaxes and satisfies me, and it’s always nice to be and feel creative! I hope to be able to combine them!
{I hope so to, you should try to keep both "jobs" because your work is really amazing}
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist
Don’t know if it really works, but I am an observing person. I always notice the details. In these, you can find inspiration. From a shadow and a light, to an angle and a secret color. If you are inspired, then being creative is much easier. Above all, I am always creative when I am in a good mood, so I try hard to be happy with the people I love!
{I know how Athens can be inspiring, it is a city so full of life & color, so I'm guessing is not to hard to find inspirational details on your everyday life}
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
I haven’t tried much to increase my sales. I try to take nice photos for my Etsy listings, and keep my prices reasonable, while I am always open to convos and custom orders, something that I also expect as a buyer. I keep my facebook fan page and flickr page, regularly updated, and being blogged is always proved to be the best way to attract more attention. Also, I really enjoyed a recent giveaway, and will take part in more giveaways in the near future!
{Maybe you can accept to do a giveaway on Spot 92 blog sometime in the future!?}
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
That’s funny! Maybe the quirkiest thing about me, is that I usually don’t wear jewelry, especially mine!! Creating them, is much better!!
{Honestly you should wear some of your pieces because you'll sell them for sure & always have cards with your shop link with you in case someone asks. I've read in lot of forums that this is one of the best ways to promote your work, I've done this a few times & it really works}
I hope you enjoyed this interview & Eva's work as much as I did. She's such an amazing artist, easy to talk with. She does such a beautiful work with polymer clay. Modern and urban & yet so feminine. You should really pay a visit to her shop.
{ Thank you so much Eva for this lovely interview }
Featured artist: myself :)
My dear readers, how are you all doing today?
Well, I reserved tuedays to feature fabulous artists that I've been adding to my favorites list for a few years now. The list is huge which is something good, because it gives me a lot of options to choose from, but I believe that to start I should do it myself, to feel the difficulties of answering my own questions. Here it goes. Hope you're all ready :)
well, easy it is but accomplishing something is totally different. My mind is always pumping with new ideas, I try to organize myself, I have notebooks full of written ideas to use somewhere in the future, when I have the time needed, when the idea is totally mature, etc, etc
Besides that I try to be creative when I cook, specially because cooking for children is a chalenge, at least cooking for my daughters. On monday they like chicken but on tuesday they don't anymore so it's kinda hard to know how are they going to react.
2. What's the best part of your day?
Let me see... I guess it's when I go pick my daughters to school, I love to see their faces & sometimes I'm lucky enough and I don't need to beg for a kiss in the cheek or a big hug {moms are always suffering}. Then is has to be after they go to bed, with the house finally in silence & can work on my projects.
3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
Amazingly confident. Although my friends & family were very sweet in the begining I really need to prove myself that my pieces had what it take to be purchased by a lot of different people.
4. Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
Yes, I'm also a webdesigner {to be honest I could skip this one} but I'm also a photographer & illustrator. I love to make photography.
5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
This might sound like a cliché but my daughters fuel my creativity a lot. Have you noticed how kids use colors? Before i was mother for the first time I only had black, white & grey clothes, soon after being blessed with maternity I was wearing everycolor you can imagine, prints, pattern clothes, you name it.
The other fuels are what surrounds me, colors, sounds, patterns. I love architectural forms. I might see a shape in a building for ex. & then I spend hours trying to reproduce it on one of my cowls.
6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
I'm still trying to figure it out. Having a piece featured on Etsy's FP lead to a lot of visits, I've also been featured on some Etsy's newsletters & that made me sell a few items.
I've tried to advertise on a few different places, like blogs, websites, e-magazines but wasn't able to measure the quantity of sales brought by those advertising campaigns.
7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
something random: I have freckles on my lips {always heard that was a sign of intelligence :P }
something quirky: Even in the hottest summer night I just can fall asleep if i have my feet covered
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